(Original page was collaboration as part of Project 2 by Kelly Konkel, Gabby Gauruder and Jennifer Keyte. Edited by Jennifer Keyte)
Introduction
What is Autism?
Imagine a life struggling to communicate and learn, when you know the potential lies inside of you. Defined by the organization Autism Speaks, "Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and non verbal communication" that have a significant effect on their behavior. In addition, "other characteristics often associated with autism are engagement in repetitive activities and stereotyped movements, resistance to environmental change or daily routines, and unusual responses to sensory experiences" (Smith, Gartin and Murdick, 2012).
For years and years now, scientists, doctors, psychologist, and families have been trying to crack the puzzle that is called autism. Mothers can see in their child that they know so much and are so smart, they just can't figure out how to unlock the key. Families have hoped and prayed for an answer and now, due to rising technology they have been able to make progress and a step towards the mystery that we call autism. Assistive Technology (AT's) are one way to help students with ASD.
What is Assistive Technology (AT)?
Defined by the dictionary AT is an "umbrella term that includes adaptive, assistive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities." It is because of this technology that our children with autism have been able to learn in a classroom setting, show people what they know, and tell their families they love them. You have probably used this technology without even realizing it! Have you ever used Siri on your iPhone? Take a look at this video and see how AT has affected Autism and related to it's success in participation, interaction, and learning.
AT's can be viewed as a tool bag of items that can help students with ASD carry out every day tasks we take for granted. These students fact many challenges every day. Below are a review of websites and apps that can be used to help students. There are four sections in this website. They are Behavior Supports, Learning in the Classroom, Social Interaction and Verbal and Non-verbal Communications. These resources aim to "bridge the gap" between the current skill set and what is needed for task completion.
YouTube Video
Behavior SupportsStudents with ASD experience many challenges in their everyday lives. It is important for teachers to remember that often behavioral outbursts are as a result of other emotions such as frustration, fear or anger. In the same context, ASD students have trouble recognizing emotions. This website from Australia offers an excellent overview of emotional development of students with autism. This resource, although for parents, allows us to understand more about why students behave differently. There are numerous apps that promote positive behavior patterns for all students including those with disabilities. These are relatively accessible, and a tool teachers can implement into their classroom management strategy.
Teacher's Assistant Pro: Classroom Management Notes
Teacher's Assistant Pro is one app that helps the teacher track behaviors. This would be particularly useful to support students with ASD in order to a) track progress, b) collaborate with other professionals and c) set goals informally or as part of an IEP.
The content of this app gives the teachers the ability to keep track of student actions, behavior, infractions, and achievements in the classroom by setting up a profile for students. This data can be used to easily communicate with parents and others and the fact that it is evidence based means teacher can track progress and possibly see trends in behavior.
Class Dojo
A second classroom management resource is Class Dojo. This app works in the same way Teacher's Assistant Pro does, and offers teachers an easy to use tool for daily use in the classroom. Students can work towards both individual and class goals, and attempts to motivate students to behave appropriately at all times. Class Dojo makes it particularly easy to communicate with parents and includes a photo sharing option.
Choiceworks
Choiceworks allows students to complete daily routines in a more structured manner. This app encourages students to "understand and control their feelings, and improve their waiting skills (taking turns and not interrupting)". I believe this app would be particularly useful to students with autism as it models appropriate behavior, and could be used by all students in the class.
Below are two examples of screenshots from the app. Here we can see how features are very easy to use, and shows the phases that can be individualized to help students with ASD understand the importance of taking part in tasks in stages. As well as the schedule board below, it also includes timers for activities (waiting board) and feeling boards. These features offer support for those that might find a visual representation useful for completing daily routines.
The Behavior Textbook
This next interesting resource from a company called LookToLearn, founded by Bill Thompson, who has experience as a school psychologist. The app for students is called The Behavior Textbook (TBT). It aims to "teach emotion identification and coping skills for individuals with special needs". This planned curriculum guide can be used by teachers to explore many social concepts that students with Autism find challenging.
The app uses the concept of video modeling where teachers can select a target behavior, show the video that demonstrates the target behavior to learners with ASD in order to promote generalization of skills. TBT features over 40 videos of emotions, coping skills, and daily classroom routines. Video modeling has been used effectively to improve social-communication skills, behavioral functioning, and functional skills (Bellini & Akullian, 2007).Presenting real life scenarios in an easy to understand way will help students not only develop their skills in communication, but more importantly develop their ability to cope in situations where their behavior may become an issue.
Learning in the ClassroomLearning in the classroom can be a challenge for students learning on the Autism Spectrum. Students with this disability may have difficulty putting their thoughts into verbal and written expression. Students can also have sensory overload and can experience anxiety in chaotic environments. Teachers must focus on finding successful ways to teach children with autism in the inclusive classroom. Assistive Technologies can help promote inclusion in addition to helping other students requiring interventions. This website founded by Crystal Brown, (a sibling of a person diagnosed with autism) is helpful for teachers and parents as it includes lots of information over an extensive range of topics.
The YouTube video below from the YouTube series, RealLookAutism, shows a student named Tessa, who exhibits the anxiety we discussed above.
The RealLookAutism series also gives insight into what life is like for a child with Autism not only in the classroom, but in other aspects of life also.
YouTube Video
Brainbreaks
You can see in the video that Tessa gets to choose from a series of choices for a 5 minute break activity.
One option is brainpop.com, an educational video website.
Discovery Education is a similar website that could be an educational brainbreak for students.
Brainbreaks encourage students to increase academic performance, improve student focus and classroom behavior. This is because students are taking time off the main section of the lesson to change up the activity for a short spell. Movement and exercise can also be used to enhances a students mood as being stationary for long periods can cause stress for students with ASD. As a result, a short movement task can causes a rise in energy, and increases blood flow.
Brainbreaks can vary in context and all aim to help student focus and recharge during their day.
Schedules
In addition to the Choiceworks app within the Behavior Supports section, schedules can be used to support students with ASD when Learning in the Classroom. Schedules are extraordinarily important to help relieve students with Autism from some of their anxiety. Mayer Johnson offer a website where teachers can create visual schedules for students who learn better by following pictures over words. They allow you to purchase Boardmaker Software Family which has a collection of 4,500 Classic Picture Communication Symbols. Alternatively, teachers can create their own to ensure students know what they will be doing next or where they will be going.
Here are two examples of schedules created by teachers. One plans out the whole day for each student (color co-ordinated for each student). Once they complete the activity they get to remove it and put it into the "Done" pile.
The second is simplified and explicit. Students with ASD often respond badly to change, or different environments. Supporting them using this AT means they are more mentally prepared.
Monarch Center for Autism in Cleveland and AutismSpeaks
The Monarch Center for Autism in Cleveland, OH is a wealth of information for teachers who are less familiar with the learning disability. Their website is very informative, especially the page about assistive technologies, http://www.monarchcenterforautism.org/assistive-technology/types. This page talks about ways to help students in many ways including (but not limited to):
Physical Education
Adapted sports equipment
Adapted toys and games
Etc...
Reading
Changing the color, font, format of text
Highlighting passages
Electronic and audio text
Addition of pictures with text
Etc...
Writing
Talking word processor
Electronic dictionary
Graphic organizers
Etc...
In addition to these assistive technologies, AutismSpeaks gives an extensive list of apps helpful for ASD students to use for developing math skills at https://www.autismspeaks.org/taxonomy/term/39906.
The first app, Show Me the Math, is heavily visual based, giving a short video to help students navigate each math problem. Below is the app logo, and two examples of the visual used. All three images are linked to the ITunes store.
Social InteractionDo you ever see a group or class of children laughing, pretending, and playing together at recess? Remember the one kid who would always prefer to be by himself? This is a common occurrence in children with Autism. You often see them playing alone and not speaking to others much. Thankfully, due to assistive technology, children with Autism have a chance to interact with adults and their peers.
Lights, Camera, Action!
One example of an AT that helps with social interaction is as simple as a video camera! People with Autism love predictability. By repeatedly watching the same video over and over, students can feel comfortable while watching social situations on tape. This way, they will know how to act when the real thing comes up. Videotaping can show you how to act while you are at church, at recess, how to ask for help, and much more! It even has helped non-verbal children. Non-verbal children can have a better understanding of facial expressions, body language, and personal space.
ModelMeKids is a website that sells and offer iPad apps where children can watch all kinds of videos that teach social behavior and emotions.
Making Friends
Another AT that has aided kindergartners (and others) with autism is a prompt board. A visual que helps the child tremendously by showing him what to say when a certain circumstance happens. In this video below, typically developing children have a play date with a child who has autism. The prompt board helps the child know what to say when he wants something from his friend, or gives something to his friend. It is because of this he is able to make friends and talk back and forth with them.
YouTube Video
High Five!
In an attempt to help children with social interactions disorders, teachers and parents have been using the game "Give Me 5" to help aid children in the 8 different sub domains of social skills. According to their website the game " is a social skills game intended to help children who struggle with social interactions." Whats cool about this AT is that you can purchase the game online and have you child play it. They will learn about "analyzing social scenarios, using visual cues, role playing, and problem solving."
You can purchase this game on this website: http://www.thedevelopmentalgarden.com/board-game/ and also check out some of the apps they have!
It is because of these tools that our children are able to be the best they can be. Some children play with others without even thinking their friend has autism! Thanks to these assistive technologies, children are able to reach their full potential socially.
Verbal and Non-Verbal CommunicationStudents with autism require numerous ways to communicate their ideas. Often, ASD students find it hard to verbalize their ideas. In many cases students with autism may be extremely intelligent however their lack of ability to communicate can be frustrating and a serious challenge in everyday life. Teachers need to provide learning opportunities in order for ASD students to gain confidence as well as develop their skills by providing direct instruction in nonverbal communications.
Proloqu2go
A popular (yet relatively expensive) IPad app called Proloquo2go promotes language development and encourages students to communicate more to express their views. Proloquo2go covers all users, from young students to advanced users. This app allows students to select symbols to communicate as the app speaks the words. Students can personalize their vocabulary and use activity specific words to express their thoughts and opinions. In addition, this app means students can used a wider variety of words. This app encourages students to discuss their views that have been locked up inside.
This introductory video lets us hear a father's perspective on this app. This YouTube clip gives us the chance to see a student using Proloquo2go. We see how happy he is to be able to communicate with his mum. It's easy to use interface means everyday communication is accessible, and caters for a wide range of fine-motor, visual and cognitive skills.
YouTube Video
Inference Ace and News-O-Matic : Reading Comprehension Support
This fun app called Inference Ace encourages students to understand inferences within practical contexts. Those students who are able to communicate verbally may still experience problems when asked to use "conversational skills, the understanding of inferential language, and the use and understanding of nonverbal communication support skills" (Smith, Gartin & Murdick, 2012). As a result, students need to develop their ability to identify such situations especially as they get older.
In addition to this, News-O-Matic is an app that encourages students to take an interest in reading every day. It offers a range of stories that encourage students to think about how to construct their thoughts and process them through stories.
Both apps encourage students to read and understand a variety of contexts. Teachers can use these contexts from stories or the news to encourage students with ASD to think about scenarios that create discussion, and as a result increased understanding of how to verbalize thoughts and ideas.
Additional Websites of Interest
Overall these assistive technologies aim to change the students behavior to make them happy learners. If students are able to access the curriculum with less challenge, they are able to enjoy learning and are less likely to have behavioral outbursts. Other websites that are useful include:
National Professional Development Center on ASD (NPDC) is a website that gives teachers advice on how to plan, implement, and monitor specific evidence-based practices. The NPDC was funded by the Office of Special Education Programs in the US Department of Education to promote the use of evidence-based practices through a comprehensive professional development process
Asperger Syndrome Education Foundation requires a membership, however is a useful resource for teachers with regards to education, support and advocacy. It provides users with a network of people who have experience with ASD students. It provides meetings and professional development opportunities from experienced professionals.
TEACCH Autism Program is a website provided by University of North Carolina "that offers a set of core services along with unique demonstration programs meeting the clinical, training, and research needs of individuals with ASD, their families, and professionals across the state of North Carolina". In addition, they have an extensive research program that includes psychological, educational, and biomedical studies.
Introduction
What is Autism?
Imagine a life struggling to communicate and learn, when you know the potential lies inside of you. Defined by the organization Autism Speaks, "Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and non verbal communication" that have a significant effect on their behavior. In addition, "other characteristics often associated with autism are engagement in repetitive activities and stereotyped movements, resistance to environmental change or daily routines, and unusual responses to sensory experiences" (Smith, Gartin and Murdick, 2012).
For years and years now, scientists, doctors, psychologist, and families have been trying to crack the puzzle that is called autism. Mothers can see in their child that they know so much and are so smart, they just can't figure out how to unlock the key. Families have hoped and prayed for an answer and now, due to rising technology they have been able to make progress and a step towards the mystery that we call autism. Assistive Technology (AT's) are one way to help students with ASD.
What is Assistive Technology (AT)?
Defined by the dictionary AT is an "umbrella term that includes adaptive, assistive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities." It is because of this technology that our children with autism have been able to learn in a classroom setting, show people what they know, and tell their families they love them. You have probably used this technology without even realizing it! Have you ever used Siri on your iPhone? Take a look at this video and see how AT has affected Autism and related to it's success in participation, interaction, and learning.
AT's can be viewed as a tool bag of items that can help students with ASD carry out every day tasks we take for granted. These students fact many challenges every day. Below are a review of websites and apps that can be used to help students. There are four sections in this website. They are Behavior Supports, Learning in the Classroom, Social Interaction and Verbal and Non-verbal Communications. These resources aim to "bridge the gap" between the current skill set and what is needed for task completion.
YouTube Video
Behavior SupportsStudents with ASD experience many challenges in their everyday lives. It is important for teachers to remember that often behavioral outbursts are as a result of other emotions such as frustration, fear or anger. In the same context, ASD students have trouble recognizing emotions. This website from Australia offers an excellent overview of emotional development of students with autism. This resource, although for parents, allows us to understand more about why students behave differently. There are numerous apps that promote positive behavior patterns for all students including those with disabilities. These are relatively accessible, and a tool teachers can implement into their classroom management strategy.
Teacher's Assistant Pro: Classroom Management Notes
Teacher's Assistant Pro is one app that helps the teacher track behaviors. This would be particularly useful to support students with ASD in order to a) track progress, b) collaborate with other professionals and c) set goals informally or as part of an IEP.
The content of this app gives the teachers the ability to keep track of student actions, behavior, infractions, and achievements in the classroom by setting up a profile for students. This data can be used to easily communicate with parents and others and the fact that it is evidence based means teacher can track progress and possibly see trends in behavior.
Class Dojo
A second classroom management resource is Class Dojo. This app works in the same way Teacher's Assistant Pro does, and offers teachers an easy to use tool for daily use in the classroom. Students can work towards both individual and class goals, and attempts to motivate students to behave appropriately at all times. Class Dojo makes it particularly easy to communicate with parents and includes a photo sharing option.
Choiceworks
Choiceworks allows students to complete daily routines in a more structured manner. This app encourages students to "understand and control their feelings, and improve their waiting skills (taking turns and not interrupting)". I believe this app would be particularly useful to students with autism as it models appropriate behavior, and could be used by all students in the class.
Below are two examples of screenshots from the app. Here we can see how features are very easy to use, and shows the phases that can be individualized to help students with ASD understand the importance of taking part in tasks in stages. As well as the schedule board below, it also includes timers for activities (waiting board) and feeling boards. These features offer support for those that might find a visual representation useful for completing daily routines.
The Behavior Textbook
This next interesting resource from a company called LookToLearn, founded by Bill Thompson, who has experience as a school psychologist. The app for students is called The Behavior Textbook (TBT). It aims to "teach emotion identification and coping skills for individuals with special needs". This planned curriculum guide can be used by teachers to explore many social concepts that students with Autism find challenging.
The app uses the concept of video modeling where teachers can select a target behavior, show the video that demonstrates the target behavior to learners with ASD in order to promote generalization of skills. TBT features over 40 videos of emotions, coping skills, and daily classroom routines. Video modeling has been used effectively to improve social-communication skills, behavioral functioning, and functional skills (Bellini & Akullian, 2007).Presenting real life scenarios in an easy to understand way will help students not only develop their skills in communication, but more importantly develop their ability to cope in situations where their behavior may become an issue.
Learning in the ClassroomLearning in the classroom can be a challenge for students learning on the Autism Spectrum. Students with this disability may have difficulty putting their thoughts into verbal and written expression. Students can also have sensory overload and can experience anxiety in chaotic environments. Teachers must focus on finding successful ways to teach children with autism in the inclusive classroom. Assistive Technologies can help promote inclusion in addition to helping other students requiring interventions. This website founded by Crystal Brown, (a sibling of a person diagnosed with autism) is helpful for teachers and parents as it includes lots of information over an extensive range of topics.
The YouTube video below from the YouTube series, RealLookAutism, shows a student named Tessa, who exhibits the anxiety we discussed above.
The RealLookAutism series also gives insight into what life is like for a child with Autism not only in the classroom, but in other aspects of life also.
YouTube Video
Brainbreaks
You can see in the video that Tessa gets to choose from a series of choices for a 5 minute break activity.
One option is brainpop.com, an educational video website.
Discovery Education is a similar website that could be an educational brainbreak for students.
Brainbreaks encourage students to increase academic performance, improve student focus and classroom behavior. This is because students are taking time off the main section of the lesson to change up the activity for a short spell. Movement and exercise can also be used to enhances a students mood as being stationary for long periods can cause stress for students with ASD. As a result, a short movement task can causes a rise in energy, and increases blood flow.
Brainbreaks can vary in context and all aim to help student focus and recharge during their day.
Schedules
In addition to the Choiceworks app within the Behavior Supports section, schedules can be used to support students with ASD when Learning in the Classroom. Schedules are extraordinarily important to help relieve students with Autism from some of their anxiety. Mayer Johnson offer a website where teachers can create visual schedules for students who learn better by following pictures over words. They allow you to purchase Boardmaker Software Family which has a collection of 4,500 Classic Picture Communication Symbols. Alternatively, teachers can create their own to ensure students know what they will be doing next or where they will be going.
Here are two examples of schedules created by teachers. One plans out the whole day for each student (color co-ordinated for each student). Once they complete the activity they get to remove it and put it into the "Done" pile.
The second is simplified and explicit. Students with ASD often respond badly to change, or different environments. Supporting them using this AT means they are more mentally prepared.
Monarch Center for Autism in Cleveland and AutismSpeaks
The Monarch Center for Autism in Cleveland, OH is a wealth of information for teachers who are less familiar with the learning disability. Their website is very informative, especially the page about assistive technologies, http://www.monarchcenterforautism.org/assistive-technology/types. This page talks about ways to help students in many ways including (but not limited to):
Physical Education
Adapted sports equipment
Adapted toys and games
Etc...
Reading
Changing the color, font, format of text
Highlighting passages
Electronic and audio text
Addition of pictures with text
Etc...
Writing
Talking word processor
Electronic dictionary
Graphic organizers
Etc...
In addition to these assistive technologies, AutismSpeaks gives an extensive list of apps helpful for ASD students to use for developing math skills at https://www.autismspeaks.org/taxonomy/term/39906.
The first app, Show Me the Math, is heavily visual based, giving a short video to help students navigate each math problem. Below is the app logo, and two examples of the visual used. All three images are linked to the ITunes store.
Social InteractionDo you ever see a group or class of children laughing, pretending, and playing together at recess? Remember the one kid who would always prefer to be by himself? This is a common occurrence in children with Autism. You often see them playing alone and not speaking to others much. Thankfully, due to assistive technology, children with Autism have a chance to interact with adults and their peers.
Lights, Camera, Action!
One example of an AT that helps with social interaction is as simple as a video camera! People with Autism love predictability. By repeatedly watching the same video over and over, students can feel comfortable while watching social situations on tape. This way, they will know how to act when the real thing comes up. Videotaping can show you how to act while you are at church, at recess, how to ask for help, and much more! It even has helped non-verbal children. Non-verbal children can have a better understanding of facial expressions, body language, and personal space.
ModelMeKids is a website that sells and offer iPad apps where children can watch all kinds of videos that teach social behavior and emotions.
Making Friends
Another AT that has aided kindergartners (and others) with autism is a prompt board. A visual que helps the child tremendously by showing him what to say when a certain circumstance happens. In this video below, typically developing children have a play date with a child who has autism. The prompt board helps the child know what to say when he wants something from his friend, or gives something to his friend. It is because of this he is able to make friends and talk back and forth with them.
YouTube Video
High Five!
In an attempt to help children with social interactions disorders, teachers and parents have been using the game "Give Me 5" to help aid children in the 8 different sub domains of social skills. According to their website the game " is a social skills game intended to help children who struggle with social interactions." Whats cool about this AT is that you can purchase the game online and have you child play it. They will learn about "analyzing social scenarios, using visual cues, role playing, and problem solving."
You can purchase this game on this website: http://www.thedevelopmentalgarden.com/board-game/ and also check out some of the apps they have!
It is because of these tools that our children are able to be the best they can be. Some children play with others without even thinking their friend has autism! Thanks to these assistive technologies, children are able to reach their full potential socially.
Verbal and Non-Verbal CommunicationStudents with autism require numerous ways to communicate their ideas. Often, ASD students find it hard to verbalize their ideas. In many cases students with autism may be extremely intelligent however their lack of ability to communicate can be frustrating and a serious challenge in everyday life. Teachers need to provide learning opportunities in order for ASD students to gain confidence as well as develop their skills by providing direct instruction in nonverbal communications.
Proloqu2go
A popular (yet relatively expensive) IPad app called Proloquo2go promotes language development and encourages students to communicate more to express their views. Proloquo2go covers all users, from young students to advanced users. This app allows students to select symbols to communicate as the app speaks the words. Students can personalize their vocabulary and use activity specific words to express their thoughts and opinions. In addition, this app means students can used a wider variety of words. This app encourages students to discuss their views that have been locked up inside.
This introductory video lets us hear a father's perspective on this app. This YouTube clip gives us the chance to see a student using Proloquo2go. We see how happy he is to be able to communicate with his mum. It's easy to use interface means everyday communication is accessible, and caters for a wide range of fine-motor, visual and cognitive skills.
YouTube Video
Inference Ace and News-O-Matic : Reading Comprehension Support
This fun app called Inference Ace encourages students to understand inferences within practical contexts. Those students who are able to communicate verbally may still experience problems when asked to use "conversational skills, the understanding of inferential language, and the use and understanding of nonverbal communication support skills" (Smith, Gartin & Murdick, 2012). As a result, students need to develop their ability to identify such situations especially as they get older.
In addition to this, News-O-Matic is an app that encourages students to take an interest in reading every day. It offers a range of stories that encourage students to think about how to construct their thoughts and process them through stories.
Both apps encourage students to read and understand a variety of contexts. Teachers can use these contexts from stories or the news to encourage students with ASD to think about scenarios that create discussion, and as a result increased understanding of how to verbalize thoughts and ideas.
Additional Websites of Interest
Overall these assistive technologies aim to change the students behavior to make them happy learners. If students are able to access the curriculum with less challenge, they are able to enjoy learning and are less likely to have behavioral outbursts. Other websites that are useful include:
National Professional Development Center on ASD (NPDC) is a website that gives teachers advice on how to plan, implement, and monitor specific evidence-based practices. The NPDC was funded by the Office of Special Education Programs in the US Department of Education to promote the use of evidence-based practices through a comprehensive professional development process
Asperger Syndrome Education Foundation requires a membership, however is a useful resource for teachers with regards to education, support and advocacy. It provides users with a network of people who have experience with ASD students. It provides meetings and professional development opportunities from experienced professionals.
TEACCH Autism Program is a website provided by University of North Carolina "that offers a set of core services along with unique demonstration programs meeting the clinical, training, and research needs of individuals with ASD, their families, and professionals across the state of North Carolina". In addition, they have an extensive research program that includes psychological, educational, and biomedical studies.