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Autism and Assistive Technology
This document provides an overview of an autism masterclass presentation. It discusses what autism is, communication challenges, behavior issues, social development difficulties, and the role of technology. It describes early signs of autism, functional assessments, visual tools to support behavior, developing communication skills, teaching social skills, and using social stories. The document provides examples of low-tech and high-tech options like apps to address these areas. It emphasizes that technology must be used as one tool with positive behavioral supports and not as a complete solution.
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Autism and Assistive Technology
- 1. Spectronics Inclusive LearningTechnologies Autism Masterclass
- 2. Amanda Hartmann Inclusive TechnologyConsultant (Speech Pathologist)
- 13. What do youhope to learn today? Goals
- 14. I want tochange your cycle..... Crazy or success?
- 15. OVERVIEW • What isAutism? • Technology • Communication • Behaviour • Social development • Questions
- 16. What is Autism? Part 1
- 17. Autism AutismSpectrum Disorder (ASD) Range of conditions that share common characteristics, including difficulties with communicating, problem solving and interacting.
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- 19. Behaviour Your student Social Development Communication
- 21. Early warning signs Seek advice if you see some or many of these behaviours: • Doesn't smile at familiar people • Doesn't respond to name • Doesn't easily engage in or even enjoy games • Doesn't use eye contact • Doesn't point to things • Doesn't understand instructions
- 22. Early warning signs,more... Seek advice if you see some or many of these behaviours: • Intense interest in narrow range of topics • Obsessed with one game or toy • Easily upset by change, demands routine • Unusual body movements • Extremely sensitive to sensory experiences • Seeks sensory stimulation
- 23. Functional assessment Needs Strengths Motivators Challenging behaviours
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- 25. Functional assessment • Lookat the child in context, and the behaviour in a real context • What are the functions of the behaviour- what and why is the child achieving? • Plan and implement strategies
- 26. Behaviours • Make descriptionsof behaviour specific • What exactly, when exactly, where? • Record frequency and duration • Record reactions and consequences to intervention
- 27. Functions of the behaviour... • Escape/ avoidance of a situation • Attention gained from the action • Getting access to a tangible item or activity • Automatic personal reinforcement or sensory input
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- 29. Other disability groups •Speech and language impairments • Physical impairments • Intellectual impairments • Learning difficulties • Sensory impairments
- 30. Overview of the Technology Part 2
- 31. Technology Currently being used: • Computers/ laptops • Specialised software • Websites • Mobile tablet technologies, eg iPad • Growing and expanding
- 32. Key principles tousing technology for students with Autism • Must be VISUAL • Be implemented with positive behavioural supports • Must be functional, motivating and interactive
- 33. Technology Integrate use to: • Improve and develop a communication system • Assist development of social skills • Enhance ability to learn
- 34. Low tech Symbol cards Symbol boards Visual tools Sign language
- 35. Range of technology for communication Symbols Software Communication devices iPad apps
- 36. iPad revolution iPad craze iPad frenzy
- 37. • User-friendly • Engaging • Multi-Functional New technologies • Mobile and portable • Easily accessed • "Normal" • Motivating • Cost effective
- 38. Challenges and solutions... • Durability Solution: protective cases and coverings
- 39. Challenges and solutions... • Finding the right Apps/program's Solution: access blogs and websites that review apps, Autism Apps.
- 40. Challenges and solutions... • One size fits all? Solution: no quick fix, no single solution, team assessment and problem solving
- 41. Challenges and solutions... • Abandonment of other valuable strategies Solution: don't throw the baby out with the bath water.. The iPad is just one tool in our tool kit.
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- 43. Challenges and solutions... • ICT .... ie... It Can't Teach Solution: not the total solution, success relies on the teacher still teaching
- 44. Challenges and solutions... • Training and support Solution: funding to support ongoing and continuing professional development, access to the right training
- 45. Challenges and solutions... • Ongoing support to implement Solution: access to regular support services and therapies, collect and review data
- 46. Challenges and solutions... • iPad obsession and keeping kids on task Solution: Limited music, video and entertainment apps, Use within structured time limits, Use together, encouraging interaction and engagement, iOS 6 - Guided Access
- 47. REMEMBER.... Continue to support students: • With clear goals and objectives • While continuing to collect data • While reviewing what works and what doesn't • And stay flexible and ready to make changes on the run
- 48. Communication Part 3
- 49. Communication skills Affected in different ways • Significant delays in speaking, use and understand fewer words • Not speaking at all (nonverbal)
- 50. Communication In those children who do develop speech • Copy or echo words (echolalia) with no real meaning attached • Difficulty initiating communication • Talk about their special interests • Difficulty using language for a range of purposes • Use and understand a limited set of vocabulary
- 51. Goals • Increase useand understanding of words • Improve comprehension and listening skills • Develop and extend vocabulary • Develop and extend spoken language skills
- 52. Software plus To expand and support oral language • Practical examples • Clicker • Symwriter • Symbol activities- language activities, songs and stories
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- 57. Apps for oral language
- 58. Interactive apps • Createa car • Cookie doodle • My PlayHome • ClickySticky • Toca Tea Party
- 59. Structured learning apps •Special words • Splingo! • ABA flashcards • Speech with Milo
- 60. Sentence building apps •Sentences builder • Rainbow sentences • The bag game
- 61. Communication Nonverbal • Children with little or no speech • Need to be given alternative ways to communicate (commonly called AAC) • Devices and apps • Don't forget low tech • Multimodal approach
- 62. Alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) Augmentative communication is the use of materials or techniques that supplement existing verbal abilities. Alternative communication is communication methods used by a person without any verbal ability. (Vanderheiden and Yoder, 1986)
- 63. Goals • Establish asystem of communication • Present a range of modes as the person selects their preferred method
- 64. Before you doanything.... • Consult with team • Trial and test apps/devices if possible • Be prepared to invest time and money into programming, training team members and implementation
- 65. Tips for success.. • Specific Vocabulary selection and design • To be engaging, interactive, fun, motivating and purposeful • Modelling of device/ board/ book
- 66. Picture exchange Low tech Aided Language boards
- 67. Communication Devices Practical ideas and suggestions
- 68. IPads and Appsfor AAC
- 69. Apps for AAClist http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/iphoneipad-apps-for-aac
- 70. Apps for AAC Symbol based • Proloquo2go • Sonoflex • Grid player • Sounding board • Alexicom
- 71. Apps for AAC Text-based • Verbally • Predictable
- 72. Apps for AAC Social communication • Pictello • Creative Book Builder
- 73. Behaviour Part 4
- 74. Behaviour Complex and variable • Prefer routines and sameness and dislike change • Meltdowns • Repetitive behaviours • Obsess over particular interest areas • Sensory challenges affect behaviours • Seek sensory stimulation
- 75. Behaviour supported with Visual tools
- 76. Benefits of visualtools • Provides positive behaviour support • Maintains routines and schedules but also can visually show when changes occur • Provides clear expectations • Steps within task are made clear • Keeps student on task • Allows team to use consistent language and provide consistent feedback to students
- 77. Visual tools areuseful for: • Schedules, timetables and routines • Class rules • First -then • Visual timers • Rewards • Organising the environment
- 78. Created in... • Symwriter •Boardmaker • On iPad using variety of apps
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- 85. Apps for schedules,timetables, routines,class rules and first-then • Proloquo2Go • iCommunicate • Visual routines • iPrompts XL • Choiceworks • First Then
- 86. Visual Timers • APPS: •Bang! boom! Buzzer • Visual Timer • iPrompts XL • Time Timer • Sharing timer
- 87. Rewards • Low tech •iPad as the reward • App: iEarntThat • App: Token board
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- 90. Organise the environment • Photos • Symbols • Pictello
- 91. Social development Part 5
- 92. Social development Early social interaction is difficult • Appear uninterested in social contact • Difficult to engage and interact with • Rarely show interest in others • May not respond to others • Little eye contact • Rarely chat or play with others
- 93. Goals for interaction •Engagement • Eye contact and interaction • Turn taking • Language stimulation • Listening and following directions • Requesting and commenting • Learning in a fun way!
- 94. Low tech/ notech • Intensive interaction • Imitating • Following the child's lead • Motivators
- 95. Apps for interaction •Toca Boca • Sound Touch • Playschool Art Maker • Aunty Maggie's recipe • Stop & Go
- 96. Social development In those children who do develop speech • Difficulty using language appropriately in conversations • Difficulty understanding social rules and expected behaviours • Cannot initiate and maintain conversations • Difficulty making and keeping friends • Unable to effectively solve social problems and negotiate • Problems expressing and understanding feelings and emotions
- 97. Teaching Social skillsrequires: • Team determining target behaviours • Pre teaching of social skills in small groups, and in natural, familiar and real settings • Rewarding and recognising behaviours • Consistent feedback about behaviours • Feedback can be given immediately after a social error • Then reviewed at a calm and responsive time
- 98. SEE THINK DOSAY Build internal dialogue
- 99. Social Stories Visual, video,photo stories created for specific learning of specific social behaviours Originally developed by Carol Gray www.thegraycentre.org
- 100. Can be used: •To prepare someone for new events and experiences • To teach positive behaviour • To teach a new skill
- 101. The structure • 3types of sentences • Descriptive - provide information • Perspective - describe internal states • Directive - tells the person what to do to be successful
- 103. Tips and tricks •Write from the individual's perspective • Write in present tense • Use positive language • One skill per story • Visual supports • Involve the person or their team
- 104. Tips for implementing •One at a time • Practice BEFORE the challenging situation occurs • Clear instructions for use • Consistent across all support • Review and revise
- 105. Create with • Clicker •PowerPoint • A variety of Apps: Pictello, Puppet Pals
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- 109. Goals and targetareas • Feelings • Friendships • Conversations • Conflict resolution • Classroom behaviour
- 110. Feelings • Recognising and identifying feelings • Expressing feelings • Handling feelings of anger, anxiety, stress
- 111. Friendships • Making friends •Maintaining friendships • Sharing, winning and losing • Eye contact, body language, talking and listening.
- 112. Conversations • Conversation rules •Initiating, maintaining and ending conversations • Topics • Taking turns • Asking questions
- 113. Conflict Resolution • Negotiation •Problem solving • Accept ways to resolve conflict • Choices when faced with conflict • Bullying and teasing
- 114. Classroom Behaviours • Listeningand attention, following directions • Asking for help • When you don't understand • Interrupting • Asking permission • Answering questions
- 115. Apps for Social Skills
- 116. App suggestions • Emotions • Calm counter • Emotion x • Choiceworks • Smarty Pants • Conversation builder • My life skills box • Friends Book • Social skills builder • iPrompts XL
- 117. Questions Specific technology questionsand solutions
- 118. Write 123...... • 1thing you are going to do tomorrow that will make a difference immediately • 2 things that you are going to get more information on • 3 things that you are going show other people where you work
- 119. Apps for SpecialEducation By the Spectronics Consultancy Team spectronics.com.au/blog/apple
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- 122. Spectronics Consultancy Team consultants@spectronics.com.au