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AUTISM AND ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
According to AutismSpeaks.org (2014), 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 nonverbal
communication and repetitive behaviors.


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AUTISM AND ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
A rapidly growing number of children are being
diagnosed with some type of autism. The U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
identify around 1 in 68 American children as on the
autism spectruma ten-fold increase in prevalence
in 40 years (AutismSpeaks.org, 2014).
As the number of autistic students continues to rise,
technology must be made available to meet the
needs of the wide-array of manifestations of this
disorder.


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WHAT TYPES OF
ASSISTIVE
TECHNOLOGY IS
AVAILABLE?
Each child is unique. Likewise, each case of autism
spectrum disorder is unique. A child or adult who is
autistic may have difficulty managing his/her
behavior, inability to handle social interactions,
verbal and nonverbal communication deficiencies, as
well as other physical and cognitive impairments
that make it challenging to learn, especially in a
school setting.

Since the range of disabilities is wide, so must the
technology be. For example, nonverbal students can
use Proloquo or Touch Chat HD to communicate via
computer or tablet. For students who need detailed
schedules, First Then Visual Schedule provides
images and sounds to remind students what tasks
need to be done. Marblesofts Click to Read: Life
Skills application provides autistic students colorful
stories that provide basic life skills lessons such as
completing tasks and counting money.
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CLICK TO READ: LIFE SKILLS
M A R B L E S O F T S C L I C K
T O R E A D : L I F E S K I L L S
This technology is a useful for
building vocabulary and
comprehension all the
while adjusting to student
skills levels.
Students show their skills by
playing the Show What
You Know activities.
This technology is to be used
by autistic students who
may have several
impairments.
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This technology is significant
because autistic students
can be delayed academically.
This program always
learners an opportunity to
work on vocabulary and
comprehension skills at
adjustable levels.
The advantages to this
technology are that it is
adjustable and it contains
lots of useful pictures.
However, the click to read
series is a pay per program
application. Once this Click
to Read program is used,
other similar programs. This
program has limitations.

The implications of this
technology for teaching and
learning are:

Comprehension skills such as
cause and effect are
reinforced.
Monitoring students ability to
retain information from the
text.
Allows students to progress in
their reading levels.
Audio prompts are available for
struggling readers.

WHY IS IT USEFUL?
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FIRST THEN VISUAL SCHEDULE
M O B I L E V I S U A L
R E M I N D E R S
This technology is a useful for
autistic students who need
constant prompting to maintain
a schedule.
Students are able to use visual
schedules to show daily events
and routines, as well as
specific steps needed to
complete daily tasks.
This technology is to be used by
autistic students who require
prompting due to
developmental or social delays.
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This technology is significant
because autistic students can be
sometimes need additional
prompting to complete routines.
Visual reminders are helpful for
students who need pictorial
messages to demonstrate how
and when to do a task.
The advantages to this technology
are that it is adjustable and it
contains lots of useful pictures.
However, the click to read series
is a pay per program application.
Once this Click to Read program
is used, other similar programs.
This program has limitations.

The implications of this technology
for teaching and learning are:

Students are able to leave the self-
contained environment if they
use an iPod, iPad, or other tablet.
Schedules can be printed if needed.
Students can check off completed
tasks and learn how to manage
time.
Files can be shared so that schedules
can be used at home, school, or
any other place if an iPod, iPad,
or tablet is available.
Students will be able practice
routines and time management.
WHY IS IT USEFUL?
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PROLOQUO
C O M M U N I C A T I O N
This technology is a useful for
nonverbal autistic students.
Students are able to use pictures,
premade sentences and
questions, as well as self typed
text to communicate with
others.
This technology is to be used by
autistic students who are
nonverbal and who wish to
communicate with others.
Using the Proloquo, students
will be able to verbalize the
things that they arent able to
say.
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This technology is significant
because autistic students who
arent able to communicate
with words now have a voice to
speak to others. Since some
cases of autism cause children
to be unable to verbally
communicate, this technology
bridges the gap between the
student and the world.
The advantages to this technology
are the voiceless now have a
voice. This program has over
8,000 symbols that students
can use to communicate if
typing isnt an option. It is
customizable. However, if this
technology is expensive.

The implications of this technology
for teaching and learning are:

Students are able to break their
silence of nonverbal autism.
Students can use a variety of ways
to communicate depending on
the childs cognitive level.
For lower functioning students,
symbols can be used to
communicate. Higher
functioning students can
simply type the words they
wish to say.

WHY IS IT USEFUL?
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