Technology Tools and Autism By: Demetria Ennis-Cole, Ph.D. July 7-10, st National Conference on ASDs Hyatt Regency Dallas, TX

Listening Center Listening Center Classic Literature and Popular Novels

Video Modeling DVDs Video Modeling DVDs Demonstrations of Social Skills and Appropriate Behaviors

Goesafari Smart Talk Goesafari Smart Talk Vocabulary, Word Meanings and Associations

Manipulatives, Picture Books Manipulatives, Picture Books Use technology when it solidifies and expands the potential for learning, but don’t forget about manipulatives and pictures

Reading Programs Reading Programs Interactive and engaging solutions to increase reading proficiency and practice

Technology Demonstration Sites TARA

Computation Visually and Aurally Computation Visually and Aurally Tie multiple modalities with the preferred (usually visual)

Click Start Click Start Attaches to a TV and makes it an interactive computer for young learners to understand and use letters, numbers, and symbols

More Than Photos More Than Photos Learning Processes, People, and Places

Educational Resources with Worksheet CDs Educational Resources with Worksheet CDs Design Your own Lessons and Instructional Games

Go Talk 20 + and Go Talker Go Talk 20 + and Go Talker Augmentative Communication Aids for Curriculum Development and Language Enrichment

Radius System Radius System Self-paced language and vocabulary instruction; good for fluency and reading comprehension

LOTTIE Kit for Math Instruction LOTTIE Kit for Math Instruction Low Technology Tools for Inclusive Education - Judith Sweeney of Onion Mountain Technology, Inc.

LOTTIE Kit for Literacy LOTTIE Kit for Literacy Electronic Dictionaries, Special Pencils, Highlighting - Judith Sweeney of Onion Mountain Technology, Inc.

Reading Pens Reading Pens

Talking Calculator Talking Calculator

Caliphone Card Reader and Recorder Caliphone Card Reader and Recorder

PDAs PDAs Myles, B.S., Ferguson, H., & Hagiwara, T. (2007) used a Personal Digital Assistant with an Autistic Student and noted that the student increased the accuracy of his homework notes. The manual recordings in the student’s planner were inconsistent and erratic while the PDA recordings were more accurate. The researchers indicate that the differences in medium may be attributed to handwriting demands, ease of PDA use, and motivation. Further empirical study is suggested.

IntelliTools.com IntelliTools.com Cambium Learning Technologies Customizable overlays that plug into a USB Port and allow users with visual, physical, or cognitive disabilities to use an alternative keyboard to send , learn new concepts, or search the Internet. Image Source: store.cambiumlearning.com/ProgramPage.aspx?parent Id= &functionID= &site=itc store.cambiumlearning.com/ProgramPage.aspx?parent Id= &functionID= &site=itc

Technology in AU Research & Treatment Technology in AU Research & Treatment Secure Online Personal Records: k3zFvKTEWvz7uIrwGZpwqU&md=1 Communicating Behavior to Health Professionals: Learning About Emotions: Skill Generalization and Instructional Aids: Goodwin, M.S. (2008) Enhancing and accelerating the pace of Autism research and treatment. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 23(2),

Technology in AU Research & Treatment Technology in AU Research & Treatment Research and Implementation: Speech Recognition, Synthesis and Voice Transformation: Autism Speaks – Innovative Technology for Autism (ITA): a_initiative.php Goodwin, M.S. (2008) Enhancing and accelerating the pace of Autism research and treatment. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 23(2),

Promise of VR Technology Promise of VR Technology A series of studies from 1992 – 2007 utilizing VR to teach safety skills to students with ASDs and FASDs allowed students to generalize principles they learned in the software to the real world. The following design components were implicated: Practice in the virtual space Guidance and correction by animated characters, Customizable words and responses for user control, Limitations on allowable actions Strickland, D.C., McAllister, D., Coles, C.D., & Osborne, S. (2007). An evolution of Virtual Reality Training Designs for children with Autism and fetal Alcohol Spectrum disorders. Topics in Language Disorders 27(3),

Summary Summary Technology offers promise to students in the Autism Spectrum. When technology tools match desired learning outcomes, they give us the opportunity to teach in more engaging and more interesting ways. Different forms of technology can support all learners in the spectrum, and make it possible for them to learn in more visually appealing and more entertaining formats.