autism and assistive technology - 2nd oct 2012
DESCRIPTION
Presentation by Amanda Hartmann in Doha, QATAR - 2nd Oct 2012TRANSCRIPT
Autism Masterclass
Spectronics Inclusive Learning Technologies
Amanda Hartmann Inclusive Technology Consultant(Speech Pathologist)
What do you hope to learn today?
Goals
I want to change your cycle.....
Crazy or success?
OVERVIEW• What is Autism?
• Technology
• Communication
• Behaviour
• Social development
• Questions
What is Autism?Part 1
AutismAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Range of conditions that share common characteristics, including difficulties with communicating, problem
solving and interacting.
Communication
Social development
Behaviour
ASD
Your student
Communication
Social Development
Behaviour
Early warning signsSeek 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
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
Functional assessment
Needs Strengths
Motivators Challenging behaviours
Translates...Into meaningful goals
Functional assessment
• Look at 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
Behaviours
• Make descriptions of behaviour specific
• What exactly, when exactly, where?
• Record frequency and duration
• Record reactions and consequences to intervention
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
spectronics.com.au/blog/tools-and-resources/sett
Other disability groups • Speech and language impairments
• Physical impairments
• Intellectual impairments
• Learning difficulties
• Sensory impairments
Overview of the Technology
Part 2
TechnologyCurrently being used:
• Computers/ laptops
• Specialised software
• Websites
• Mobile tablet technologies, eg iPad
• Growing and expanding
Key principles to using technology for students with Autism
• Must be VISUAL
• Be implemented with positive behavioural supports
• Must be functional, motivating and interactive
TechnologyIntegrate use to:
• Improve and develop a communication system
• Assist development of social skills
• Enhance ability to learn
Low techSymbol cards
Symbol boards Visual tools
Sign language
Range of technology for communication
Symbols Software
Communication devices iPad apps
iPad revolution
iPad craze iPad frenzy
iPad revolution
New technologies• Mobile and portable
• Easily accessed
• "Normal"
• Motivating
• Cost effective
• User-friendly
• Engaging
• Multi-Functional
Challengesand solutions...
• Durability
Solution: protective cases and coverings
Challengesand solutions...
• Finding the right Apps/program's
Solution: access blogs and websites that review apps, Autism Apps.
Challengesand solutions...
• One size fits all?
Solution: no quick fix, no single solution, team assessment and problem solving
Challengesand 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.
spectronics.com.au/blog/tools-and-resources/sett
Challengesand solutions...
• ICT .... ie... It Can't Teach
Solution: not the total solution, success relies on the teacher still teaching
Challengesand solutions...
• Training and support
Solution: funding to support ongoing and continuing professional development, access to the right training
Challengesand solutions...
• Ongoing support to implement
Solution: access to regular support services and therapies, collect and review data
Challengesand 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
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
CommunicationPart 3
Communication skillsAffected in different ways
• Significant delays in speaking, use and understand fewer words
• Not speaking at all (nonverbal)
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
Communication
Goals
• Increase use and understanding of words
• Improve comprehension and listening skills
• Develop and extend vocabulary
• Develop and extend spoken language skills
To expand and support oral language
• Practical examples
• Clicker
• Symwriter
• Symbol activities- language activities, songs and stories
Software plus
Language activities
Songs
Stories
Apps for oral language
Interactive apps
• Create a car
• Cookie doodle
• My PlayHome
• ClickySticky
• Toca Tea Party
Structured learning apps
• Special words
• Splingo!
• ABA flashcards
• Speech with Milo
Sentence building apps
• Sentences builder
• Rainbow sentences
• The bag game
Communication
• 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
Nonverbal
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)
Goals
• Establish a system of communication
• Present a range of modes as the person selects their preferred method
Before you do anything....
• Consult with team
• Trial and test apps/devices if possible
• Be prepared to invest time and money into programming, training team members and implementation
Tips for success..
• Specific Vocabulary selection and design
• To be engaging, interactive, fun, motivating and purposeful
• Modelling of device/ board/ book
Low techPicture exchange
Aided Language boards
Communication Devices
Practical ideas and suggestions
IPads and Apps for AAC
Apps for AAC list
http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/iphoneipad-apps-for-aac
Apps for AAC
• Proloquo2go
• Sonoflex
• Grid player
• Sounding board
• Alexicom
Symbol based
Apps for AAC
• Verbally
• Predictable
Text-based
Apps for AAC
• Pictello
• Creative Book Builder
Social communication
BehaviourPart 4
BehaviourComplex and variable
• Prefer routines and sameness and dislike change
• Meltdowns
• Repetitive behaviours
• Obsess over particular interest areas
• Sensory challenges affect behaviours
• Seek sensory stimulation
Behaviour supported with
Visual tools
Benefits of visual tools• 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
Visual tools are useful for:• Schedules, timetables and routines
• Class rules
• First -then
• Visual timers
• Rewards
• Organising the environment
Created in...
• Symwriter
• Boardmaker
• On iPad using variety of apps
Schedules
Schedules
Timetables
Rules
Rules
First - then
Apps for schedules, timetables, routines,class rules and first-then
• Proloquo2Go
• iCommunicate
• Visual routines
• iPrompts XL
• Choiceworks
• First Then
Visual Timers
• APPS:
• Bang! boom! Buzzer
• Visual Timer
• iPrompts XL
• Time Timer
• Sharing timer
Rewards
• Low tech
• iPad as the reward
• App: iEarntThat
• App: Token board
Rewards
Rewards
Organise the environment
• Photos
• Symbols
• Pictello
Social development Part 5
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
Goals for interaction• Engagement
• Eye contact and interaction
• Turn taking
• Language stimulation
• Listening and following directions
• Requesting and commenting
• Learning in a fun way!
Low tech/ no tech
• Intensive interaction
• Imitating
• Following the child's lead
• Motivators
Apps for interaction
• Toca Boca
• Sound Touch
• Playschool Art Maker
• Aunty Maggie's recipe
• Stop & Go
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
Social development
Teaching Social skills requires: • 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
SEE THINK DO SAYBuild internal dialogue
Social Stories
Visual, video, photo stories created for specific learning of specific social behaviours
Originally developed by Carol Gray www.thegraycentre.org
Can be used:
• To prepare someone for new events and experiences
• To teach positive behaviour
• To teach a new skill
The structure
• 3 types of sentences
• Descriptive - provide information
• Perspective - describe internal states
• Directive - tells the person what to do to be successful
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
Tips for implementing• One at a time
• Practice BEFORE the challenging situation occurs
• Clear instructions for use
• Consistent across all support
• Review and revise
Create with• Clicker
• PowerPoint
• A variety of Apps: Pictello, Puppet Pals
Super low tech...
Super low tech....
Convert to symbols
Goals and target areas
• Feelings
• Friendships
• Conversations
• Conflict resolution
• Classroom behaviour
Feelings
• Recognising and identifying feelings
• Expressing feelings
• Handling feelings of anger, anxiety, stress
Friendships
• Making friends
• Maintaining friendships
• Sharing, winning and losing
• Eye contact, body language, talking and listening.
Conversations
• Conversation rules
• Initiating, maintaining and ending conversations
• Topics
• Taking turns
• Asking questions
Conflict Resolution
• Negotiation
• Problem solving
• Accept ways to resolve conflict
• Choices when faced with conflict
• Bullying and teasing
Classroom Behaviours• Listening and attention,
following directions
• Asking for help
• When you don't understand
• Interrupting
• Asking permission
• Answering questions
Apps for Social Skills
App suggestions
• Emotions
• Emotion x
• Smarty Pants
• My life skills box
• Social skills builder
• Calm counter
• Choiceworks
• Conversation builder
• Friends Book
• iPrompts XL
QuestionsSpecific technology questions and solutions
Write 123......
• 1 thing 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
Apps for Special EducationBy the Spectronics Consultancy Team
spectronics.com.au/blog/apple
spectronics.com.au/online
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Spectronics Consultancy Team