Assistive technology, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to help encourage independence, expand communication, and expand social interactions. Includes APPs, smartphones, tablets, video modeling.
A free app has been released by autism expert Professor James Adams, PhD and his team at the Autism Nutrition Research Center (ANRC) which displays the user ratings of many autism therapies and treatments. The ANRC Autism Treatment Rater App is a smart-phone app that shows the ratings of multiple medications, supplements, diets, and therapies,
in Autism News, Autism Technology by Emily Ansell Elfer, BA Hons, Dip
The look on the doctor’s face showed concern, mixed with something else Sally couldn’t discern. “Sally, your son does not have autism spectrum disorder, I believe he has virtual autism.” Sally couldn’t wrap her mind around it. She had never heard of it before. “Virtual autism? What even is that? How did he get it?
in Autism Technology by Rachel Andersen
Will artificial intelligence soon play a part in diagnosing autism spectrum disorder? For children with autism and their families, early diagnosis and interventions can play a big role in improving development and long-term health. An early diagnosis typically results in earlier access to clinical, behavioral, educational, and social services that a child and family may
in Autism Technology by David Happel, MBA
An autism mom shares how using an iPad has benefited her daughter and offers tips for fellow parents. As a parent of a child with ASD, I must say that when my autistic daughter first interacted with an iPad, I really had mixed feelings. Will it damage or will it help? But, almost five years
in Autism Technology by Sonia Johnson
There has been increasing research based on robots for autism and the benefits that technology can have in the world of neurodivergence. Many parents, caregivers, and technicians are becoming increasingly interested in the skills that these machines could potentially support. The possibilities to help improve interactions with children with autism and their environment are a
in Autism Technology by Donnesa McPherson, AAS
Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often use physical devices like helmets, gates, and locks as ways to keep their kids protected. But an increasing number of parents are also turning to smart tech to help. In fact, today’s ASD parents have plenty of options for keeping their children safe. Here are five
in Autism Technology by Hilary Thompson
Does your child have a difficult time handling disappointment? Do seemingly simple requests turn into tantrums? Sometimes children learn one way to handle situations like this (i.e., meltdown) and have a very difficult time learning a new and better way to respond. It’s likely not enjoyable for you or your child when these situations arise,
in Autism Technology by Melissa M. Root, PhD
What is Assistive Technology? Assistive technology (AT) is defined as any product, equipment, software program, and/or system that enhances learning, working and daily living for persons with disabilities. The goal of assistive technology is to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of people with disabilities (ATIA). Think about all of the skills that your
in Autism Technology by Alescia Ford-Lanza, MS, OTR/L, ATP
Does your child need help brushing his/her teeth? Can your child wash his/her hands without help? Will your child do simple chores around the home, like making his/her bed, without your help? Assisting your child with these and other self-help tasks daily can often bring stress to your life. If you can teach your child
in Autism Technology by Melissa M. Root, PhD
Social skills can be broadly defined as the ability to develop and maintain relationships. Deficits in social skills are a core feature for children, as well as adults with autism. For school-age children with high-functioning autism, limitations in social skills adversely impact conversation skills, peer acceptance, and self-perception. Available research indicates that children with autism
in Autism Technology by Monica Hudnall, MA, CCC-SLP
In my recent article published in Autism Parenting Magazine, Issue 67, I focused on the augmentative and alternative (AAC) communication evaluation process and on answering commonly asked questions. Many people have a misconception that once you receive an AAC communication device, this is the end of your journey. This is just the beginning! Receiving an
in Autism Technology by Rebecca Eisenberg, MS, CCC-SLP
Is saying hello or waving “hi” hard for your child to do? Does your child ask you questions about something you shared with him/her? Will your child ask another child to play? These may be some of the challenges your child with autism faces every day, and they impact the ability to make friends. Thankfully,
in Autism Technology by Melissa M. Root, PhD
There’s a lot of talk about why teaching kids technology, programming in particular, is good for students in today’s educational landscape. Nearly every other week there seems to be some major news announcement around STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) or STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) and CS (computer science) and even, IT (information
in Autism Technology by Beth Rosenberg
One of the most difficult things to cope with as an autism mom was my son’s inability to speak. I remember hoping and praying that speech was going to develop and reassuring myself that it was a matter of time and the words would emerge by perhaps the next holiday or birthday. I recall having
in Autism Technology by Ewa Omahen, PhD
Do you know how much time your child spends on the screen playing video games? Do you know which kinds of games are detrimental or valuable to young minds? These are very challenging questions for parents, especially for parents of children with autism. There is no question that videogames, some apps and online activities can
in Autism Technology by Randi Rentz
If you are wondering, “How can assistive technology help a child with autism?” you are not alone. Using different types of alternative forms of communication for autism has been proven to improve communication outcomes in children with language delays. The benefits of assistive technology for autism are widely recognized by speech-language pathologists. This article will
in Autism Technology by Katherine G. Hobbs, AA
As a speech-language pathologist for more than 18 years, I have spent most of my career in the field of augmentative and alternative communication. My key interests have always been children and adults who have complex communication needs. This population displays a variety of disabilities, but my past and current caseloads include mostly children with
in Autism Technology by Rebecca Eisenberg, MS, CCC-SLP
Great strides have been made in the past few years towards embracing the inherent challenges and discoveries made about the different degrees of autism. Targeted diets, advanced educator training, multitudes of periodical resources and specialized mainstream community mentor programs are all available to lend support. However, it is technology in the classroom that has propelled
in Autism Technology by Felicity Dryer
If you have a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), you already know there is a high risk that he/she might try to elope, or wander off without permission. For such parents, a GPS tracker is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. There are a large number of products on the market to help protect children
in Autism Technology by Tulika Prasad
Are you concerned that your child’s challenging behaviors are unchangeable? Are you worried there’s no way to teach your pre-verbal child? Do you have sleepless nights wondering if your child will ever socialize with peers? This may surprise you, but there’s a technique called video self-modeling that works through all of the challenges listed above
in Autism Technology by Melissa M. Root, PhD
They don’t make toys like they used to. It’s not uncommon to still see the dolls and action figures of yesteryear, but as we have progressed scientifically and experienced innovative breakthroughs across technologies, toys today are more than that. They’re interactive companions, sometimes designed from a pure entertainment perspective. And, more often than not, they
in Autism Technology by Ladislas de Toldi
In my practice as an educator, I worked with children who had different needs, as well as different strengths, that balanced their shortcomings. No child is the same as the other, autistic or neurotypical, so it’s very difficult to generalize. I should mention, however, that my experience is mostly with children of preschool and elementary
in Autism Technology by Jana Rooheart
Much has been said over the years concerning technology and education — there has been and still is an ongoing debate about how we can best implement technology into schools to the benefit of children. Our adult life on a day-to-day basis is filled with technology, from touch screens to order plane tickets to self-checkout
in Autism Technology by Andre Spivey, BAOM
GPS Tracking Devices for Children with Autism On October 4th, 2013, a fourteen year old boy named Avonte Oquendo went missing from the school he attended in Queens, New York. The footage from the schools security cameras showed Avonte running down a hallway, and then out a door that had been left open, and unlocked. There was no
in Autism Technology by Megan Kelly
Page [tcb_pagination_current_page] of [tcb_pagination_total_pages]