Technology Supports for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Bellini S. Akullian J. (2007). A meta-analysis of video modeling and video self-modeling interventions for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Exceptional Children, 73(3), 264–287.

Burke J. Cerniglia L. (1990). Stimulus complexity and autistic children's responsivity: Assessing and training a pivotal behavior. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 20, 233–253.

Cafiero J. (2001). The effect of an augmentative communication intervention on the communication, behavior, and academic program of an adolescent with autism. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 16(3), 179–189.

Cafiero J. (2005). Meaningful exchanges for people with autism: An introduction to AAC. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House.

McClannahan L. Krantz P. (1999). Activity schedules for children with autism. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House.

McGee J. Lord K. (2001). Educating children with autism. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

Millar D. Light J. Schlosser R. (2006). The impact of augmentative and alternative communication on the speech production of individuals with developmental disabilities: A research review. Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research, 49, 248–264.

Mirenda P. (1998). Supporting individuals with challenging behavior through functional communication training and AAC: Research review. AAC Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 13, 207–225.

Mirenda P. (2001). Autism, augmentative communication and assistive technology: What do we really know? Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 16, 141–151.

Mirenda P. (2003). Toward functional augmentative and alternative communication for students with autism: Manual signs, graphic symbols, and voice output communication aids. Language, Speech and Hearing in Schools, 34, 203–216.

Mirenda P. Wilk D. Carson P. (2000). A retrospective analysis of technology use patterns of students with autism over a five-year period. Journal of Special Education Technology, 15, 5–16.

Mitchell P. Parsons S. Leonard A. (2007). Using virtual environments for teaching social understanding to six adolescents with autistic spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37(3), 589–600.

Moore D. Cheng Y. McGrath P. Powell N. (2005). Collaborative virtual environment technology for people with autism. Focus on Autism and other Developmental Disabilities, 21, 7–13.

Schepis M. Reid D. Behrman M. Sutton K. A. (1998). Increasing communicative interactions of young children with autism using a voice output communication aid and naturalistic teaching. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 31, 561–578.

Slater J. E. Slater J. M. (1998–2008). Pix Writer. Guffey, CO: Slater Software, Inc.

Smith J. (2006). Alternatives to speech and real time communication. Retrieved from http://ani.autistics.org/aut05.html.

Internet and World Wide Web Resources.

ASD Identification and Intervention.

The use of technology-based resources world wide has contributed to the dissemination of information regarding the diagnosis and treatment of autism. Examples include:

• http://firstsigns.org—First Signs is dedicated to the early identification and intervention of children with developmental delays and disorders. Information is available online and an autism screening kit can be ordered.

• http://www.kennedykrieger.org—This website provides resources for diagnosis, symptoms, educational facilities, and parent and professional training.

• http://www.childbrain.com/pddq2.shtml-Childbrain.com is a pediatric neurology site with information on diagnostic criteria for ASD. There is an assessment scale questionnaire and information on how to score it.

• http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/autism.cfm—The American Academy of Pediatrics has a website specifically for physicians to help facilitate early identification of autism.

• http://www.autismspeaks.org/video/glossary.php—Autism Speaks and First Signs provide the ASD Video Glossary, a web-based tool containing more than 100 video clips designed to help parents and professionals learn more about the early red flags and diagnostic features of ASD.

Best Practices in ASD.

Internet resources have aided significantly in the application of best practices and collaborative research in ASD. Examples include:

• www.IANproject.org—The Interactive Autism Network project is an online autism registry of people and families living with ASD. It provides information on research studies and a wealth of information enabling researchers to communicate and collaborate.

• www.tinsnips.org—Educational materials are available in PDF format that can be downloaded free or purchased outright. These materials include curricular adaptations such as worksheets, seasonal units, songs, and games.

• www.sandbox-learning.com—This site contains free stories and data collection tools.

• www.do2learn.com—This site contains free and for sale worksheets and academic and leisure games in math, identifying emotions, and sequencing events.

• www.askability.org.uk—This site contains free adapted text for reading, writing, and/or communicating. It includes news, games, stories, and jokes. Symbol users can post photos and comments in adapted texts.

• www.mayer-johnson.com—This is an online catalog of communication and curricular adaptations. It includes free online technology courses, samples of communication tools, and links to other sites.

• www.symbolworld.org—This site contains free online stories adapted for symbol users. Some stories are aligned with standard curriculum. There is a free monthly symbol-based newspaper with stories and activities for the home or classroom.

• http://speech.jppss.k12.la.us—This site includes free resources from teacher tips to adapted curriculum, including adapted literature, songs, recipes, and communication overlays for a variety of devices.

Online Autism Education and Training Sites.

Examples include:

• Autism Society of America. [http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer] Free 30-minute online course covering an introduction to autism, treatment options and assistance, transitions to adulthood, and other information and resources.

• University of Massachusetts, Lowell. [http://continuinged.uml.edu/online/autism.htm] Online graduate programs in behavioral intervention in autism culminating in a graduate certificate.

• Illinois State University. [http://www.autismspectrum.ilstu.edu/courses] This is a three-credit-hour, graduate level training course for individuals who work and live with children and adolescents with ASD.

• Johns Hopkins University. [http://education.jhu.edu/specialeducation/certificates/autism] This is a 33-credit-hour Masters program. Students take courses in communication, classroom programming, behavioral interventions, and assistive technology.