Research summaries for autism therapy: assistive technology

definition of assistive technology: Augmentative and alternative curriculum (AAC) interventions aided with technically advanced tools, such as VOCAs or computers.
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Techniques and Recommendations for the Inclusion of Users with Autism in the Design of Assistive Technologies, Summarized Nov 17, 2009

Involving people with autism in the design process for digital devices may help create products that work well for them.

Digital assistive technology includes digital devices or programs that are designed to help people with autism. As much as 30% of new technologies are dropped because people with autism do not use them. A panel of 7 psychologists, who work with people with autism, recommended some ways to include them in the process of designing new technologies for them. First, the abilities, behaviors, and motivators (what motivates them) should be evaluated.... Read more...

Autism Treatment Survey: Services Received by Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Public School Classrooms, Summarized Jul 30, 2008

The top five autism therapies used in the Georgia public schools are: Gentle Teaching, sensory integration, cognitive behavioral modification, assistive technology, and Social Stories.

This article reports the results of a survey performed to find out the types of treatments, therapies, and interventions used by teachers working with students with autism in Georgia's public schools. The therapies differed by grade level and classroom type. The authors found that fewer than 10% of the therapies used with students with autism in Georgia public schools are based on scientific evidence. They propose that teaches may be wasting time and funds on treatments that may not work. About 40% of the therapies used by the teachers were not even mentioned in a 2005 review of autism therapies. Read more...

Using Assistive Technology to Teach Emotion Recognition to Students with Asperger Syndrome: A Pilot Study, Summarized Jan 21, 2008

The computer software called "Mind Reading: The Interactive Guide to Emotions(TM)" can help children with Asperger Syndrome to learn to recognize emotions.

This study was designed to see if the Mind Reading method could be used to teach children with Asperger Syndrome to learn to recognize emotions. The authors found that the Mind Reading program was able to help children learn to recognize basic and complex emotions in faces and voices. This shows that it is possible for people with Asperger Syndrome to recognize emotions. The students found the computer program to be interesting, fun, and helpful. Parents and teachers also liked the software. Read more...

Autism, Augmentative Communication, and Assistive Technology: What Do We Really Know?, Summarized Nov 7, 2006

This article gives an overview of the research on different forms of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and technological advances that can help children with autism communicate more clearly.... The author also explains how assistive technology can help children with autism, including voice output communication aids (VOCA) and computer-assisted instruction.... Read more...

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Synonyms for assistive technology include: assisted communication
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