Autism Resources - Recently Updated Pages

Autism Resources Home

autismteacher — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:51:20 CDT

Welcome to the Autism Resources Home page. This site is an evolving collection of technology resources that support students with Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Asperger Syndrome.

NEW!! Education Week's Digital Directions: Assistive-Tech Connections
Great article all about the use of assistive technology with students who have autism.

Guiding Principles, predicated upon a Strength model, can be found in the following two books:

Just Give Him the Whale!: 20 Ways to Use Fascinations, Areas of Expertise, and Strengths to Support Students with Autism by Paula Kluth and Patrick Schwarz

Highlights strategies that reframe "obsessions" as areas of strength, as positive instructional tools that calm, engage and facilitate learning.

Visual Strategies for Improving Communication: Practical Supports for School and Home by Linda Hodgdon
Highlights strategies that build upon the visual strengths of learners with ASD.

Choose a page link on the left for specific resources by category.

Commercially Available Assistive Technology Tools

KJanowski — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 19:07:15 CDT

Commercially Available Assistive Technology Tools:

IntelliTools Classroom Suite - excellent software program for all content areas, offers alternative access for students who need it. Free 30 day trial download available at the link. It is especially valuable due to the Activity Exchange. Look for the In My Classroom (a new one is created for every month of school) and the eight Treasure Hunt activities created by Cindy Kerr.

DTTrainer - The DT Trainer is an evidence-based, direct instructional software program with over 160 curriculum content programs, hundreds of motivating reinforcers, and data tracking/assessment features. It is a highly configurable, behavior-based, affordable instructional tool that allows independent learning for individuals with mild-moderate-severe cognitive and developmental disabilities as well as for typically developing learners. (30 day trial download available at the website. 20% discount through April 30th!)

Activity Trainer - The Activity Trainer is a first-in-class tool that makes video modeling practical for use in classrooms and at home. Video modeling has been shown in numerous studies to improve the acquisition rates of a wide variety of skills. The Activity Trainer not only extends the power of video modeling, but it also includes a diverse library of videos and other activity resources. AES is building a library spanning academic, daily living, non-verbal imitation, recreational, social, and vocational activities. Customers will receive one year of access to our expanding library of activities.

TeachTown: Basics - is a comprehensive computer-assisted treatment program intended to provide learning tools and teaching strategies for children with a developmental age between 2 and 7. The program uses evidence-based practices from over 30 years of research in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Education, Speech and Language, and Developmental Psychology. Research article on the effectiveness of this software.

VizZle - is a revolutionary new web-based software for children with autism. VizZle is the answer for teachers, clinicians and parents who need quick, easy and effective visual language supports for children with Autism. Through collaboration with Dr. Howard Shane and colleagues at Boston Children’s Hospital, Monarch Teaching Technologies has designed VizZle around three highly effective visual language programming modalities - Visual Instructional Mode, Visual Organizational Mode and Visual Expression Mode. Get a free trial at the VizZle link.

Read:OutLoud Text Reader - Opens and reads all common accessible file formats and is known for its reading guide templates that leverage reading comprehension strategies recommended by the National Reading Panel and Reading Next Report. The software has built-in comprehension and fluency tools for students who read below grade level. It is an approved test accommodation in many states. A web browser provides access to the Internet with speech-enabled audio; eHighlighter improves study skills; Franklin Talking Dictionary supports vocabulary; and a bibliographer helps students accurately cite research. Virginia and Indiana have selected Read:OutLoud for statewide accessible instruction materials reading initiatives.

Boardmaker

Mrs. Riley - subscription service for easily creating picture cards

Picture Planner - icon-based planning software designed for family use

Social Skill Builder - software which presents video sequences of real-life social scenarios and offering appropriate responses, Social Skill Builder software can help children rapidly improve their skills in the following areas: Appropriate Social Behavior, Interactions and Relationships, Social Emotions, and Problem-Solving

ComicLife -use this tool to create engaging visual social stories.

Free Technology Resources

KJanowski — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 08:39:42 CDT

Free Technology Resources

Many of these online resources are excellent for use with a SmartBoard (recommended due to the ability to use touch which has been found to be more effective than the use of a marker or stylus)

ZacBrowser - Web Browser designed by a grandfather for his grandson who is on the Autism Spectrum. Appropriate for young children or those with developmental disabilities.

HelpKidzLearn - This web site is full of FREE accessible (switches, touch screen, mouse) online games, activities, & stories from Inclusive Technology.

Starfall - All activities are great for SmartBoard use

Make a Calendar activity - Perfect for Morning Circle - Excellent SmartBoard Activity

Tar Heel Readers - online, accessible books

Coloring

TheColor.com

Drawing Tools

Kerpoof- a free online tool

Explore all tools
Make A Drawing
Doodle Pad

TuxPaint - free drawing software download

Project Spectrum - Google Sketchup Tutorial for use with students on the Autism Spectrum. Access the Project Spectrum Manual of Ideas for Parents and Teachers here.

Do to Learn - Free Feelings and Emotions Games, excellent for social skills instruction, also check out the Fire Safety and Street Safety songs for students with cognitive disabilities

Visual Schedules - best for younger students

PocketMod - low tech visual organizer or schedule

Checklists - linear alternative to rubrics, easily create guides for students' projects.

Social Stories

Region 2 Digital Lending Library - collection of social stories in PowerPoint format
Prewritten Social Stories - ranging from Recess Story to Bathroom Story to Asking Other Kids to Play Story
Comic Strip Conversations -
Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have trouble interpreting social situations and understanding speech as quickly as most social interactions require. A comic strip conversation is a conversation between two or more people using simple illustrations in a comic strip format. They show children how to behave in a socially acceptable manner and conform to social standards. The effectiveness can be enhanced by incorporating a child's favorite cartoon character into the illustration.

Comic Strip Creator
Make Belief
Toondoo
Xtranormal - make free 3D movies

Yodio - add sound or voice to photos by recording from phone

Voice Thread - capture audio for online digital storytelling. Excellent online tool to create social stories or video modeling

Tinsnips - is a special education resource that strives to share a variety of specialized teaching tools, techniques, worksheets, and activities with teachers of students who have autistic spectrum disorders and related developmental disabilities. Many of these activities may be appropriate for Pre-K and Kindergarten children.

Assistive Technology Foundations

KJanowski — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 21:07:42 CDT

Why use technology with students who are autistic?

Research on instructional methods for students who are on the Autism spectrum suggests that the use of computers is an engaging and motivating tool. It offers predictability and flexibility. Research further suggests that computers promote:

Increase in focused attention
Increase in overall attention span
Increase in in-seat behavior
Increase in fine motor skills
Increase in generalization skills (from computer to non-computer activities)
Decrease in agitation
Decrease in self-stimulatory behaviors
Decrease in perseverative responses

(from Autism: Interventions and Strategies for Success, by Susan Stokes, accessed at http://www.specialed.us/autism/Autism.pdf )

Assistive Technology for Children with Autism by Susan Stokes

This article is subdivided into Low Tech Strategies, Mid Tech Strategies and High Tech options.

Presentation on "Technology in Treatment of Autism" from the MIND Institute

Miscellaneous Tech Strategies

KJanowski — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 20:40:59 CDT

Behavior / Social Skills

The KidTools Support System - "The KidTools Support System (KTSS) is a federally-funded project to provide performance support software for children, ages 7-13, who have learning disabilities and/or emotional and behavioral problems. The KTSS software includes a library of tools provided as easy-to-use templates for children to personalize and use independently in school and home settings. The KidTools program includes template tools to assist children in self-management, problem solving, and making plans and contracts. KidSkills includes organizational and planning tools and a variety of learning strategies."

Visual Timers

Online StopWatch can also be downloaded here.

Life Skills

Community Signs for Windows - free download for Windows only; check out the options to customize for your students.

Mouse Skills

Baby Rose - move the cursor and watch the eyes follow the cursor

Bees & Honey - 3 different activities targeting specific mouse skills.

Bees - student simply moves the mouse around in order to "catch" bees
Flowers - student has to click on flowers in order for them to open up
Honey - student has to click & drag bees onto flowers

Bubble Wrap - work on mouse clicks

Gopher - fun game, student whacks gophers when they stick their heads out of the holes by clicking on them

Numerous additional sites here to work on right mouse clicks, clicking and dragging

Blogs

techietacher — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 13:12:23 CDT

Autism Games

I Teach Autism

WOW!! The Organization and Management of an Autism Classroom Consulting Group

Special Education Strategies And More

Teaching Learners with Multiple Special Needs

Autism Resources - Recently Updated Pages

Autism Resources Home

Welcome to the Autism Resources Home page. This site is an evolving collection of technology resources that support students with Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Asperger Syndrome.

Guiding Principles, predicated upon a Strength model, can be found in the following two books:

Just Give Him the Whale!: 20 Ways to Use Fascinations, Areas of Expertise, and Strengths to Support Students with Autism by Paula Kluth and Patrick Schwarz

Visual Strategies for Improving Communication: Practical Supports for School and Home by Linda Hodgdon

Choose a page link on the left for specific resources by category.

Commercially Available Assistive Technology Tools

Commercially Available Assistive Technology Tools:

Free Technology Resources

Free Technology Resources

Assistive Technology Foundations

Why use technology with students who are autistic?

Assistive Technology for Children with Autism by Susan Stokes

Presentation on "Technology in Treatment of Autism" from the MIND Institute

Miscellaneous Tech Strategies

Behavior / Social Skills

Visual Timers

Life Skills

Mouse Skills

Blogs