::USEFUL SITE::

Assistive Technology for Children with Autism

http://www.specialed.us/autism/assist/asst10.htm

This site is very beneficial to parents and educators of students with special needs; especially students with Autism. The most widely used and known Assistive Technology for students with Autism are visuals. Visuals can be used as daily schedules, reinforcement systems, choices, pictures exchanges for communication, and can be anything from actual objects, to pictures of objects, to picture icons to represent objects. “Boardmaker” is referenced on the site, http://www.specialed.us/autism/assist/asst10.htm and is described as a “user-friendly program for both adults and children [that] offers a 3,000 Picture Communication Symbol (PCS) library in either black/white or color, and can be accompanied by any written word/message.” Boardmaker is a great program that can benefit students. For example, in my classroom we use pictures schedules and icons all day, everyday. The information regarding the different types of visuals (i.e. real objects, photos, lined drawings, etc.) was beneficial to myself, my staff members, and the parents of my students, and we have become more aware of all of the visual techniques we use throughout our school day in our Autism Preschool. This information has helped my parents begin to incorporate visuals in their home environments. As an educator, I have been able to use Boardmaker to provided picture icons for the families of my students, so we can focus on transition goals and communication goals in the home and at school! The information regarding visuals has also given my parents more comfort in using visuals in general. Along with information regarding visuals, the article was written by Susan Stokes under a contract with CESA 7 and funded by a discretionary grant from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Susan Strokes, an Autism consultant , gave great basic information of what Assistive Technology can be used for and why it is beneficial. Students with MR, Orthopedic Impairments, and SLP would also greatly benefit by using visuals throughout their school day.