scholarly journals User-Centered Design and Augmentative and Alternative Communication Apps for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

SAGE Open ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 215824401453750 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Lubas ◽  
Jennifer Mitchell ◽  
Gianluca De Leo
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
User Centered Design ◽  
Alternative Communication ◽  
Spectrum Disorders ◽  
User Centered

scholarly journals Design, Implementation and Evaluation of a Learning Object that Supports the Mathematics Learning in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Munoz ◽  
Carlos Becerra ◽  
René Noël ◽  
Matías Camblor ◽  
Thiago S. Barcelos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Learning Objects ◽  
Learning Object ◽  
User Centered Design ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Spectrum Disorders ◽  
User Centered

Information technologies have been widely used for entertainment and learning purposes by children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Nonetheless, learning objects aiming at specific skills development in children with ASD require both a well bounded learning domain and a user-centered design process, considering skill levels of the users and the local geographical context and language. “Proyect@ Matemáticas” is a multi-touch based app designed for developing pre-calculus and functional mathematical skills in children with ASD, according to the Chilean regulations of learning goals for children with special educational necessities. This paper presents the User-centered design process conducted in order to develop the learning object, which included the evaluation by 15 experts in special educational needs, testing by 10 ASD-diagnosed children with different functional levels, and a multidisciplinary development team that also included a graphic designer diagnosed with ASD of high functionality. The development process yields to a validated learning object in terms of interactivity, design, engagement, and usability, from the point of view of the experts, and successful usage tests with ASD diagnosed children in terms of performance and achievement of learning outcomes. The application is currently available for download in the Google Play store for free, and currently has more than 15,000 downloads and an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 points.

Aided Modeling Interventions for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders Who Require AAC

2009 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 114-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn D. R. Drager
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Alternative Communication ◽  
Expressive Communication ◽  
Future Research Directions ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

Traditionally, instruction in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) has focused on facilitating expressive communication. However, several related interventions also have been described, with the goal of enhancing input. These “aided modeling interventions” require that the speaking partner use AAC as well as speech, in order to provide a model to the AAC user that is consistent with the type of output that is expected. Such interventions also show the child how the system can be used and may facilitate comprehension for children who have difficulty with spoken words alone, by providing additional visual information. Aided modeling interventions share several components: (a) they are implemented during opportunities that arise out of natural contexts, (b) they augment the spoken input the child receives, and (c) they employ modeling to expand vocabulary. This article discusses the research evidence suggesting that aided modeling interventions may be effective for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Future research directions are also discussed.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication for Learners with Autism Spectrum Disorders

2015 ◽  
pp. 1449-1466
Author(s):  
Jody M. Pirtle ◽  
Elizabeth A. West
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Support Services ◽  
Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Alternative Communication ◽  
Current State ◽  
Prominent Component ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is a prominent component in the development of support services for learners with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). In this chapter, the authors provide parents, educators, researchers, academics, and other professionals with the most up to date and innovative information as well as practical resources regarding AAC for learners with ASD. Emphasis will be on school-age children diagnosed with ASD. Features of AAC systems as well as the benefits and challenges are presented to provide the reader with information on the current state of the field. The chapter concludes with directions for future research and provides a comprehensive list of resources and organizations.

An Ethnographic Investigation of African American Mothers' Perceptions of Augmentative and Alternative Communication

2012 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 84-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alayna Townsend ◽  
Ovetta Harris ◽  
Linda Bland-Stewart
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Social Communication ◽  
Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
African American Mothers ◽  
Alternative Communication ◽  
Social Communication Skills ◽  
Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Communication Needs

The purpose of this study was to investigate fourteen African American mothers' perceptions of the utilization of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) by their children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The authors used ethnographic methodologies to describe and interpret their experiences and perceptions. Findings suggest that AAC strategies were perceived as useful to meet their children's social communication needs and were beneficial in developing social communication skills.

Aided Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Systems for Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders

2020 ◽  
pp. 87-106
Author(s):  
Yashomathi
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽  
Developmental Disorders ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Repetitive Behaviors ◽  
Functional Communication ◽  
Alternative Communication ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Communication Needs

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are complex neuro-developmental disorders. They demonstrate pervasive deficits in social communication, restricted and repetitive behaviors, cognitive impairments, etc. Most often individuals with ASDs are often considered “non-verbal” and they require comprehensive intervention to improve their functional communication skills. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) was always viewed as a “last resort” for people with complex communication needs when all other interventions failed to achieve the potential benefit. However, with growing evidence, AAC has been implemented even in children with communication difficulties to augment spoken language development. Thus, this chapter aims to discuss the characteristics of ASD, to describe the need for AAC intervention in children with ASD, challenges and practices of AAC in ASD, to review implementation of aided AAC systems for children with ASD in different contexts, to indicate the gaps and future prospective in AAC intervention for people with ASDs.

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