Innovative Technologies To Benefit Children On The Autism Spectrum

"This book brings together relevant theoretical frameworks and empirical research concerning the emerging technologies that benefit individuals living with autism"--

The greatest advantage of modern technology is its ability to improve the lives of all. In particular, new technologies have the potential to greatly mitigate cognitive, motor, and social impairments stemming from genetic or environmental factors. Recent Advances in Assistive Technologies to Support Children with Developmental Disorders raises awareness of disabled children and what can be done to help them grow and develop alongside their peers. Bringing together personal experiences with academic investigation, this book is an essential reference for doctors, pediatricians, pre- and primary school educators, and scientists working to enhance the impact assistive technologies have on the youngest members of society.

This special issue of Assistive Technology Outcomes and Benefits focuses on research related to assistive technology applications for children with autism.

This book first explains autism, its prevalence, and some conventional intervention techniques, and it then describes how virtual reality technology can support autism intervention and skills training. The approaches and technologies covered include immersive virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality. The tasks covered include emotion recognition, affective computing, teaching communication skills, imparting literacy skills, training for imitation skills, and joint attention skills. Most of the chapters assume no prerequisite knowledge of autism or virtual reality, and they are supported throughout with detailed references for further investigation. While the author is an engineer by profession, with specialist knowledge in robotics and computer-based platforms, in this book she adopts a user perspective and cites many real-life examples from her own experience. The book is suitable for students of cognitive science, and researchers and practitioners engaged with designing and offering technological assistance for special needs training.

International interest in the use of assistive and ambient information and communication technologies to support people with a range of cognitive impairments is growing rapidly. Autism spectrum disorders ASDs, which affect social skills, communicative abilities and behavior, are of particular interest. The number of diagnosed cases has continued to grow in recent decades, and the impairments associated with ASDs mean individuals affected are at risk of social isolation and marginalization. Although helping people with autism to overcome their difficulties has always required the joint expertise of various fields, the widely shared

Seeing Autism is a comprehensive but easy-to-understand guidebook for caretakers, parents, educators, counselors, therapists, and researchers on various aspects of rearing and supporting children with autism spectrum disorder. It provides textual and visual information on technology tools, symptoms, diagnosis, auditory, sensory, visual, physical, and educational issues, as well as strategies and practices to help children on the Autism Spectrum reach their potential. Seeing Autism uniquely capitalizes on sketchnotes, a visual thinking tool, to communicate information and practices. Sketchnotes provide a unique space that can help the reader think differently, generate a variety of ideas, explore alternatives, and develop constructive points for expressing ideas and developing visual communication aids. This book will assist parents, educators, and professionals in schools (counselors, school psychologists, librarians) who work with children diagnosed with ASD; it will help readers increase their knowledge of autism and gain an appreciation for evidence-based practices and forms of technology that can be used to support learners on the autism spectrum. “This book is a call to arms and is as much a resource for the family friend as it is for the provider coming to the home. In the book Seeing Autism, Dr. Demetria Ennis-Cole helps individuals gain an incredible perspective and learn the struggles, challenges and joys of families rearing children, teens and adults on the spectrum. This book covers the entire spectrum and is a fantastic mix of research, parent perspective, and even sketchnotes for visual learners. The material is well-balanced and is a great resource to support individuals on the spectrum at home, in the community or in the classroom." Brad McGarry Father, Speaker, Author and Director of the Autism Initiative at Mercyhurst University

This now classic text remains a cornerstone of continuing efforts to develop inclusive peer play programs for children on the autism spectrum. The second edition has been thoroughly revised to reflect major new developments in the field of autism. Notable additions include an updated description of the Integrated Play Groups (IPG) model and related research; an examination of the nature of autism and of play from past to present, with major updates on incidence, diagnosis, and characteristics; and a comprehensive review of play interventions. Presenting vivid descriptions of three children with autism over a 10-year period (from age 5 to age 16), Play and Imagination in Children with Autism: Traces the development of the children as they overcome obstacles to enter into the play culture of their peers.Focuses on two critical years during which the children participated in a peer play group.Documents the emergence of remarkable transformations in the children’s social relations with peers and symbolic activity.Includes vignettes, dialogue, and samples of writing and drawing to bring the children’s stories to life.Lays out the implications for new directions in research and practice. Pamela J. Wolfberg is Associate Professor of special education and Director of the autism spectrum graduate program (Project Mosaic) at San Francisco State University. “Play and Imagination in Children with Autism has been the cornerstone of my professional and personal life for nearly a decade. This updated edition retains the original accessible style, explaining so clearly the pivotal role that peer play holds in the lives of individuals on the autism spectrum, while providing readers with cutting-edge developments in theory, research, and practice in the field.” —Heather McCracken, Founder/Executive Director, Friend 2 Friend Social Learning Society “Dr. Wolfberg continues to break new ground with the second edition of her book. What a pleasure for any child to get involved in one of her integrated play groups, and what a relief for parents to know that their child is both learning and having fun! This is a wonderful resource for professionals interested in creating engaging and effective social skills groups for children on the autism spectrum.” —Connie Kasari, UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies “Children with autism benefit in so many ways from social play experiences, despite the significant challenges in symbolic development. Dr. Pamela Wolfberg, a leading expert in this crucial aspect of children's development, once again guides us in a highly engaging manner in supporting social and play development for children with ASD.” —Barry M. Prizant, Director, Childhood Communication Services, Brown University “This book is a ‘must’ for anyone who wants to bring about genuine social reciprocity and imagination in children with autistic spectrum disorders. Pamela Wolfberg takes us on a journey through previously uncharted territory, documenting in rich qualitative detail how to scaffold entry into the culture of peer play.” —Adriana L. Schuler, San Francisco State University “Dr. Wolfberg has done a fine and sensitive job in characterizing the pivotal role that play skills hold in the social and linguistic world of the child with autism. Her development of Integrated Peer Play Groups, and the delineation of the autistic child as the ‘Novice Player’ and the typical child as the ‘Expert Player,’ is a very valuable heuristic tool to all who work with children with autism.” —Bryna Siegel, Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute, University of California, San Francisco

Your in-depth guided tour of technologies that support learners with autism and help them fully participate in their classroom and community.