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Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Resources: Autism Technology

From the Virginia Commonwealth University Autism Center for Excellence Briefs Using a Handheld Computer as a Cognitive-Behavioral Tool Android Technology Fast Facts Video Modeling using iPod Touch, iPad or other Tablets Getting Organized Apple Apps Resource Guide Apple and Android Apps for the Support of People with Autism Videos - Video Demonstrations of Technology Strategies for Video Modeling with iPods and iPadsTony Gentry, PhD OTR/L Now that iPod Touches and Tablet computers have onboard video cameras, it can be easy to build videos to assist with wayfinding, social cueing, task sequencing and behavioral prompting. This video introduces strategies for using video modeling for each of these purposes. Promising Apps for Handheld DevicesTony Gentry, PhD OTR/L This video introduces a variety of apps that can help turn your ipod touch or ipad into a versatile cognitive-behavioral support tool. We look at apps for reminders, task-sequencing, homework, healthy living, behavior management and more. Inexpensive Apps for Augmentative CommunicationTony Gentry, PhD OTR/L Speech production apps offer affordable new opportunities for augmentative communication efforts. This video compares six apps - Tap-to-Talk, Talk Assist, Voice4u, Speak It!, Baldi and Talking Tom Cat - and discusses strategies for using them successfully. Reminder Apps for the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and iPad2Tony Gentry, PhD OTR/L Reminder alarms on handheld devices can be powerful tools for people with cognitive challenges helping them plan their day, take control of their activities, manage their task, and stay aware of time, switching tasks as needed. Archived Webcasts Smartphones, iPads and Tablet PCs as Cognitive-Behavioral Aids in Autism Smartphones, PDAs, iPads, and tablet computers can be powerful tools for managing cognitive-behavioral challenges experienced by people with autism. They can be easily customized to support just-in-time activity cueing, task-sequencing, wayfinding, communication assistance and behavioral coaching, among other uses. This presentation examines consumer platforms, applications and strategies for implementing individualized cognitive-behavioral suites, providing real life case studies, practical examples and outcome measures to assure success. Assistive Technology for Cognition on FacebookAssistive Technology (AT) can be used to manage cognitive-behavioral challenges experienced by people with autism. It can be easily customized to support activity cueing, task-sequencing, wayfinding, communication assistance and behavioral coaching, among other uses. Join Dr. Gentry on Facebook to learn about, discuss and share AT tools that are effective with individuals with ASD.

archived webcasts:

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Friday, October 17, 2014

Siblings of children with autism can show signs at 18 months

About 20% of younger siblings of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) will develop the condition by age 3. A new study by Yale School of Medicine researchers has found that 57% of these younger siblings who later develop the condition already showed symptoms at age 18 months. Chawarska said what was most interesting to the research team was that different patterns of behaviors at 18 months may be predictive of ASD later on. In about 50% of siblings, a combination of poor eye contact and lack of communicative gestures or imaginative play is most strongly associated with later ASD diagnosis. In a small percentage of those later diagnosed with ASD, eye contact may be relatively normal, but they begin to display early signs of repetitive behaviors and have limited non-verbal communication skills. “So not only do the behavioral symptoms appear at different ages, but different combinations of early symptoms may predict the diagnostic outcome,” Chawarska added. “Linking these developmental dynamics with underlying neurobiology may advance our understanding of causes of ASD and further efforts to personalize treatment for ASD by tailoring it to specific clinical profiles and their developmental dynamics.”

 Read more here. 

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Sunday, October 12, 2014

Autism may be predicted by overgrowth

Researchers have identified another factor in the development of autism spectrum disorder: body overgrowth in early childhood. The study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, found that boys with autism developed significantly larger heads and longer, heavier bodies than their normally developing peers in the first two years after birth. These effects were not significant in girls. When the autistic children were tested at four years old for verbal and nonverbal skills, large body size and overgrowth in the postnatal period correlated with lower performance. Lead author and associate professor in the Yale Child Study Center Katarzyna Chawarska said these growth patterns might help in autism diagnosis. “I believe that somatic overgrowth might be an early marker of less optimal outcomes in ASD [Autism Spectrum Disorder], as atypical growth features in the first two years of life were associated with more severe symptoms one to two years later as well as lower levels of verbal and cognitive functioning,” she said.

 Read more here.

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Community-based Skills Assessment (CSA): Developing a PersonalizedTransition Plan!

The CSA is the first tool to assess needs in the area of community-based living, from transportation to financial management to peer relationships and more. The tool is divided into three levels based upon the age of the individual being assessed. Eight critical areas of functional life skills will be assessed: Career path and employment Self-determination/advocacy Health and safety Peer relationships, socialization and social communication Community participation and personal finance Transportation Leisure/recreation Home living skills The assessment uses both a criterion-based observation and interview-based process to measure the individual's knowledge, skills and behaviors. Click here to read the introduction and learn more about the CSA. You can also read all about how it works here! 

 Download the Community-based Skills Assessment here

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Thursday, October 9, 2014

What You Need To Know About Working With Colleagues On The AutismSpectrum

The new guy in the office is loud and aggressive. He can’t read social cues, won’t wait his turn in meetings, and talks obsessively about the same things every day – but sometimes shares extraordinary insights. You may wonder: how can you form a good working relationship with someone who’s such a puzzling combination of brilliant, wooden, stand-offish, and just plain different? Here are some strategies that individuals can use to build better relationships with colleagues on the spectrum.

 Read more here. 

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