The US autism market is predicted to grow into a $27.8 billion industry by 2022, and assistive technologies are expected to help meet the demand of this rapidly growing community. The scope for improvement in these technologies is vast as they continue to evolve alongside new findings about what works best when it comes to teaching children with autism how academics work.
The “assistive technology for autism examples” are five assistive technologies that will be in use by 2022. They include eye tracking, voice recognition, and more.
Assistive technology, such as sign language, communication boards with graphics, planners, and other tools, have long been beneficial to people with autism.
Approaches to teaching new words, increasing and promoting language usage, and helping nonverbal persons with autism are all migrating to applications for computers, tablets, and smartphones, thanks to significant developments in digital technology. In reality, mobile and tablet applications are quickly becoming a significant component of the education sector.
We’ve put up a list of the top five In 2021, assistive technologies for autism will be available. that you can download on your digital devices.
In 2022, assistive technologies for autism will be available.
Working with behavior therapists to control symptoms is the first step for people with autism. These specialists assist customers in finding strategies to increase verbal and nonverbal communication, social engagement, conversation starters, and the acquisition of new skills.
Over the years, assistive technology have aided many persons with autism, particularly those who have difficulty communicating verbally. Several firms have created applications to assist persons with autism interact verbally with others, comprehend body language and facial expressions, and even acquire new skills as mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets become more widely accessible.
According to the National Education Association (NEA), the number of kids participating in special education programs has increased by 30% in the last decade. Autism spectrum disease affects one out of every 54 children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (ASD). The need for a diverse set of accessible, low-cost, and useful assistive technology to aid people with autism is obvious.
A growing number of youngsters are being diagnosed early enough to get successful therapy from behavior therapists and other medical professionals. This implies that they will need additional help outside of treatment and school.
Assistive technology may be used by caregivers such as teachers, parents, and therapists to help children with autism acquire language and manage everyday tasks. These technologies may also be used to incentivize the acquisition of new abilities. Many assistive devices are either low-tech or mid-tech, such as sign language or a visual calendar for scheduling, or both. High-tech solutions are gaining in popularity.
The Best Assistive Technology Apps for Autism
Look for apps that concentrate on your child’s developmental requirements while shopping for a fantastic app for your smartphone or tablet. These activities may include a lot of visuals or a mix of sounds and pictures to assist your kid to form the word and relate it to the image.
Some programs allow you to customize them. Others are simple learning activities that your kid may play at home or during behavior treatment sessions.
You may get app suggestions from your kid’s behavior therapist or physician, since they may know of tools that will work well for your child. Otherwise, you may reward your kid for learning new abilities as part of behavior or speech treatment with various free applications that can be used as games.
Here are the top five assistive technology-based applications for 2021:
1. Aut2Speak: This is a mobile app keyboard designed for persons who have autism or other nonverbal problems such as strokes and can type. The software includes a customisable list of names, a list of sentiments and wants, a list of pronouns, a list of word ends, and a unique keyboard, among other things.
This software is suitable for youngsters aged 6 to 17 and works on both iOS and Android smartphones. Adults with developmental or cognitive problems might benefit from it as well. It costs one dollar.
2. Autism iHelp: This is a vocabulary-building mobile app for Apple devices. It was created by a speech-language pathologist who had an autistic kid. Children with autism benefit from unique methods to language intervention, according to the parent.
The app uses 24 photographs of real-world things to represent expressive milestones that children must achieve, similar to how flash cards or image cards are used in behavior treatment. The learning process is less daunting in these groups since the photos are separated into three groups of eight.
The software is free and is aimed for youngsters aged 4 and above.
3. AutismXpress: While many individuals with milder kinds of autism can communicate exceptionally effectively using words and sentences, they may struggle with facial expressions and expressing their feelings without using words. This software aids autistic persons in recognizing and expressing emotions via facial expressions. There are 12 buttons with cartoons that symbolize various emotions such as sadness, happiness, anger, hunger, and others.
AutismXpress is a learning program for children with autism, although it may also be used by teenagers and adults. This is a free app that works on almost all mobile devices.
4. CommBoards: This program is based on the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), which has been utilized on physical boards as well as via electronic devices for a long time. Now, without needing to carry along cards, pieces, or a device separate from your computer or phone, this means of communication is generally accessible.
When children use the app, the software says out loud the word connected with the image, encouraging them to repeat it and learn how to pronounce it. You may also make your own cards with voice recordings and photos to assist your kid convey certain names, locations, or items that they come across often.
CommBoards is a $19.99 paid app, unlike some other free applications. It is one of the few alternatives accessible on mobile devices that has been specially authorized by professionals who specialize in autism-related assistive technology. It was built and approved by clinicians who use assistive communication devices.
5. Leeloo: This program employs a variety of picture alternatives to enable nonverbal children and adolescents with autism interact with their carers via smartphones or tablets. The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) serves as the app’s base, and it also incorporates augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) concepts.
A card symbolizes the phrases that your kid may need to communicate with family, school, medical experts, and friends during the day. Leeloo, like many other autism-supporting applications, is available for free download.
With Assistive Technologies, Digital Takes the Lead
These five applications are built on language-learning and text-to-speech technologies, allowing your kid to learn sounds, which words match with which visuals, and how to express themselves emotionally. You may also use your smartphone or tablet for other purposes, such as building a routine and teaching your kid how to balance different aspects of their life.
People with autism often have difficulties with cognition, which includes long-term planning. Learning to use calendar software can assist them in managing their daily lives in a healthy manner, preventing them from becoming stressed out as a result of hyper-focusing on one task, such as work, forgetting important activities such as spending time with family or friends, or failing to set aside time for healthy tasks such as grocery shopping and meal planning. Transitions from one activity to the next may be easier for persons with autism if they use these calendars.
With the help of your child’s behavior therapist, you may utilize your smartphone or tablet as a reward. There are several enjoyable games available for download and installation that are either free or inexpensive. These games may appeal to your youngster. Some may be specially made learning games for autistic children, while others may just be popular, exciting video games.
If your child enjoys playing one or more of these games, you can use dedicated time with the game to encourage adaptive behaviors such as learning new ways to manage emotions, trying new foods and overcoming food avoidance, performing personal tasks such as brushing their teeth or cleaning their room, and other components that may be part of their larger behavior therapy treatment plan.
In addition to tablets, computers, and smartphones, assistive technologies on their own platforms are still quite significant. For example, graphic representations in the form of printouts are an excellent low-tech tool for helping students acquire new abilities and plan out specific courses of action. While there are technological alternatives, working with a piece of paper to draw out a strategy by hand may be more appropriate for a child’s learning style. A mix of classic paper and more modern digital tools works effectively for most parents.
The Advantages of Digital Devices in the Treatment of Autism
Children with autism who suffer with motor coordination have found touch-screen technology to be quite beneficial. A smartphone or tablet application enables the youngster to type, select, and swipe alternatives of what they want to say, answers to lesson questions, and more instead of using a pencil to write words or attempting to pick up cards with certain pictures.
In the end, the sort of software or gadget that your kid benefits from is a personal choice. Your kid’s physician, behavior therapist, occupational therapist, or speech therapist may advise you on how to use apps, games, and other gadgets to help your child learn.
Your youngster could benefit from a few fast, gamified facial expression training, or they might need continuing access to a communication board with text-to-speech choices. If these gadgets are required for a medical reason, your insurance provider should assist pay part of the expenses. Many applications are available for free, making them accessible to most families.
Many of the existing assistive technologies in 2021 may aid children with mild or moderate autism symptoms by reinforcing the abilities they develop in treatment, regardless of the kind of applications used.
References
Five Assistive Technology Tools That Actually Work. (March of this year). University of Alvernia.
Data & Statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorder. (March 2020). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Classroom-Based Assistive Technology: Students with Autism’s Collective Use of Interactive Visual Schedules (May 11, 2011) Cramer.
Using an iPod Touch as an Assistive Technology to Reduce the Need for Personal Supports Among Workers with Autism: A Delayed Randomized Control Trial In September of 2014, The Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders is a publication dedicated to the study of autism and developmental disorders.
Caregiver Perspectives About Assistive Technology Use With Their Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders. (April/June 2011). Infants & Young Children.
Helpful Hints for Using Assistive Technology. Autism Speaks is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about
AbleData. Aut2Speak.
AbleData. Autism iHelp.
Autism Xpress is a website dedicated to people with autism. AbleData.
CommBoardsapp’s home page.
Leeloo AAC is a nonverbal autism speech app. Google Play Store is an app store for Android devices.
By 2020, there will be 5 assistive technologies that will help with autism. The five technologies are:
1) A wearable device for autistic children to track their progress and receive feedback on their progress 2) A smart watch that can be used by parents as a communication tool 3) A smart earpiece for teachers to communicate with students 4) A voice-activated computer that can read text aloud 5) An eye-tracking device Reference: assistive technology for autistic adults.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some assistive technology for autism?
A: Assistive technology is any piece or device that helps with a disability. There are many different types, including wheelchairs and hearing aids to communicate with people who cannot speak due to their disability.
What are some examples of assistive technologies?
A: Assistive technologies are devices that help people with conditions like blindness, deafness, or physical disabilities.
How can technology help a child with autism?
A: There are many ways technology can help a child with autism. One way is to use an iPad or laptop computer to practice cognitive tasks such as reading and writing which could be difficult for children on the spectrum, especially at first. Another option would be speech therapy where they learn how to speak more fluently in order to improve their quality of life.
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Janice is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Special Education. She also holds a Master of Science in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) from Queen’s University, Belfast. She has worked with and case managed children and youth with autism and other intellectual and/or developmental disabilities in home and residential setting since 2013.
