 |
| LANGUAGE
DEVELOPMENT SOFTWARE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM |
Reprinted
from the ADVOCATE Newsletter of the Autism Society of America,
Inc. Jan-Feb. 2000. |
As we embark upon a new millennium, we can not help but wonder
what lies ahead for our children in this rapidly advancing technological
world. I have actually visited a house in which a computer controls
every function in the home. This technology offers the opportunity
for our children with autism to have an optimistic view of a more
independent future.
As
a speech pathologist and as a mother of a son with autism, I feel
strongly that computer-based language learning for individuals
with autism and related disabilities is imperative. Autistic individuals
appear to attend well to this mode of instruction. However, from
my experience, I have come to realize that the type of software
that is used is critical to the success. Many of the software
programs that are available in stores (called OTSS- off-the-shelf
software) may not be effective for individuals with autism. These
programs were not designed for our children and have inherent
problems because of this fact. Though there may be some entertainment
value, the educational advantage may be minimal. There are companies
that specialize in special needs language software. The following
is a list of many of these products that are available today.
Level
1-Individuals with Low Language Levels
Creature Games by Laureate-These entertaining games
that use cartoon characters are designed to train cause and effect,
turn taking, and the use of a single switch. They are appropriate
for individuals who are lower functioning. There are six different
programs in this series. The price ranges from $80-$95 for a single
program. Special package prices are available.
Words
Around Me by Edmark-This program helps students identify
275 common vocabulary words through the progression of five activities:
Word Identification, Plurals, Categorization, Sameness and Difference.
A stimulating character named Greenie helps students associate
words with a variety of pictures including photographs and graphic
images. This program, which is currently available only as a school
version, is priced at $395.95.
The Early Vocabulary Development Series by Laureate-This
series includes 3 different programs, First Words, First Words
II, and First Verbs. They are designed as a highly structured
training of 100 early developing nouns and 40 verbs and are categorically
arranged. Each program offers 6 levels of instruction starting
with introductory training and progressing upwards to the test
level. An animated creature is utilized for cueing techniques
and also to positively reinforce correct answers. The price is
$235 for a single program and $500 for the package of three programs.
Labelling Tutor by Millennium Software- This program
teaches children to associate written words and sounds with pictures.
The basis of the program uses a behavioral procedure known as
discrete trials to teach the material. The program motivates learning
by utilizing visual displays, sounds, and games when the child
has been successful. There are over 180 color photo pictures that
are included with the program; however, instructions are included
on how additional pictures can be added. The price is $199.95.
Nouns & Sounds by Laureate-The objective of this program is
to stimulate auditory awareness and memory as well as build listening
skills. Individuals learn to match common sounds with 100 photographs.
Seven different activities are included. Stimulating animated
characters are presented as reinforcers. The price for this program
is $105.
Vocabulary:
100 Basic Words for Children by LocuTour-This
program presents very basic words representing the categories
of food and toys for early language development. The photos are
on a white background to make it easy for young children to distinguish
them. Twenty-five action videos featuring children engaged in
daily activities are also featured. This program is priced at
$99.
Level
2-For Individuals with Emerging Language Skills:
WordWise™ by Attainment Company-This
program combines words, pictures, and speech to teach basic vocabulary
words. Individuals see a picture and listen to the word. Then
they are encouraged to repeat and record their production of the
word and compare it to the computer's pronunciation. Individualized
word files can be created. The price for this program is $199.
It's a...Food by LocuTour-This program presents
one hundred food items in four categories: fruits, vegetables,
snacks, and meals. A photograph of the object represents each
item. Cueing techniques are provided to help encourage the student
to say the word. The price is $99.
The
Exploring Early Vocabulary Series by Laureate-These
programs use the nouns and verbs from the Early Vocabulary Development
Series, however, presented in realistic scenes. The words continue
to be arranged by category. Individuals are kept attentive with
the use of animated reinforcement. The price is $135 for each
program and $300 for the 3-set package.
Teach
Me to Talk by SoftTouch/kidTech-There
are 150 real-life pictures that can be modified by adding music,
on-screen movement, and/or text. English or Spanish speech is
available. Once the individual has mastered the names of the pictures,
they can use them in rhyming sentences or utilize them in an on-screen
puzzle. The price of this program is $148.
Talk
Time with Tucker by Laureate-This
program encourages children to practice their vocalization skills.
Through a voice-activated response system, the characters in these
five activities move and talk. The program accepts a broad range
of sounds and speech to activate the characters. Each activity
focuses on a different function: cause and effect and turn taking,
imitation of animal sounds, increase length of the child's verbalizations,
and experimentation of voice volume. The cost of this program
is $125.
Tiger's
Tale by Laureate-Though
promoted as a program for students with higher levels of language
abilities, this program can be easily adapted for use by children
with emerging language. Fifteen open-ended scenes are presented
revolving around a tiger who has "lost his voice." The
individual is asked to "speak" for the tiger, answer
question, or give their opinion. Verbalizations can be recorded
and played back when they are finished. The price for Tiger's
Tale is $125.
Level
3-Individuals with Moderate Language Abilities
Talking
Nouns I, Talking Nouns II, and Talking Verbs-Laureate-This
series encourages expressive language and communication. The vocabulary
compliments the words developed in the Early Vocabulary Development
Series. These four activities give the child the opportunity to
reinforce vocabulary comprehension, teach sentence construction
and develop conversational turn taking. The activity entitled "Interactive Communication" allows the individual to
select words to formulate sentences. This program may also be
used as a training tool for those students who are learning to
utilize an augmentative communication device. The cost is $150
per program or $350 for all three CD's.
Simple
Sentence Structure by Laureate-This
program teaches basic sentence word order of SUBJECT-VERB-OBJECT
(ex: The boy is eating an apple). It is the appropriate choice
once the child has developed a core vocabulary of nouns and verbs.
There are six levels of training within four contrasting sentence
sets. This program is priced at $190.
It's a...Everyday Objects and It's a...Mixed by LocuTour-These
programs are designed in the same manner as It's a...Food outlined
in Level 2, although the vocabulary level is higher. It's a...Everyday
Objects includes items from the categories of inside, outside,
leisure and work. It's a...Mixed contains words from the categories
of people, places, plants, animals, and household items. The price
remains $99 per program.
Earobics
by Cognitive Concepts-Though
not formally considered a language-learning software program,
but a pre-reading program, Earobics is designed to develop phonological
awareness and auditory processing skills. Enhancement of these
abilities will benefit listening and language development as well
as aid in reading. Earobics Step 1 is available for ages 4-7.
Earobics Step 2 is designed for the ages of 7-10. Cognitive Concepts
has now released Earobics 1 For Adolescents and Adults. The price
for each program is $299 for the professional versions and $59
for the home versions.
Away
We Go by Scientific Learning-
This program will also help to improve auditory and phonological
skills which can result in improved speech and language skills.
There are seven games that will adapt to each child's level of
progress. A feedback system is included, which will help identify
areas that need additional attention. This program is priced at
$49.
Fast
ForWord™ by Scientific Learning-Fast ForWord
really belongs in a category all by itself. It is not just a computer
software program. It is an intensive training program for individuals
with language and reading difficulties. Fast ForWord stimulates
rapid language skill development. It utilizes the computer as
the mode of instruction. The exercises are adapted to the child's
level of ability and progresses in complexity. This program requires
the individual to work for one hour and forty minutes per day
5 days a week for a period of approximately 4-8 weeks. Each student
works under the supervision of a trained practitioner. On the
average, children make language gains of approximately 1-2 years.
Scientific Learning charges $850 for this program. There are other
variable fees that are charged by each practitioner.
First
Categories by Laureate-This
program trains 60 nouns in the categories of animals, body parts,
clothes, foods, utensils and vehicles. Three instructional activities
are presented. Initially, the student is introduced to the word
in a particular category. Then they are asked to select which
word fits into the chosen category. Finally, the user is asked
to find a word that does not belong in the category. This program
is priced at $230.
Language Attention Bundle by Locutour-This program
contains four different activities. Two of these activities would
be appropriate for a student who is functioning at this level:
Photo Detail, which is a game for understanding and expressing
language, and Sights and Sounds Around Me, an activity for naming
400 photos. These pictures are grouped into the categories of
people, animals, clothing, food, household objects, kitchen objects,
outside scenes, patterns and textures, plants or toys. The price
of this program is $99.
The
Words and Concepts Series by Laureate-This
series integrates language and concept training. Each program
utilizes a core vocabulary of 40 words in the units of Vocabulary,
Categorization, Word Identification by Function, Word Association,
and Same and Different. These programs offer 3 levels of difficulty.
The price for each program is $230 and the package price is $485.
Concentrate
by Laureate-Based
on the classic game of "Concentration", this series
focuses on development of short-term memory skills while reinforcing
vocabulary, categorization, object function and word association
abilities. Each program uses the same words that are presented
in the The Words and Concepts Series. Each program costs $115
and the 3-program set is $245.
Picture It by Slater Software-This program is primarily
designed as a tool to increase the individuals ability to understand
concepts, increase language skills and develop initial literacy
skills. The parent, teacher, or therapist types in words and sentences.
The computer automatically finds pictures to match each word that
was typed. The price for this program is $250.
Adjectives
and Opposites by Laureate-In
order to learn early developing adjectives and opposites, this
program incorporates a circus theme. Six scenes train 115 adjectives
and 26 opposites. There are seven activities which offer a variety
of training options. This program is priced at $195.
Level
4-For Individuals with Higher Level Language Abilities
All
of the programs that are represented in Level 3, with the exception
of Away We Go, would be suitable for students who
possess higher levels of language. In addition, the following
programs may also be utilized:
Train
Time by LocuTour-Train
Time was originally designed specifically for autistic individuals.
The author recognized that the theme of trains was very appealing
to many of those within the spectrum of autism. There are six
different exercises that are designed to improve speech production,
auditory comprehension, conversation stimulation, and auditory/visual
attention and memory. The cost is $189.
Look!
Listen! and Learn Language by LocuTour-This
program contains 7 different activities. Let's Talk About It is
designed to improve the ability to answer all types of questions.
Hello helps with pragmatic skills by asking the user to answer
the phone and identify which person on the screen is speaking.
This program is priced at $99.
Twenty
Categories by Laureate-The
goal of this program is to develop advanced categorization skills
using 300 nouns within 20 categories. There are three instructional
activities that utilizing a multiple-choice basis. The price of
this program is $200.
The
Language Activities of Daily Living Series by Laureate-This
program is designed to build functional language skills and increase
independence. There are three different programs: My House, which
offers vocabulary words for each room on a home; My Town, which
presents 100 words within six different community settings; and
My School, which includes items from six school areas. There are
four activities within each scene. The price for each program
runs $150 or the entire set of 3 CD's for $300.
Swim, Swam, Swum: Mastering Irregular Verbs by Laureate-This
program focuses on teaching common irregular verbs for the present,
past, and perfect forms. There are four training activities. The
parent, teacher, or therapist has the option to select an individual
verb or chose an entire group of verbs. The cost of this program
is $200.
Special
Software
I
have included two programs which are extremely useful when designing
materials to increase language skills:
Boardmaker
by Mayer-Johnson-This program is a database of over 3,000
picture symbols which can be utilized for a multitude of purposes.
Most commonly, it is used to make picture communication system.
It utilizes a simple point and click operation, making this program
very simple to use. Boardmaker has the ability to produce pictures
plus word in 10 languages. The cost of this program is $399.
Picture
This by Silver Lining Multimedia-This program uses a photo
library to make flashcards, lotto cards, and picture communication
cards. This program uses a similar point and click operation.
There are over 2,700 photos contained within 30 different categories.
The price for this program is $49.95.
Valerie
Herskowitz, M.A. CCC-SLP has been a speech pathologist, who has
treated children and adults with developmental disabilities for
the past 22 years. She is also the mother of Blake, an 8-year
old boy with autism. She has been in private practice since 1981.
Ms.
Herskowitz is also a speech and language computer software consultant
and is available to answer any questions that you may have regarding
these programs or any other speech, language, or communication
matter as it relates to autism. You can reach her at:
Dimensions:
Speech, Language, and Learning Services 481 E. Mount Vernon
Drive Plantation, Florida 33325 1-800-99SPEECH (997-7332) www.dimensionsspeech.com
return
to top |
|
|
