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Assistive Technologies

This document discusses assistive technology to help students with autism learn communication skills. It describes an app called Autism iHelp that uses picture flashcards to teach vocabulary words. The app has categories of flashcards to choose from and allows students to learn at their own pace by listening to and associating words and pictures. It also allows teachers to track student progress. The app is free for Apple devices and is an effective and practical tool to help autistic students learn essential communication skills. Classrooms need to provide accessible learning for all students, including those who require assistive technologies.

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Sarah Russell
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85 views

Assistive Technologies

This document discusses assistive technology to help students with autism learn communication skills. It describes an app called Autism iHelp that uses picture flashcards to teach vocabulary words. The app has categories of flashcards to choose from and allows students to learn at their own pace by listening to and associating words and pictures. It also allows teachers to track student progress. The app is free for Apple devices and is an effective and practical tool to help autistic students learn essential communication skills. Classrooms need to provide accessible learning for all students, including those who require assistive technologies.

Uploaded by

Sarah Russell
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MODULE 601 1

Introduction

In every classroom, you will encounter a wide range of children, such as children with

disabilities, students who are gifted and talented in academics, and students who excel in the arts,

sports, or music. It is essential to make learning assessable to every student. This is where

technology can help. Autistic children make up part of the population of the wide range of

children. Some children with autism struggle with communication. This is an essential skill that

they will need not only in school but in their everyday lives.

Assistive Technology and Past Practices

Technology is constantly evolving, and new assistive technology is coming out more

frequently than in the past. Autism iHelp is an app for Apple mobile devices that teaches

vocabulary. This app has three categories of cards from which students can choose: toys, outdoor

activities, and arts and crafts. This makes learning less overwhelming than showing students 24

images of real-world objects simultaneously. These cards are then used like flash cards. Children

begin associating the picture with the word and its pronunciation. If students answer a flashcard

incorrectly, it is repeated after all the flashcards are completed and mastered. This repetition is

essential in helping students learn because the more something is practiced or heard, the better it

is known. This app also has three categories of cards that students can choose from, including

toys, outdoor activities, and arts and crafts.

This is more effective than the past practice of paper flash cards because students can

listen to the word, see the word, and associate a picture with the expression on their own and

without help from an adult. These cards are similar to image cards that are used in behavior

therapy. This could also be a station in a classroom that autistic students work on. This app is

also more practical because parents or teachers can track their students’ learning with progress
MODULE 601 2

reports generated after students have completed three performance activities. This is harder to do

with traditional flash cards. The pictures in the app are more vivid and have better color quality.

Another positive is that students correctly hear how the word is pronounced, removing the room

for pronunciation errors with a traditional flash card. After reading the reviews of this app, it has

proven to be very popular and effective in helping students.

Cost

This is a free app, as long as the device is an Apple device. This app is not universal and

will only work on an Apple product. The only cost associated with this assistive technology

would be the Apple product and anything related to that product, such as chargers, cases, and

headphones. More updated Ipads range from $500 to $700. Less updated Ipads would be cheaper

for a school to purchase. A few classrooms in my district have a class set of Ipads.

Maintenance

To download the app, download it from the app store onto the Apple device students will

work on. Teachers and parents need to keep up with any maintenance that needs to be done to

the device or the app, such as updating both when updates are available, making sure all other

equipment is in good working condition, and replacing it if it needs to be fixed. Having a class

set of Ipads also requires an Apple ID and password; this will be easiest if all devices share the

same information.

Conclusion

In conclusion, classrooms are made up of different students learning differently. Some

students will benefit from assistive technology such as using an app like Autism iHelp for

students with autism or large print books for students with visual impairments; it is essential to

keep learning accessible for everyone. Communication is a skill that students with autism
MODULE 601 3

struggle with, and they must know how to communicate with others at an early age. This is a

skill that they will need for the rest of their lives.
MODULE 601 4

References

5 assistive technologies (2022) to help with autism. The Elemy Learning Studio. (2022, June 7).

Retrieved July 7, 2022, from https://www.elemy.com/studio/autism-treatment/assistive-

technologies

Talavera, J. (2012, April 28). Autism ihelp – play. App Store. Retrieved July 7, 2022, from

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/autism-ihelp-play/id521485216

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