Autism Apps

Welcome, 

For my course on Socioemotional / Physical Processes and the Exceptional Learner, I was tasked to find a resource that would support students with ASD.

First, let's define ASD: "Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication, and behavioral challenges" (CDC, 2020). 

The following is a review of the Autism Apps, including a breakdown of what the resource is, how it can be used, the benefits, any points of improvement, or just about anything that makes this resource unique. 

A Brief Description

Through my investigation of the following website, I was able to dive deeper into online resources and support for students with ASD. The website explains how ASD can affect learning, with associations to adaptability, focus, language development, motor skills, sensory perception, and social skills. While the website does a good job of explaining supports for different aged/leveled students, I was interested in some of the additional resources the website had to offer.

Touch Autism is a comprehensive list of Autism Apps that are categorized for different students’ needs. Whether it be for early learners, for communication development, motor skills, independence, or even parent support, there is something for everyone.

Who Can Benefit From This Resource?

Not only will individuals with ASD benefit from such applications, but there are also benefits for those working alongside ASD learners. For example, parents, teachers, EA’s, resource teachers, therapists, etc…

Many of the apps through this website would facilitate effective educational practices the government of Ontario wants to focus on when teaching students with ASD. For example (p.46) breaks down strategies for structuring the learning environment, which includes (MoO, 2007):

• Posting the student’s individual rules or guidelines, as well as classroom rules, in a visually accessible location (e.g., beside the student’s desk or workspace) 
• Providing clear information about task expectations 
• Introducing new or unfamiliar tasks in a familiar environment
• Establishing routines and regularly scheduled activities
• Developing a visual schedule of activities
• Providing warnings before transitions or changes to routines
• Having specific places where materials are stored
• Following a consistent work system

Using applications such as ones listed on the website highlights differentiated instruction and can provide the support with the necessary support they need in the domain that they need. Many of these apps can be used to schedule, or as visuals. They can help with transitions and can be accessed to facilitate daily tasks. These applications are effective for the students that use them, but also any other stakeholders in the learner's surroundings. 

The Benefits!

Right from the beginning, the webpage highlights different areas of learners with ASD. No two students are exactly alike therefore I found it beneficial to break down different areas that students might need guidance/assistance in (ex: fine motor skills vs. communication). For example, the following image shows a comprehensive list of apps associated with promoting self-care. There is a wide range of categories and apps that fall in each one of them!

Its Usefulness

The primary website provides strategies for supporting students with ASD at a young age (k-5th grade), pre-teen (6th-8th grade), high school (9th-12th grade), as well as college.

The app website breaks it down into different subcategories where you can focus on an area based on the learner's needs.

The reviews I found were very useful as they brought in a first-hand story on how each app was useful for such child/family. Here is an example of the Circle App. This review goes over its usefulness, an overview, as well as cost and instructions.

Accessibility

Only available for Apple users (iPad, iPhone)

The apps are designed with ASD users in mind, therefore, seem to be quite accessible.

Examples of some features:

The following is one of the apps the website has that focuses on communication. This app allows students with ASD to navigate the system to learn language and behavior, while also creating charts to facilitate making requests: "I want". "Sometimes, the communication methods used by students with ASD are unusual or not commonly used by others. As a result, their intended messages may not be understood" (MoO, 2007, p.80). Therefore using applications such as this one helps facilitate such communication to make it more effective for the students without them getting frustrated because they cannot communicate effectively what they want or are misunderstood. This PECS style chart is personalized to the student's needs and is very easily transported. Students who have a device and are familiar with it could use this application with ease once their needs are established. This is only one of the many applications this website promotes. 

Cost of the Resource

The primary website can be accessed by all, and all individuals can view the list of applications that are associated with Touch Autism. However the apps range in price, many of them Free. 

Concluding Thoughts and Areas for Improvement

As a whole, I think this is a great resource that encompasses many applications all in one place for individuals to access and use. Although they range in price, there seems to be a wide selection and a good source of review to validate a purchase. I would however say that it is very inconvenient that many of these applications be solely downloaded on IOS devices and are not available to android users. Many schools purchase Android-based tablets therefore would not necessarily be able to use all these applications. 

-Piper

Works Cited

CDC. (2020, March 25). What is autism spectrum disorder? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved March 11, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/facts.html#:~:text=Autism%20spectrum%20disorder%20(ASD)%20is,social%2C%20communication%20and%20behavioral%20challenges.

Dwyer, P. (2020, August 14). Resources and support for students with autism: Strategies and tips for schools success. Public Service Degrees. Retrieved March 11, 2022, from https://www.publicservicedegrees.org/resources/students-with-autism/

Krones, J. W., & Krones, T. W. (2015). Home. Touch Autism. Retrieved March 11, 2022, from http://touchautism.com/ 

Ministry of Ontario. (2007). Effective Educational Practices for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders. http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/general/elemsec/speced/autismSpecDis.pdf