Autism & PDD Associations Interactive Software

 Help children with autism master associations and develop language with:

• predictable syntax
• uncluttered illustrations
• reassuring narration
• reinforcing animation and sound effects

There are five stories in the program.  Each themed story teaches nine associations: 

• Buddy Bear Helps Mama—mop & bucket, pillow & bed, toys & toy box, and more
• Buddy Bear Has Fun—baseball & bat, mouse & computer, popcorn & movie, and more
• Buddy Bear Likes Animals—bird & nest, dog & bone, mouse & cheese, and more
• Buddy Bear Gets Ready for School—toothpaste & toothbrush, socks & shoes, hat & coat, and more
• Buddy Bear Goes on a Picnic—salt & pepper, bread & butter, milk & cookies, and more

Other program features: 

• randomization feature
• audio narration can be turned on/off
• animation and text replay
• easy one-click answer format
• content parallels the Autism & PDD Associations 5-Book Set

Copyright © 2005

Our son is 6 and on the Autism Spectrum.  We cannot say enough good things about the Buddy Bear books and software products.  We started with the Yes/No books, then onto the software and have never been disappointed or frustrated.  The software is so simple to use—insert CD and play.  The sound and visuals used on the software are pleasant to the ear and the visual movement maintains the child's attention without overload.

Darlene Rizzotti, Parent
Danvers, MA

• Children need to understand semantic connections among words (Taylor-Goh, 2005).
• Therapy aimed at fostering the development of age-appropriate communication skills and age/ability-appropriate language comprehension and language use will improve the child's level of functioning (Taylor-Goh, 2005).
• Speech-language pathologists should enhance access to literacy and academic instruction for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASHA, 2006).
• Many children with autism spectrum disorders learn more readily through the visual modality (Taylor-Goh, 2005).
• Computer-assisted instruction (CAI) has a positive effect on the learning process of young children who learn better with pictures and sounds (Vernadakis et al., 2005).

Autism & PDD Associations Interactive Software incorporates these principles and is also based on expert professional practice.

References

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). (2006). Roles and responsibilities of speech-language pathologists in diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of autism spectrum disorders across the life span [Position Statement]. Retrieved September 17, 2007, from www.asha.org/docs/html/ps2006-00105.html#sec1.1

Taylor-Goh, S. (2005). Royal college of speech & language therapists: Clinical guidelines. United Kingdom: Speechmark.

Vernadakis, N., Avgerinos, A., Tsitskari, E., & Zachopoulou, E. (2005, October). The use of computer assisted instruction in preschool education: Making teaching meaningful. Early Childhood Education Journal, 33(2), 99-104.

Author(s)

Beth W. Respess

Biography

Beth W. Respess is a retired school-based speech-language pathologist.  After four years as a classroom teacher, she graduated with a master's degree in speech communication from Auburn University.  She worked with students of all ages with various speech disorders, but she especially enjoyed the challenge of working with younger children who had PDD and autism.  Autism & PDD Associations Interactive Software is Beth's eighth publication with LinguiSystems.

Introduction

This software is based on the five Autism & PDD Associations books.  Autism & PDD Associations Interactive Software allows students with limited language skills to work independently on making associations.  The animation and sound effects hold their interest while the simple, stimulus-response structure encourages self-monitoring.  The spoken word along with the text helps develop reading skills.  Choosing the correct response among those given reinforces the skill of responding to multiple-choice questions.  You can introduce the software individually or in small groups.  Autism & PDD Associations Interactive Software is appropriate for students who are able to use the computer, up to about age seven, depending on the interest level and ability of the child.