Podcast: It’s All About Independent Functioning! Using Technology to Develop Critical Life-Skills for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

This is one in a series of podcasts recorded live at the Texas Assistive Technology Network (TATN) Statewide conference this past June. These podcasts feature nationally known speakers talking about a wide range of topics related to assistive technology.

This episode features Susan Stokes and the title of the podcast is "It’s All About Independent Functioning! Using Technology to Develop Critical Life-Skills for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder".

Click HERE to listen to the audio podcast.

Click HERE for the interview transcription.

Do YOU have an idea for a future podcast? Leave a comment with your suggestion for either a speaker or a topic. We will work to honor those requests in future podcasts.

Happy Listening!

First Presidential Appointee with Autism

Ari Ne'eman was recently appointed to the President's National Council on Disability. He is the first White House appointee with Autism. His first interview was conducted with Wired magazine.

Click HERE to read the interview.

Ari is part of the President's National Council on Disability (NCD), a panel that advises the President and Congress on ways of reforming health care, schools, support services and employment policy to make society more equitable for people with all forms of disability.

Very inspiring young man. Too bad the article - or the comments after the article - didn't promote "people first" language when speaking about an individual with a disability. For more information about people first language, check out this 4 page PDF file from Kathie Snow at www.disabilityisnatural.com

Podcast: Challenging Behaviors Communicate! Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder to be Functional Communicators Through Technology

This is one in a series of podcasts recorded live at the Texas Assistive Technology Network (TATN) Statewide conference this past June. These podcasts feature nationally known speakers talking about a wide range of topics related to assistive technology.

This episode features Susan Stokes and the title of the podcast is: Challenging Behaviors Communicate! Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder to be Functional Communicators Through Technology.

Click HERE to listen to the audio podcast.

Click HERE for the interview transcription.

Do YOU have an idea for a future podcast? Leave a comment with your suggestion for either a speaker or a topic. We will work to honor those requests in future podcasts.

Happy Listening!

iPad in action: One Mother's Story

Now that the iPad has been out for some time - personal stories are beginning to emerge related to the use of this device with people with disabilities.

Check out this blog post by Shannon Des Roches Rosa entitled, The Ipad: a Near Miracle for my Son with Autism.

Shannon describes winning the iPad in a raffle for $5 (!) and realizing how it increased the independence of her son Leo. According to her blog posting:

"Before the iPad, Leo's autism made him dependent on others for entertainment, play, learning, and communication. With the iPad, Leo electrifies the air around him with independence and daily new skills. People who know Leo are amazed when they see this new boy rocking that iPad."

Check out her entire blog post - especially to see the videos of Leo and the iPad. Great stuff!

Autism Therapy: A new face?

Visit Popular Science online here to read about "The New Face of Autism Therapy". Bandit, whose picture is above, was developed at the University of Southern California to be both sympathetic and sensitive enough to interact with children with autism. The program works off the notion, and increasing evidence, that children with autism respond more naturally to machines than people.

Very interesting program with a great potential. What do you think? Please comment below.