Challenges and Assistive Technology during Typical Routines: Perspectives of Caregivers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Other Disabilities

ABSTRACT

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities can face challenges during typical daily routines. Assistive technology can be used to address the problems encountered during typical routines, yet the competence of caregivers of children with these disabilities in using assistive technology varies. This study was designed to explore Saudi Arabian caregivers’ perceptions about problematic typical daily routines. Caregivers of children with these disabilities were surveyed about the problems they encountered with typical routines, the solutions they found to the problems, the assistive technology they used in the solutions, and their training in and feelings of competence about using assistive technology. Caregivers experienced problems in playing, bathing, and mealtime routines and some found solutions using assistive technology. Over one-third of the caregivers did not feel at all competent in using assistive technology. Suggestions for future research as well as training and development for caregivers are provided.     

自闭症谱系障碍儿童专业助手干预技能培训的研究进展

专业助手是自闭症谱系障碍儿童接受教育的重要支持人员,对其学业能力的发展以及社会交往技能的提升具有重要意义。本研究梳理了近二十年国外培训专业助手对自闭症谱系障碍儿童实施干预的实证研究,从专业助手的特征,ASD儿童的特征,专业助手对ASD儿童实施干预的目标行为,实验设计,培训内容与程序,培训及干预效果等维度进行分析,在此基础上指出已有研究存在的局限和未来研究方向,以期为日后自闭症谱系障碍儿童专业助手培训的研究提供参考和建议。     

孤独症谱系障碍儿童教育干预康复效果探究

孤独症谱系障碍（ASD）儿童是一群存在社交沟通障碍并且行为重复刻板的孩子,在症状和严重程度上存在着连续性特征,其中一部分ASD儿童具有接受普通教育的可能,将其与发育落后儿童一起进行小组教学,互相取长补短,对于两类孩子的生涯发展都大有裨益,这种联合教育的模式就是混合教育模式.另一部分ASD儿童或者属于中重度范畴,或者随着年龄的增长而出现能力的倒退和停滞,针对这些儿童,建议采用传统的教育康复模式.论文作者在证明教育康复对于孤独症谱系障碍儿童社会交往障碍具有明显效果的基础上,验证了教育实践中因材施教,区分使用混合教育和传统教育的必要性.     

Selecting Software with Caution: An Empirical Evaluation of Popular Beginning Reading Software for Children with Early Literacy Difficulties

It seems appropriate, if not necessary, to use empirically supported criteria to evaluate reading software applications. This study's purpose was to develop a research-based evaluation framework and review selected beginning reading software that might be used with struggling beginning readers. Thirty-one products were reviewed according to criteria that addressed interface design, instructional design, and beginning reading content. Findings suggested that the software sample generally did not meet the evaluation standards. Results also indicated that software rating highly on interface design tended to rate lower on beginning reading content. Based on these results, implications for practice and next steps for research are also discussed.     

基于EDA软件ispLEVER的现代数字系统设计

文章介绍了Lattice公司最新推出的一套EDA软件ispLEVER的功能及特点,并以一个简单的数字电路设计为例,较详细地说明了该软件的使用方法和步骤。     

空间解析几何多媒体CAI系统的设计与制作

全面系统地介绍了空间解析几何MCAI系统的设计与制作过程,并简要描述了这个系统的网络传输。     

Reduce,manage or cope: a review of strategies for training school staff to address challenging behaviours displayed by students with intellectual/developmental disabilities

Members of a knowledge translation and exchange (KTE) research team assessed the training needs of the teaching staff at a school for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD). In response to this need, KTE researchers retrieved peer‐reviewed articles for training staff working with individuals with IDD who exhibit challenging behaviours. These articles were categorised according to the following training content: (1) interventions designed to reduce the frequency of challenging behaviours; (2) appropriate ways to manage challenging behaviours in the moment to promote safety for all parties and/or to terminate the ongoing behaviour; and/or (3) procedures or perspectives relevant to coping with or ameliorating the negative impacts of challenging behaviours on staff. We then examined the training methods (teaching strategies, training duration) involved in teaching the content and assessed the effectiveness of these programmes. Overall, we found that effective training programmes consisted of workshops, practica and feedback on specific skill performance. Some forms of brief training were effective for increasing staffs' knowledge/skills and reducing the frequency of challenging behaviour.     

From eligibility assessment to intervention for students with autism spectrum disorder

The mean age of identification for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) occurs during the months before children enter kindergarten. The incidence and prevalence of “autistic behaviors” in the general population are not fully understood, however, census-matched studies of these behaviors have yielded important new data. As children presenting with behaviors characteristic of ASD enter school, school psychologists are increasingly faced with the assessment and determination of individuals with disabilities improvement act (IDEIA) eligibility, often with students yet to be formally diagnosed with ASD. In many US states, a clinical diagnosis of ASD is not required for a child's eligibility to be served under the category of other health impaired as autism. Nor does a diagnosis of ASD automatically qualify a student as eligible under IDEIA. Eligibility hinges on educational impact. This article briefly reviews the current state of knowledge as it relates to understanding and evaluating children with suspected ASD in the schools, offers a framework for assessment, and discusses a set of proposed guidelines to assist in effectively utilizing assessment data in the development of individualized education plan goals.