Better+Access+for+Autism

by Katie Strey
 * __ Better Access for Autism __**

The number of students with autism has skyrocketed in the last 20 years and current research indicates that 1 in 88 children has a form of autism. Autism is a spectrum disorder in which students have impairment in three possible areas: social skill deficits, communication deficits, and repetitive and/or restrictive behaviors. As a result of these behaviors, students usually face difficulties in verbally expressing themselves or interacting with others using typical social skills in response to cues like body language, facial expressions, or tone of voice. Some students may use flapping or other repetitive behaviors to calm themselves or cope with a stressful situation. The comorbidities that exist with autism include: mental retardation, learning disabilities, ADHD, depression, and anxiety.

Students with autism would greatly benefit from using several web 2.0 tools to minimize their deficits. Glogster is a web tool that allows students to create electronic posters. These posters can contain graphics, videos, animations, and text boxes. A person with autism predominantly processes information visually. This poster would allow students to organize their information using text boxes and titles because many students with ADHD need structure and organization supports if they are dealing with ADHD as well. Students could incorporate pictures and videos on their poster to support their visual learning. Students would build skills in research and synthesizing information that is required on their poster. While students preview appropriate videos, they could be wearing headphones, which will help them to focus and minimize extra stimulation.

Lastly, students that create glogster posters can post their glogs to social networking pages or discussion forums that are set up by a teacher. Since students are often lacking in their communication skills, commenting on their peers’ posters and leaving feedback could help to build their communication skills. Students of all ages and abilities need to learn how to respectfully interact online.

One barrier I see to using this are that students with autism occasionally lack fine motor control, which results in slow use of the mouse or their keyboarding skills. This could make a project using glogster a very slow one. This issue could be resolved by using a speech to text program or the student could make an audio recording of their information and insert it into the glogster page. Another option could be to have a teacher assistant do some of the typing for the student after the student dictates what should be written.

References: Ennis-Cole, D., & Smith, D. (2011). Assistive technology and autism: Expanding the technology leadership role of the school librarian. //School Libraries Worldwide//, //17//(2), 86-98. Retrieved from []