The Autism Society Event and Education Recordings Archive

The Connector is an innovative device that was created at PACE Place to help individuals with a developmental disability to experience the building blocks of development, in a naturally occurring context. Pilot research is demonstrating positive impact on many children's ability to attend, reference and coordinate with their parents, siblings and friends. The presentation will outline: 1) what the device is, 2) how it is currently being used, 3) Research findings to date. In effort to simulate the dynamics of naturally occurring child development, as it unfolds in a secure parent-child relationship, and afford children with ASD the opportunity to gain from naturally occurring interactions, PACE Place have begun a research program to investigate the efficacy of using a unique tool to aid in the process of remediating the core deficits of autism. Preliminary research is showing that the Connector might simulate the emotional connection that binds children to their caregivers early in life and leaves them available to subtle shared experiences that mold their style of interacting throughout their lives. The Connector creates a physical bond that holds individuals close enough so that subtle interactional dynamics can be processed in an automatic manner. The goal of using the Connector is to empower children and parents to discover how their shared relationship shapes development. The goal of using the connector is to restore balance to the relationship. Using the device with a wide range of individuals, ranging from non-verbal children to verbal teens, experience is showing that an individual’s frequency of attending and initiating can increase dramatically when using the device. At the strong urging of Dr. Stephen Edelson we are submitting this presentation for your review and possible presentation at your 2008 conference. Dr. Edelson wanrted us to add that he would be happy to speak to someone further about this device.

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