The Autism Society Event and Education Recordings Archive

"Help! I have students who do not attend to books and are not interested in books." This is a common complaint of teachers who have students on the autism spectrum. These students fall into the early engagement level of interaction; typically, they have short attention spans, noncompliant behaviors, and limited engagement skills. This session will describe a collection of strategies, both light and high tech, that support students with autism spectrum disorders. Opportunity and access continue to be the number one reason students with disabilities frequently do not become literate adults, including students on the autism spectrum. Students who have the most complex communication needs and who have other sensory needs not only struggle but often never receive the appropriate literacy instruction. Instructors are at a loss as where to begin with students and how to move them forward on a literacy continuum. In addition the session will suggest using literacy based support's to develop and interest and skills in early literacy for those students who appear to be not interested but more importantly how the integration use of both AAC technology and or computer technology can support both communication and literacy skills. Heimann, et.el (a995) discussed how reading and comprehension skills sills can be developed through the use com multimedia computer programs. Heavy emphasis will be placed on book and software selection and the use of light tech supports for children at the early engagement level of interaction. Supporters of “literacy rich” classrooms suggest a minimum of 20 books per student in your classroom. In reality to successfully transition children to become readers requires literally 100's of books per student. Unfortunately, the funds to purchase all the books needed for our students is just not available. One solution is to develop a resource bank of already available web based materials and/or create books that can be printed or used electronically. The first portion of this workshop will address the theoretical underpinnings for the use of electronic books for children with multiple disabilities including suggestions and templates for writing or selecting books for those who will be transitioning to becoming readers. Participants will develop an understanding for materials appropriate for students who fall into the early, reciprocal, initiating, and independent levels of literacy engagement. Strategies to build success and skills in the area of early literacy and understanding how you know what your students know will be emphasized. The second portion of this workshop will direct participants to the multitude of web- based materials that are available and ready to use. The final portion of this workshop will be focused on creating your own materials. Easy to use templates will be presented for a variety of platforms and programs with step by step instructions. Learn how to create, curriculum based books, social stories, books to support AAC systems, scrap booking for older students, portable books and book shelves and personalized stories. The emphasis is to pick and chose the framework that meets your “comfort zone” with technology. It is crucial that all children experience success in literary activities at some level, in order to encourage them to continue and to enhance a positive self-image about themselves as readers. Assistive technology can provide the opportunity for students to have success in this areas

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