Chapin, S.E., McNaughton, D., Light, J., McCoy, A., Caron, J., Lee, D.L. (2021). The effects of AAC video visual scene display technology on the communicative turns of preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder. Assistive Technology, Advance online publication (Full text available) Over 40% of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) experience difficulty in using speech. Many children with […]
Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Many children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have difficulty with communication – approximately 30% of children with ASD may not use speech as their primary mode of communication. For these individuals, AAC can support communication for social participation, academic learning, and language development. Research has shown that children with ASD can learn to use AAC systems and strategies, however there is still much to learn about how to to best support children with ASD in learning communication skills.
Research at Penn State is investigating how to design and support AAC systems that will help children with ASD
• learn language and communication skills
• develop literacy skills
• participate in general education classrooms
We are also conducting research in order to better understand the perspectives of parents and teachers, and to identify strategies to support communication and collaboration among AAC team members.
Effects of shared reading on language and literacy skills of children with ASD (Boyle et al., 2019)
Boyle et al. completed a systematic review to investigate the impact of shared reading on early language and literacy skills for children with ASD.
The employment experiences of adults with ASD who use AAC (Richardson, McCoy, & McNaughton, 2019)
Richardson et al describe the employment experiences of 7 individuals with ASD who use AAC in the workplace.
Peer support interventions for preschoolers with ASD (Chapin et al., 2018)
Chapin et al. (2018) provide a systematic review of the impact of peer support interventions on the communication of preschoolers with ASD.
A systematic review of language comprehension interventions for beginning communicators with ASD (Laubscher & Light, 2018)
At the 2018 ASHA Conference, Laubscher and Light reviewed the research on language comprehension interventions for individuals with ASD who are beginning communicators.
