Improving social and communication outcomes for non-verbal students with autism spectrum disorder (2015)

Undergraduate: Shakeia Burgin

Faculty Advisor: Patrick Akos
Department: Psychology & Neuroscience

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Alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) methods are interventions that can be used to promote speech and language development in individuals with intellectual and communication disabilities. Assistive technologies such as iPads, iPhones, iPods, and other tablet devices enable individuals to express speech in a visual manner and have the ability to generate electronic verbal speech. Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder present major deficits in social communication, particularly individuals who lack the ability to use verbal speech. Assistive technologies for communication are effectively used to allow these non-verbal students with ASD to communicate functionally but are not utilized to their full potential to promote social and vocational communication. Implementation of social groups with non-verbal students with assistive technologies with students who communicate verbally will help develop these student¿¿¿s abilities to communicate in their communities, thus increasing the likelihood of their success in the work-force after completing school.