title: Applying technology to visually support language and communication in individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
abstract: The burgeoning role of technology in society has provided opportunities for the development of new means of communication for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). This paper offers an organizational framework for describing traditional and emerging augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technology, and highlights how tools within this framework can support a visual approach to everyday communication and improve language instruction. The growing adoption of handheld media devices along with applications acquired via a consumer-oriented delivery model suggests a potential paradigm shift in AAC for people with ASD.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital Boston, Center of Communication Enhancement, 9 Hope Avenue, Waltham, MA 02453, USA. howard.shane@childrens.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Howard C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Shane
authors.forename: Emily H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Laubscher
authors.forename: Ralf W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Schlosser
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Sorce
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abramson
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003142:Communication; D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D013672:Technology