VCU RRTC

Smartphones, PDAs and tablet computers can be powerful tools for managing cognitive-behavioral challenges experienced by people with autism.  They can be easily customized to support just-in-time activity cueing, task-sequencing, wayfinding, communication assistance and behavioral coaching, among other uses.  This presentation examines consumer platforms, applications and strategies for implementing individualized cognitive-behavioral suites, providing real life case studies, practical examples and outcome measures to assure success.

Three outcomes:

Attendees will be able to:

a. discuss the pros and cons of various handheld platforms as cognitive-behavioral assistive technology
b. select from a variety of handheld applications and adaptations that have proven useful as cognitive behavioral
c. consider strategies for developing individualized suites of adaptive tools and assuring their use by consumers with autism.

Tony Gentry, PhD OTR/L is an assistant professor in the occupational therapy department at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, where he directs the university’s Assistive Technology for Cognition Laboratory.  He is an internationally recognized expert on neurological rehabilitation and assistive technology for people with disabilities.  Over the past decade, he has published a series of community-based research findings focused on exploring the efficacy of handheld computers and smart applications as cognitive aids for individuals with autism and other neurological disorders, and the development of computer games for people with disabilities.  He is currently conducting a 5-year study of Apple Ipod Touch devices as job support aids for people with autism.