Please wait while the transcript is being prepared...
0:00
Hello. My name is Bogdan Zamfir
and I am the Director of
the Center for Educational
and Assistive Technology
at Southern Connecticut
State University.
The subject of this
talk is technology
for individuals with
autism spectrum disorders.
This talk is a broad overview of
the many assistive technology
supports available.
Rather than focus on
specific technology,
which changes almost daily,
we'll look at the
broad categories of
technology that can help
an individual with ASD.
0:32
As we start talking about
the definition of
assistive technology,
this approach will become
a little bit more clear.
But we'll start by talking
about assistive technology,
what it is, and how
to best implement it.
We'll talk about
visual supports,
executive function
skills, and behavior.
We'll then switch topics
a bit and move into
the world of literacy and
talk about technology
for reading,
technology for writing,
and notetaking.
We'll wrap up by addressing
some of the emerging technology.
1:05
Assistive technology has been
around for quite a while,
maybe longer than
most of us realize.
Back in 1988,
the Technology Related
Assistance Act
defined assistive
technology as any item,
piece of equipment,
or product system,
whether acquired
commercially off the shelf,
modified or customized
is used to increase,
maintain, or improve
the functional capabilities
of individuals
with disabilities.
This is a definition that has
essentially stayed
the same since
then regardless of
the major changes
that have taken place in
the field of technology.
The reason it hasn't
changed is that it's
a broad definition
focused not on
specific technology but rather
on what the technology does,
which is help an
individual accomplish
something that would otherwise
be too hard or impossible.
Because of this,
assistive technology
can include everything
from a simple pencil grip
all the way to a sophisticated
computer system.
Today, AI is playing
a large role in how we
interact with technology.
Now, the broad definition of
