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News- Page 2
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An Internet browser especially for kids with autism
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Posted by sylvia on Monday, August 03, 2009 (09:10:55)
Arizona Daily Star By Johanna Eubank
The Internet is a great tool for research, education, entertainment and socialization. But for a child with autism, it is often too much.
Children with autism are easily overstimulated by everything around them. At home, parents generally try to reduce the stimulation of the surroundings. But how can they reduce the stimulation of the computer while still allowing the child to learn with today’s technology?
John LeSieur runs a small software company and wanted to help his 6-year-old grandson Zackary, who has autism, make use of the computer. Zackary was frustrated by the too-many options available on the computer.
LeSieur created the Zac Browser for Autistic Children so that Zackary could be comfortable on the computer. He has made it available for free to all at Zac Browser.
When Zac browser is running, many of the keyboard and mouse controls are locked out, reducing accidental clicks. It links to safe, educational games, music and videos from free Web sites in an easy straightforward manner great for younger children – not just those with autism.
I downloaded the browser to try it out. The main page is a virtual aquarium. The icons are bigger and easier to click on than the regular ones on a Windows desktop. No double-clicking is required once the browser is open.
The cursor on the aquarium page is a fish. The icons point to a video page with lots of choices, a game page, a music page and a story page. The cursor changes on each of these pages and trails such things as hearts, stars and snowflakes.
There are very few printed words for non-readers to worry about. Pictures rule here. I would recommend a parent play around a little to get the lay of the land, then show the child how to close a game or pause a video.
The browser is compatible with Windows. I used a PC to download it. The Web site does indicate that it can run on a Mac with Windows. The Web site also has a forum for parents and you can register for a newsletter.
I doubt that my son would care too much for the Zac browser, but that’s mostly because he’s 22 years old and his interests have grown beyond what this can provide. But I would recommend this for all younger children.
Who knows? David is likely to like the videos, so I’ll ask him to try it out.
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Book Review
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Posted by lightfoot on Thursday, May 29, 2008 (16:42:40)
'AUTISM'S FALSE PROPHETS:Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and the Search for a Cure'
by Paul Offit, MD
Columbia University Press
To be released September 2008
reviewed by writerdd
AUTISM'S FALSE PROPHETS will show the reader the incredible history of how greedy lawyers, doctors, and unknowing parents have helped prevent the search for the real cause of autism.
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Read More... (1.03 KB) | comments? | |
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Two Men to Walk Across America for Autism Aid....
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Posted by lightfoot on Friday, May 16, 2008 (18:12:24)
By : National Autism Association
Next month, two men from Massachusetts will begin The Elias Tembenis Walk for Autism, a year-long journey across America to raise autism awareness and funds to assist children with the diagnosis.
Robert Williams and Bobby Genese of Worcester will walk approximately 3000 miles in honor of Elias Tembenis, a seven-year-old boy with autism who passed away last November following a seizure. Tembenis family friends Williams and Genese hope to provide aid for the 1 in 150 now diagnosed with autism. "I'm honored to help," said Genese. "Even a waterfall begins with only one drop, giving rewards."
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Read More... (1.57 KB) | comments? | |
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New autism center breaks ground in Melbourne
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Posted by lightfoot on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 (16:50:26)
BY SUSAN JENKS Florida Today
Florida Tech officials engaged in some "ceremonial shoveling" for the new Scott Center for Autism Treatment.
The $5 million project — which will serve children, adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders in Central Florida — is expected to open in 2009 on Bab***** Street, south of the school's College of Business in Melbourne.
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Read More... (1.87 KB) | comments? | |
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Autism and diagnostic substitution: evidence from a study of adults
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Posted by lightfoot on Tuesday, May 06, 2008 (14:16:11)
by Callier Library
Rates of diagnosis of autism have risen since 1980, raising the question of whether some children who previously had other diagnoses are now being diagnosed with autism. We applied contemporary diagnostic criteria for autism to adults with a history of developmental language disorder, to discover whether diagnostic substitution has taken place.
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Read More... (837 Bytes) | 1 comment | |
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