Deborah Sharpe - Additional Support Needs
ICT Audit of Provision
Resources to Support children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder
ICT website /resource Harvard
referenced
www.autism.org.uk
(Date accessed 7.10.11)
Description of who the SEN ICT
resource/website is for
Description of the SEN ICT
resource/website.
The website seems most helpful to This site has a huge content base,
parents of children with Autistic
under the following sub headings:
Spectrum Disorder (ASD) The
 About Autism –
parent’s of the child in my setting
introduction to ASD, facts
suggested the site to me as they
and statistics, diagnosis,
found it useful, although it is also
library of resources,
informative to those working with
magazines and journals
ASD children.
and reports.
 Living with Autism –
education, communication
to approaches, therapies
and interventions. Our
services – advice, training,
National Autistic Society
(NAS) services in your
area, education and
schools, diagnosis and The
Centre for Autism.
 Get involved – support the
site, raise funds, campaign
for changes and volunteer.
 News and events – latest
news from events, news
archive, conferences and
media centre.
 Community – a forum for
people with ASD, their
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Analysis of your SEN ICT
resource/website.
Justification / Comment
An extensive website that is user
friendly. It provides lots of advice
and information about diagnosis,
understanding behaviour through
to ways in which to support a
child with ASD. The
communication section has a
detailed and informative section
on ‘The four different stages of
communication’. It discusses
using Alternative and
Augmentative Communication
(AAC) supports such as, Picture
Exchange Communication System
(PECS), sign language, interactive
communication boards,
communication cue cards,
conversation books and voice
output communication aids.
The resources available to buy on
this site are mainly reference
books, rather than resources to aid
the child. It does talk about
different AAC supports in detail.
The importance of different
systems is discussed by Wall
(2009: p. 100) who states
www.sensetoys.com
(Date accessed 6.10.11)
carers and professionals
working with them.
The sites online shop sells books,
leaflets and posters published by
NAS as well as other authors. It
doesn’t sell equipment only a few
fundraising items.
Sense Toys website supplies Early An online resource for ordering
Years and special needs resources equipment to aid children with
it is designed to be used by both
ASD, ranging from multisensory
parents of children with ASD as
and textured distraction toys to
well as professionals working
reference books regarding
with them. The resources and
behaviour management
links available are of interest and
techniques and the use of picture
suitable for both.
cue cards to aid communication. It
also has a newsletter that you can
subscribe to as well as useful links
to organisations and resources.
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‘Children with autism, like all
children, are unique and
individual. The programme that is
more appropriate for one child
will not necessarily be the most
appropriate for the next child.’
The website sells a good range of
sensory distraction toys and a
limited selection of cue cards such
as ‘Toilet time teaching cards’. It
has a good selection of reference
books such as ‘Playing, Laughing
and Learning with Children on
`the Autistic Spectrum’ written by
Julia Moor. This book discusses
the benefits and use of cue cards
to aid communication. Such as
PECS, ‘This system is not
intended to replace speech, rather
it is meant to reduce frustration of
being unable to communicate,
offer correct models of speech and
language and give the child
increased independence.’ (Wall
2009: p. 99). It also stocks
behaviour management books e.g.
‘No Fighting, No Biting, No
Screaming’ containing ideas to
stop behaviours triggered by
unsuitable surroundings or
unrealistic demands.
The site has a nice ‘Links’ section
that directs users to organisations
http://www.bslforkids.co.uk/
(Date accessed 2.10.11)
This British Sign Language (BSL)
website stocks a great range of
resources that are useful in
working with a child with ASD to
aid understanding and ease
anxiety. Suitable for practitioners
working within Early Years and
for parents of children with ASD.
The site offers a large range of
free downloadable resources as
well as resources for sale. All are
to aid communication and
cognitive development. Goods
ordered arrive promptly and are
well made. I purchased some
cards for using in my resource,
this will be used in the setting and
by the child’s parent’s at home.
It is easy to use with a clear
navigation bar to navigate through
the site.
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and resources that advise and
enables parents and practitioners
to teach children with Autism.
The site has a good selection of
downloadable resources,
including interactive ICT games
in the form of slide shows.
An App store, a large range of
puppets, free printable picture
signs and a baby sign section.
It has a nice section that has free
PECS and printable booklets such
as ‘A trip to McDonalds’ and
fairy stories. ‘Young children with
autism not only have difficulty
making sense of words but also in
‘reading’ non-verbal messages in
facial expressions and gestures.
For all of us, these non-verbal
clues are very important in
helping us to make sense of the
whole message. For children with
a specific problem in learning
words, it is very important for us
to help them in any way we can to
understand what we mean. We
should not forget that children
with autism often make sense of
things they see more easily than
things they hear. This is a strength
that we can use. Pictures,
symbols, photographs and signs
may be helpful.’ (NAS. 2007: pg.
25).
The London Programme: Autism
in the Classroom.
ITV
20.10.2002
(Viewed 5.10.11)
This programme is a useful
resource for parents of Autistic
children and practitioners who
work with them.
It shows several case studies of
how children with Autistic
spectrum Disorder (ASD) are
being supported. Both positive
and negative views are shared.
All case studies show how a
variety of resources are being
used to support and aid
communication and
understanding.
The video starts with a case study
of a child with ASD, filmed in his
home, expressing his mothers
views about the schooling he has
and is currently attended.
The video moves on to show the
Treehouse School set up
specifically for children on the
ASD. The school uses Applied
Behaviour Analysis (ABA)
teaching methods. Having 1-1
ratios, repetitive teaching
delivered by several staff to aid
the child’s understanding that the
lesson does not only apply with
one person. The head teacher
discusses the importance of early
intervention being vital to
progress in future social
engagement.
The video then shows a positive
inclusion into mainstream
schooling. Including several
children with ASD.
Demonstrating good support staff,
relevant training, and funding in
place for resources. Good use of
cue cards and visual timetables to
reduce tension and anxiety.
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The video looks at how children
on the Autistic spectrum are being
supported within the education
system. It takes account of
parent’s views. It shows the
different approaches, looking at
specialist schools with specific
teaching styles to inclusion within
mainstream schools. The video
shows PECS, visual timetables
and Applied Behaviour Analysis
(ABA) being used well with
positive outcomes. Some parent’s
views on the video regarding
inclusion in mainstream schooling
are negative, believing that their
children would progress better
within a specialist school. ‘There
is a general recognition that one
of the essential factors in
providing for children’s play and
learning is a suitable environment.
‘When adults provide a varied
play environment with
opportunities to learn in all the
different ways, they enable
children to achieve some of the
early learning goals’ (Bruce
2001). This is particularly
important when considering
children with developmental delay
or other children with special
needs.’ (Bruce, 2001 cited in
Stroh, Robinson & Proctor. 2008:
p.16)
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Bibliography
NAS. (2007) 5th Edition How to help your young child. NAS Publications
Stroh, K. Robinson, T. & Proctor, A. (2008) Every Child can Learn. London:Sage.
The London Programme: Autism in the Classroom (20.10.2002). ITV. (5.10.11)
Wall, K (2209) Autism and early Years Practice. Second Edition. London: Sage.
www.autism.org.uk (7.10.11)
http://www.bslforkids.co.uk/ ( 2.10.11)
www.sensetoys.com (6.10.11)
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