Reducing the Need for Personal Supports Among Workers with Autism Using an iPod Touch as an Assistive Technology: Delayed Randomized Control Trial

Abstract

Personal digital assistants (PDAs) are versatile task organizers that hold promise as assistive technologies for people with cognitive-behavioral challenges. This delayed randomized controlled trial compared two groups of adult workers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to determine whether the use of an Apple iPod Touch PDA as a vocational support improves work performance and reduces personal support needs on the job. Baseline data were collected on 50 adults with ASD who were beginning a vocational placement supported by a job coach. Participants were randomized to receive training in the use of a PDA as a vocational aid upon starting their job or after working 12 weeks without PDA support. Workers who received PDA training at the beginning of their job placement required significantly less hours of job coaching support (p = 0.013) during their first 12 weeks on the job than those who had not yet received the intervention. Functional performance between the two groups was not significantly different. The significant difference in hours of job coaching support persisted during the subsequent 12 weeks, in which both groups used a PDA (p = 0.017).

Services for Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Systems Perspective

“…One study focused on describing the characteristics of people with autism who use residential services. Nine studies assessed the impact of interventions that included assistive technology (AT) [13,17,18,25,26,29,35,38,50]. Among the AT studies, six studied the use of AT to improve employment outcomes [13,17,18,25,26,29], one involved the use of a computer-based intervention for college students [35], one involved using AT to support the development of social skills [38], and one involved using AT to teach community shopping skills [50].…”

An Exploratory Analysis of Increasing Self-Efficacy of Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder Through the Use of Multimedia Training Stimuli

“…38 Some members may struggle more than others while learning their roles. New technology may be an effective tool to engage learners with ASD and achieve organizational objectives 23 while reducing high anxiety, 2 a variable that contributes to self-perceived performance deficiencies and, ultimately, poor job performance. 39 Participants reported that they learned from the training, felt engaged, and had fun, suggesting that their MTS experience increased their self-efficacy and learning, reduced anxiety, and helped manage task-related uncertainty.…”

“…[18][19][20][21] The use of new technology for task-related training of newly hired ASDs remains virtually uninvestigated, although research found that ASD adults respond well to visual prompts, and one study suggested that ASD adults responded more favorably using an IPod Touch during their training. 22,23 The purpose of this exploratory study was twofold: (a) to evaluate if MTS strategies can positively impact the selfefficacy of ASD adults while learning a specific vocational task and (b) to observe and document the reactions, opinions, and emotional responses of ASD adults to MTS. Given previous research on other learning situations, and the theories of social learning, engagement, and organizational assimilation, self-efficacy of ASD adults should increase.…”

Introduksjon av kompenserende teknologi i arbeidsrettet rehabilitering

“…Barrierer for utnyttelse av teknologi kan vaere mangel på opplaering i bruk, og at teknologi generelt sett benyttes lite på arbeidsplassen (Bureau of Labor Statistics 2011). Introduksjon av forbrukerteknologi, kombinert med kunnskap om de mulighetene teknologien gir, og opplaering og tilpasning med veiledere som er positive og forståelsesfulle, er blitt pekt på som faktorer som fremmer utnyttelse av teknologi i arbeidslivet (Gentry, Kriner, Sima, McDonough & Wehman, 2015;Haugli, Maeland & Magnussen, 2011).…”