How does Technology help students with Autism? 

Technology helps all students, not just students who do not have specials needs. Students with specials needs sometime require a different methodology in instruction,  which can also include technology. I believe as teachers, we must be able to also differentiate our methods in using technology for all students so that every student is able to use the technology to help them access the curriculum. 

In the ECHOES program in the UK, teachers at this school have "found that the ECHOES program has greatly helped the children improve their social and communication skills. [In fact teachers were] surprised at the extent to which the children engaged with the technology".  Technology can greatly help children of all needs, especially those who may be autistic and need help adjusting socially and academically. 

Technology could be as simple as accessing Word documents for enlarging print or a reader, to more complex technologies such as face recognition for correcting facial emotions. 

Autism Facts: 

Facts and Figures

Facts
Each individual experiences the diagnosis differently.
There is no medical cure for autism.
Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability.
More kids will be diagnosed this year than pediatric AIDS, diabetes and cancer combined.

Figures
1 in every 88 children has an autism spectrum disorder (1 in 54 in boys).
Autism is 4 times more prevalent in boys than girls.
1 to 1.5 million people in the United States live with autism.
Families spend an average of $60,000 each year on autism treatment and therapies.
Average cost of autism over the lifespan is $3.2 million dollars.
The National Institute of Health set a funding budget of $30.86 billion dollars in 2012. Autism research received $169 million of this, which totals one-half of a percent (0.55%) of funding.

Technology and Autism

Autism through technology

Innovative Technology for Autistic Children