Instructional Technology: A Picture-aided Communication Systems Manager (PACSMan)

描述(由申请人提供)：此快速通道应用程序请求支持开发和现场测试软件，用于自闭症和相关神经发育障碍儿童的功能沟通训练。该软件主要面向行为治疗师、特殊教育工作者和语言/语言专业人员，将支持使用图片辅助功能性交流的增强/替代交流(AAC)方法的实施。图像辅助交流系统目前广泛应用于功能交流培训，尤其是在广泛使用的PECS(图像交换交流交流系统)中。拟议的产品将涉及这种功能性交流培训的三个关键阶段：(1)建立图片和相应物体之间可靠辨别的第一个实例，(2)加速图片辨别曲目的扩展，以及(3)建立和扩展图片序列，以支持逐渐具有更强能力的图片辅助交流。该产品的工作名称是图片辅助通信系统管理器(PACSMan)。PACSMan的科学基础是广泛的，来自过去30年专业期刊上的数十篇论文。该计划将在一个类似佩斯的教学环境中管理治疗师与儿童的接口。该软件将(1)显示要呈现的刺激项目序列及其配置，(2)允许治疗师快速且方便地输入对应于儿童行为的数据，(3)对个体-儿童数据库进行即时自动查询，以便做出关于教学序列的性质的决定(即，何时添加新项目、何时加速教学、何时补救等)，并且通常支持在图片辅助交流中优化个性化教学的持续过程。这个STTR项目的特点是UMMS施莱弗中心和Praxis，Inc.之间独特的合作伙伴关系，前者为该产品建立了证据基础，后者为该产品提供了知识产权，从而可以快速且具有成本效益地开发该产品。公共卫生相关性：这项研究的主要焦点是由于自闭症或其他神经发育障碍而导致功能语言很少或没有功能语言的儿童的沟通发展。特别强调的是支持这类儿童进行符号交流的方法。我们希望我们的研究将导致方法，使行为治疗的积极结果更有力和可靠。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This fast-track application requests support to develop and field test software for functional communication training for children with autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders. Aimed principally at behavior therapists, special educators, and speech/language professionals, the software will support implementation of augmentative/alternative communication (AAC) approaches that use pictures to aid functional communication. Picture-aided communication systems are now widely used in functional communication training, most notably in the widely used PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System). The proposed product will address three critical stages in such functional communication training: (1) establishing the first instances of reliable discrimination among pictures and corresponding objects, (2) accelerating expansion of the picture-discrimination repertoire, and (3) establishing and expanding pictures sequences to support progressively more capable picture-aided communication. The working title of the product is Picture-Aided Communication System Manager (PACSMan). The scientific foundation for PACSMan is extensive, deriving from dozens of publications in professional journals over the past three decades. The program will manage the therapist-child interface within a PECS-like teaching environment. The software will (1) display sequences of stimulus items and their configurations to be presented, (2) allow the therapist to quickly and conveniently enter data corresponding to the child's behavior, (3) make automated on-the-fly queries of an individual-child database in order make decisions concerning the nature of the teaching sequences (i.e., when to add new items, when to accelerate teaching, when to remediate, etc.), and generally support an ongoing process of optimizing individualized instruction in picture-aided communication. This STTR project features a unique partnership between the UMMS Shriver Center, which established the evidence basis for the product, and Praxis, Inc., which contributes intellectual property whereby the product can be rapidly and cost-effectively developed. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The primary focus of this research is development of communication in children with little or no functional language due to autism or other neurodevelopmental disorder. The specific emphasis is on methods to support symbolic communication in such children. We hope that our research will lead to methods that will make positive outcomes of behavior therapy more robust and reliable.