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

描述（由申请人提供）：此快速通道申请要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性沟通训练。该软件主要针对行为治疗师、特殊教育工作者和语音/语言专业人员，将支持使用图片辅助功能性沟通的增强/替代沟通（AAC）方法的实施。图像辅助通信系统现在广泛用于功能性通信训练，最显著的是广泛使用的佩奇（图像交换通信系统）。拟议的产品将解决三个关键阶段，在这种功能性的沟通培训：（1）建立可靠的区分图片和相应的对象之间的第一个实例，（2）加速扩大图片的歧视剧目，（3）建立和扩大图片序列，以支持逐步更有能力的图片辅助通信。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，来自过去三十年来在专业期刊上发表的数十篇论文。该计划将在类似PECS的教学环境中管理治疗师-儿童界面。该软件将（1）显示要呈现的刺激项序列及其配置，（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自动化即时查询，以便做出关于教学序列的性质的决定（即，何时添加新项目、何时加速教导、何时补救等），并且通常支持在图像辅助通信中优化个性化教学的持续过程。这个STTR项目的特点是UMMS Shriver中心和Praxis，Inc.之间建立了独特的合作伙伴关系，其贡献了知识产权，由此可以快速且成本有效地开发产品。公共卫生相关性：这项研究的主要重点是发展因自闭症或其他神经发育障碍而几乎没有或没有功能性语言的儿童的沟通能力。特别强调的是支持这种儿童的象征性沟通的方法。我们希望我们的研究将导致方法，使行为治疗的积极成果更加强大和可靠。

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.