Augmentative Communication and Autism Spectrum Disorder (Research Paper Sample)

Augmentative Communication and Autism Spectrum Disorder
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Table of Contents
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Augmentative Communication and Autism Spectrum Disorder  PAGEREF _Toc68614076 \h
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Organizations That Support People Who Have Autism Spectrum Disorder  PAGEREF _Toc68614077 \h
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1. The Autism Research Foundation  PAGEREF _Toc68614078 \h
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2. Autism Society  PAGEREF _Toc68614079 \h
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3. Autism Speaks  PAGEREF _Toc68614080 \h
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Manufacturers of Assistive Technology Tools for People Living with Autism  PAGEREF _Toc68614081 \h
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1. E2L Holdings Limited  PAGEREF _Toc68614082 \h
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2. Enabling Devices  PAGEREF _Toc68614083 \h
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3. Adaptivation Incorporated  PAGEREF _Toc68614084 \h
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4. LoganTech  PAGEREF _Toc68614085 \h
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5. Saltillo  PAGEREF _Toc68614086 \h
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Assistive Technology Tools for People Living with Autism Spectrum Disorder  PAGEREF _Toc68614087 \h
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1. MegaBee  PAGEREF _Toc68614088 \h
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2. Hip Talk Plus  PAGEREF _Toc68614089 \h
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3. Pal Pad Pressure Activated Switches  PAGEREF _Toc68614090 \h
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4. Logan ProxTalker Mid-Tech Device  PAGEREF _Toc68614091 \h
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5. The NovaChat 5  PAGEREF _Toc68614092 \h
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Summary of Products, Manufacturer, and Price  PAGEREF _Toc68614093 \h
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Funding Sources for Individuals Living with Autism or Households that House Them  PAGEREF _Toc68614094 \h
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1. Autism Care Today  PAGEREF _Toc68614095 \h
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2. Danny Wish  PAGEREF _Toc68614096 \h
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3. Fund It Forward  PAGEREF _Toc68614097 \h
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4. Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation (ASDF)  PAGEREF _Toc68614098 \h
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5. Small Steps in Speech  PAGEREF _Toc68614099 \h
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Conclusion  PAGEREF _Toc68614100 \h
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References  PAGEREF _Toc68614101 \h
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Augmentative Communication and Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder refers to a developmental disability that leads to significant challenges in verbal communication, nonverbal messaging, and social interactions (CDC, 2020). It can also cause repetitive or restricted behaviors in people who suffer from it. The number of people living with Autism Spectrum Disorder is rising. In 2018, only one in fifty-nine children in the United States had it. Today, one in 54 kids has it (JHSPH, 2020). Consequently, the attention paid to this disease by doctors, researchers, and the media has been increasing over the years. The heightened focus on this disease has borne fruit because many people have offered possible solutions to this problem. For example, augmentative communication is one of the proposed means of helping autistic people cope with their condition.
Organizations That Support People Who Have Autism Spectrum Disorder
The Autism Research Foundation
The Autism Science Foundation (ASF) is a non-profit organization that supports autism research by funding relevant scientific organizations. It also disseminates the research to the public to increase awareness of Autism Spectrum disorders.


Autism Society
Founded in 1965, the Autism Society lobbies for autism-friendly legislation throughout the United States at federal, state, and local levels of government. It also hosts an annual national conference on autism to disseminate information on this condition and to gather ideas on how to tackle it.


Autism Speaks
Founded in 2005 by two grandparents of an autistic child, Autism Speaks supports advocacy programs to increase awareness of this illness among the populace. It aims to promote acceptance of people living with autism in society.


Manufacturers of Assistive Technology Tools for People Living with Autism
E2L Holdings Limited
This British company, E2L Holdings Limited, focuses on the design and production of electronic hardware and embedded software. Founded in 1998, it has expanded from mechanical and industrial engineering into medical products. It produces MegaBee, the electronic handheld writing tablet.


Enabling Devices
Founded in 1978, this company created products to help people living with various kinds of disabilities including physical ones. These items include toys, tools, and devices such as motorized scooter boards for children with mobility issues. It also manufactures the Hip Talk Plus portable communication device.


Adaptivation Incorporated
Adaptivation designs products to help people cope with mild or severe disabilities. The company aims at helping people speak independently through assistive devices as opposed to someone interpreting words or signs for them. Adaptivation manufactures Pal Pads for kids with communication difficulties.


LoganTech
The son of Glen and Kristi Dobbs, Logan, suffers from autism. He cannot speak at all. Glen and Kristi realized that Logan would point something that he wanted to a family member or a picture of it. The Dobbs family started a company that created devices that he could use to communicate to the family.


Saltillo
Saltillo does not produce any other product other than speech-generating devices. The items lack an age range and people with speech impairments caused by different illnesses can use them. For example, a two-year-old boy living with autism and a 75-year-old with Aphasia can use its NovaChat 5 device.


Assistive Technology Tools for People Living with Autism Spectrum Disorder
MegaBee
MegaBee is an assisted writing tablet that facilitates communication with people who have impaired speech. Studies show that 70% of kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder have severe language delay by age eight. This device can come in handy until then. It does not require training or calibration.


Hip Talk Plus
This portable augmentative communication has 300 seconds of recording time. It has interchangeable frames that can handle three, six, or twelve messages. It also has volume control and auditory cueing. Moreover, it has a battery warning in addition to sleep mode to conserve the battery.


Pal Pad Pressure Activated Switches
Self-stimulatory behavior including hand flapping is common in children living with autism. Overreactions to sounds such as the clicks of a mouse may also occur in some kids. Pal pad allows them to hear the text of books read to them as opposed to turning pages or clicking on a mouse to go through it.


Logan ProxTalker Mid-Tech Device
This device uses radio frequency identification to convert photos, symbols, or objects on a sound tag card into a voice. Doing so allows people with speech impairments such as those living with autism to use pictures to communicate verbally to others through the device.


The NovaChat 5
The NovaChat 5 operates as a fully dedicated device, which means its sole purpose is to generate speech. It cannot do anything else. It contains a pre-set vocabulary in addition to various settings targeting people with different communication needs.


Summary of Products, Manufacturer, and Price
ProductManufacturerPriceMegaBeeE2L Holdings Limited$905.91