Communication Supports for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

SPEACS

Systematic Processes for Enhancing and Assessing Communication Supports (SPEACS) is a low incidence initiative designed to improve communication and educational services to students with significant disabilities in Delaware public schools. SPEACS focuses on training teams to work with targeted students who have complex communication needs and participate in the alternate assessment. The main focus of SPEACS is to assist teams in progressing students from pre-symbolic and emergent communication to symbolic communication. Applicants must submit a completed school team and parent application during specific time periods to be considered.

Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative

The Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative (DATI) connects people who have Autism Spectrum Disorder with the tools they need in order to communicate, learn, work, play, and participate in community life safely and independently. DATI operates Assistive Technology Resource Centers (ATRC) that offer training as well as no-cost equipment loans and demonstrations. At each ATRC, an experienced AT provider is available to discuss personal needs and options. With the demo/loan program, Delawareans can see demonstrations or various AT options or “test-drive” hundreds of AT devices. Click HERE for more information about DATI.

Accessible Instructional Materials

Accessible instructional materials (AIM) are materials that are designed or converted in a way that makes them usable across the widest range of student variability regardless of format (print, digital, graphical, audio, video). The term AIM refers to print instructional materials that have been transformed into the specialized formats of braille, large print, audio, or digital text. Students with ASD can benefit from having instructional materials in different formats such as:  read aloud, text-to-speech or other AIM. Gaining access to materials that can support reading and learning can have a positive effect on behavior for students with ASD. Click HERE for more information about AIM.