Preschoolers with ASD Recruited for iPad Project

Researchers at the Juniper Gardens Children’s Project are recruiting participants for a study aimed at increasing communication and play skills of preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder.        

The project, Communication Intervention for Preschoolers Learning to Use an iPad as Augmentative and Alternative Communication device, is seeking students who meet the following criteria:

• Preschool age children with a diagnosis of autism or with behaviors that are in line with an autism spectrum disorder;
• Children in an early childhood special education classroom with access to peer models;
• Children who are nonverbal or minimally verbal (using approximately 15-20 functional words).

Participating preschoolers will be provided with an IPad and appropriate voice output app for communication in their preschool classroom. Parents receive $100 for their involvement. Preschool staff will be trained to use the iPad and app and be reimbursed for their time.

The project is funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Kathy Thiemann-Bourque is principal investigator.