U of A Seeks Preschool Participants for Autism Research Project on iPad Use

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Elizabeth Lorah is conducting research on the use of iPads by children with autism.

The University of Arkansas autism clinic is seeking participants for a 12-week preschool group. The group will meet from 9 to 11 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from Jan. 26 through April 24 on the University of Arkansas campus.

Parents and guardians must commit to the entire 12-week session and will be responsible for providing transportation for the learners to and from the clinic sessions. Additionally, parents and guardians will be required to ensure their children are in attendance; any child who misses more than two sessions over the 12-week semester will not be invited to continue to attend the clinic.

The clinic is part of the special education program in the College of Education and Health Professions at the U of A.

All children who enroll in the preschool group will be participants in a university-approved research project on the learning of critical skills such as communication skills, colors, shapes, letters and numbers through the use of a tablet computing device.

The focus of this group will be the acquisition of communication through the use of an iPad as a speech-generating device, as well as preschool readiness skills through the use of iPad leisure activities. All parents and guardians will be required to sign consent forms agreeing to their children’s involvement in such research.   

The following criteria for inclusion describe the ideal participant for this clinic group:

• Between 36 and 48 months of age
• Diagnosis of autism (or on waiting list for an appointment with a developmental pediatrician to obtain diagnosis, must demonstrate warning signs)
• Does not say more than 15 different whole words or phrases
• Does not use the iPad to communicate (can use iPad for leisure activities)
• Does not identify colors, shapes, letters or numbers

If your child meets these criteria to the best of your knowledge and you are willing to commit to the above criteria, please contact Elizabeth Lorah at lorah@uark.edu to schedule an initial assessment of your child’s skills. Lorah is an assistant professor of special education and is board certified in applied behavior analysis on the doctoral level.