VAST Autism 1– core
Description
VAST- Autism provides unprecedented support for spoken language combining evidence based best practices and technology to deliver remarkable results.
VAST- Autism is a groundbreaking tool that provides state-of-the-art therapy to students with autism and motor speech programming disorders such as apraxia. VAST-Autism combines the highly effective concept of video modeling, with written words and auditory cues to help individuals acquire relevant words, phrases and sentences so that they can speak for themselves. For children and individuals with strong visual skills, this can be a key to developing speech.
Ongoing research and initial pilot studies indicate that students are highly interested in VAST videos, and will almost immediately attempt lip movements or touch their mouths in response to the models. After a few short weeks many students who were essentially nonverbal begin word approximations and word attempts more readily. Perhaps, the best and most unexpected therapeutic improvements have been in the students ability generalize skills. Individuals begin attending to the speaker’s oral motor movements during daily communication and continue learning speech in a traditional naturalistic manner.
Videos are organized into a hierarchy of 5 categories beginning with syllables and ending with sentences. Each video gives a spoken target utterance that is preceded by the written word(s). Each word, phrase and sentence is concrete and has meaning that can be generalized and practiced throughout the day. Providing the written word will prevent a student from labeling a picture of a frog jumping as "go," a person laying on a mat as "break time" or labeling a swing as "weee." The ability to recognize the written target word(s) will increase functional communication and enhance acquisition of spoken language. The progression of VAST-Autism Videos is as follows:
- Syllable Repetition
- Single Syllable Words
- Multi-Syllabic Words
- Phrases
- Sentences
Instruction and practice should start at or below the student's ability level. If student is currently nonverbal, then begin with Syllable Repetition. Video sequences are purposefully short to keep interest high and attention focused. Reinforcers, short breaks, and verbal praise can and should be used as necessary to keep motivation high.
VAST-Autism videos were designed to be viewed in a series (6-13 target word(s) per series) at the students’ ability level. Some students may have success viewing short chunks, one target at a time or want to focus on a particular word(s). The user has the flexibility to choose the viewing mode and word(s) that fit the individual needs of a student.
Research
Two highly effective modes of learning, video modeling and visual language (literacy), are combined with auditory cues to support the acquisition of spoken language for individuals with autism and motor speech disorders.
Video Modeling- A significant amount of research has shown video modeling to be rapid and highly effective not only in teaching new behaviors, but also in generalizing and maintaining these behaviors as well. Video Modeling involves the individual or child observing a videotape of a model engaging in a target behavior and subsequently imitating that behavior. Impressive results for conversational speech, purchasing, question asking, play and hygiene tasks have been documented.
Visual Language and Literacy- Children and adults on the spectrum who have difficulty with speaking and writing, can learn to read and spell; the ability to read increases functional communication. Information that is not understood auditorally may be easily processed visually. Providing written word(s) to individuals with autism also prevents mislabeling concepts, for example, a car would not be labeled "beep beep."
