Workbook final

295 - My Tablet Speaks for Me, Tohum Turkey Autism Early Diagnosis

and Education Foundation, Turkey

ONTACT

Tohum Turkey Autism Early Diagnosis and Education Foundation

Ms. Ozgul Gurel

Turkey

+90 530 516 23 52

VERALL GOAL

MISSION

The main aim of this proposed project is to improve the education quality of children with autism in Turkey via

technology use.

Autism Spectrum Disorders commonly characterized by the lack of social skills, cognition deficits in facial expression

recognition, language delay and rigid behaviors (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Today Autism Spectrum

Disorder is the most common neurological disorder and affects approximately 1 in every 68 children. Boys are five times

as likely as girls to have some form of disorders. According to this ratio, it is estimated that 352.000 people with autism

between 0-18 aged in Turkey whereas nearly only 21.000 people with autism are included in education system.

HE SOLUTION THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED

Mobile applications are crucial for children with autism spectrum disorder about assisting with their social and self-

management skills and promoting their social integration and independence. The application developed within the

scope of the project, is composed of three different modules involving the basic learning for children with autism: Skill

learning, communication and object name learning. These way children who could not express themselves verbally

would have the chance to associate their feelings with pictures and symbols simply by tapping on them, and then the

tablet would play the sound of the tapped object or verb for them. Each module comprised of various categories such as

personal hygiene, social skills, needs such as nutrition, sleeping, drinking. The application is available on Apple Store

named by Tohum 1.

The addressed applications developed with IOS operating system which was first compatible with Apple products. The

users preferred another operating system which was compatible with other products. Therefore, Android version of the

application has developed.