| Research Abstract |
The software has some characteristics as follows : We can adjust the program to meet the user's personal needs, and offer an upgrade version for the user in the future. Natural voice can be used for the vocal output for graphic symbols. We can offer software for both Macintosh and Windows. The program has some characteristics as follow : At first, you can find a 3x5 matrix of people symbols on the screen. In this version, this user can read some words, so we use letters instead of graphic symbols. You can find "and", "to", and "is" at the bottom. If the user can use conjunctions, prepositions, and helping verbs, You could add them to the part. When you choose the people symbols, you can go to next page by hit the "page button". In the following pages, we categorized nouns in terms of verbs that the nouns required. For example, the verbs, "get on", "want to go", "went to" are succeeded by words that indicate means of transportation, the name of the places that is, for example, a school,
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a swimming pool, shops, supermarkets, so on. The verb "want" is succeeded by names of dishes, foods, and seasonings in this case. If you make a page with a group of verbs and related nouns, you can choose the appropriate verb and noun within the page.
In this study, I focused on the communication behaviors using a communication book and a VOCA when an adolescent with autism places an order at a restaurant. The difficulties in using a communication book and the advantages of VOCA for people with autism were discussed by analyzing this restaurant data. The data were collected at the university cafeteria. Subject RU initially used his communication book and used a VOCA for the last 4 sessions when he ordered dishes. RU went to the cafeteria with his trainer where he checked a menu and decided his order at the entrance. RU then took a tray, and lined up at the counter. When RU's turn came, he pointed to the symbol that he wanted to order in his communication book, or pressed the key of the VOCA. Then RU took his order, and paid at the end of the counter. The data were collected by video camera. Less
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