Dr. Chris’ Autism Journal

The 2008 NCTI:  National Conference for Technology Innovators was sold out this year.  The National Center for Technology Innovation (NCTI) brings technology innovators, researchers, instructional and assistive technology vendors, philanthropists, policymakers, OSEP projects, and the media together to bring creativity, research, and efficacy to a fast paced, exciting two days.
Five outstanding teams of researchers and vendors were selected to examine the impact of innovative assistive technologies for students with special needs.
NCTI was delighted to announce that TeachTown Basics, a computer assisted intervention program for students with ASD, was voted by peers as one of the brightest ideas of 2008 at the NCTI Tech-Expo!  Dr. Christina Whalen and her team were excited to be a part of such an exciting event in Washington DC this year.
Awarded to: Christina Whalen, TeachTown (vendor); Jennifer Symon, California State University, Los Angeles (researcher); and Connie Kasari, University of California, Los Angeles (researcher)
Efficacy of a Computer-Assisted Teaching Program for Children with Autism in a School Setting
Project Description: This team will test the effectiveness of the TeachTown software curriculum with the aim of positive gains in early language, cognition, and social behaviors among preschool and kindergarten students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in the Los Angeles Unified School District.