The advantage of technology is that it bridges that gap where traditional services and products fail. The same goes for those on the autism spectrum who may need some additional assistance to tackle everyday tasks. About one in 54 children have been identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The availability of support and care is high on the priority list, as well as development. As it is, technology is making a difference in patient care thanks to informatics. For those with autism, access to better services is not only possible, it’s inevitable.
Improving Social Opportunities For those with Autism
Just a few short years ago, the thought of attending university or social engagements might have seemed out of reach for those with autism. Apps specifically designed to provide continuous support to those with autism are equipping some with the peace of mind that they have the needed support to attend certain engagements.
From reminders through to personal and immediate telephonic support has seen those with autism successfully attend college and other stressors that may have previously been out of reach. A traffic-light system allows users to let their support person know their level of stress before or during an event, and will equip the support person with the level of attention needed to alleviate the stress. Users can also adjust their stressors and responses to certain situations in order to access more fine-tuned assistance.
Access To Calming and Soothing Tech
Carers of children and teenagers with autism know that it’s not always easy to calm down an irate child. Emotional management skills are some of the last skills for those on the higher end of the spectrum to learn, which can lead to debilitating meltdowns and outbursts.
By Drs. Will Brandon, PhD., president and CEO of Learning ARTS, and Michael Harrington, PhD.
Dr. Will Brandon
About one in 59 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to recent estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network.
Though it is still unclear whether the difference is primarily due to increased incidence of such disorders or more accurate screening procedures, ASD has become a national priority. The demand placed on treatment service is outstripping availability. One organization, Learning A.R.T.S., is turning to information technology to meet this soaring demand.
Founded in 1994 and based in California, Learning A.R.T.S. has embraced applied behavior analysis (ABA) and its focus on in-home, one-on-one instruction to improve patients’ social and life skills. It has enjoyed rapid success expanding to 11 regional locations spread across the state.
Learning A.R.T.S. programs help teach patients skills—from tying shoes to writing résumés—and foster an information- and communication-rich environment. Initially, as the organization expanded its services, the challenges were to communicate and coordinate operations across geographically dispersed facilities and client locations using traditional paper and telephone-based communication.
Applied behavioral analysis and treatment programs involve Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA), specialists, and technicians. Coordination between team members is central to success of ABA, placing a premium on the flow of information among them.
Increased demand has doubled the organization’s caseload, however. To meet this demand, Learning A.R.T.S. developed a new case management strategy driven largely by the adoption of an information management technology system by Laserfiche.
Previously, Learning A.R.T.S. dealt with volumes of paper forms and data records that needed to be authenticated, reviewed, duplicated, stored and retrieved. The organization now works with the same records in digital form stored in a central computer repository. This transition required the digitization of hundreds of thousands of existing paper records, and then training staff to work with the information in a new, digital format.
The effort resulted in seemingly endless opportunity to apply new technologies for information management that could not be applied to paper records. More importantly, those opportunities mean many more ASD children and families are getting the timely assistance they need.
For example, Learning A.R.T.S. field workers can now use mobile devices, such as tablets and smartphones, to gather and file patient information in real time, on location. The data is managed through digital workflow processes that eliminate reams of redundant paperwork, and can be stored in archives and accessed immediately through a central server. This translates into significant efficiencies in HR management of staff, accounting and billing, as well as in faster delivery of client services.
The organization has seen cost savings in terms of staff accounting, new employee onboarding, payroll and billing. But one benefit outweighs any monetary return: better patient care and more positive results.
Learning A.R.T.S. has found that response times are critical to successful treatment. ASD patients frequently act out in frustration, often becoming violent, which also can be emotionally draining for field staff. Treatment response involves not only accurate and timely communications, but also a considerable amount of orientation and training relevant to the technician’s functions.
