Special Software  [IMAGE]  For Special Needs

I am the father of a boy with autism. Over the years, I tried using various "edutainment" and "special needs" software programs to help him learn language and certain basic concepts.  Unfortunately, most of the programs that were (and are) on the market have characteristics that are incompatible with use by someone with a disability such as autism.  Most allow stimming (i.e., perseverative behavior) to interfere with the learning process.  Most present the material to be learned in too confusing or auditory a manner.  Most assume good motor skills.  Those few programs that are even designed for the disabled, lack "rewards" that will motivate and are very expensive relative to the amount of material they can teach.  Dissatisfied, I decided to develop a computer program that better meets the needs of children like mine.  The program is called

Labeling_Tutor

Important Announcement !!!

Version 2 of Labeling_Tutor, with many new features, is now shipping!  I am planning to send a free upgrade to all those who purchased Version 1 of the program so if you moved since buying the program, let me know your new address as soon as possible. 

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  Labeling_Tutor is special because it ...

- uses proven discrete trial methods.

- is effective with both auditory and non-auditory children.

- can be adapted to children from toddlers to teens.

- allows one to adjust the discrete trial process parameters.

- prevents stimming from interfering with the learning process.

- motivates correct responses through multimedia rewards.

- automatically introduces/maintains the material being taught.

- will match picture to picture, label to picture or label to label.

- teaches either similar or dissimilar (e.g., opposites) matching.

- includes an "errorless" teaching mode option.

- comes with 200 picture files plus an alphabet and numbers.

- lets one add pictures (from a wide variety of sources).

- lets one revise the written label associated with a picture.

- lets one revise the sound associated with a given picture.

- lets one revise all stimulus and response sounds.

- lets one modify rewards to keep the child interested.

- lets one play user supplied videos or sound files as rewards.

- works with mouse, keyboard, touchscreen or switch.

- works in situations with multiple children with different needs.

- can be used to teach in languages other than English.

- can output learning progress via tables and plots.

- available for either Macintosh/PowerMac or Windows 95/98.

- includes a keyword searchable electronic user manual.

-has a 90 day money back guarantee, less shipping.

 Here is what you can teach with Labeling_Tutor ...

No other program offers as much flexibility in terms of what and when material is taught.  Use Labeling_Tutor to teach such varied subjects as letters, shapes, numbers, colors, objects, body parts, gender, actions, places, categories ... in fact, anything one can depict in a picture or represent with a label.  Use it to help a child recognize faces and emotions, understand binary concepts (like fat/thin), comprehend object functions, build associations (e.g., between fork and spoon), learn opposites, practice simple math problems, master verb tense, improve multiple discrimination skills, recognize variable looking objects, distinguish between similar looking objects and learn to recognize the sounds that specific objects make.  Use it to associate pictures and words with communication symbols or sign language.  Use to associate written words from different languages.  Use it to probe a child's knowledge.  Use it in ways I haven't imagined!

        

 This is how Labeling_Tutor works ...

Labeling_Tutor uses discrete trial procedures that have proven very effective with children who have autism (and other learning disabilities).  In a nutshell, here is how the program works.

When starting the process of teaching a new association, Labeling_Tutor looks in a folder that contains the picture files you want taught and selects one (or, if in dissimilar matching mode, two).  From the picture(s), as well as any related database or sound files it finds in the folder, it loads images and labels (written words and/or sounds).  Then, it demonstrates (depending on the options one has chosen) that either a label and a picture, two pictures or two labels are associated with one another.   It does this as follows.

First, it displays the pictures and/or written words.  The item which the child must choose as the answer (the response) is displayed in the bottom half of the screen.  The item that is supposed to be matched to the response (or just the pointer if the program is in auditory mode) is displayed in the top half.  Then the program plays a stimulus sound which prompts the child to choose a response (for example, "Match") and, perhaps, a label sound (depending on the option settings).  Finally, it demonstrates, via pointer movements, the correct response.

Next, the program performs what is known as a "discrete trial".  It displays the same pictures and/or written words as in the demonstration.  Again it plays the stimulus sound and, perhaps, the label sound.  Then, the child is given the opportunity to select the correct response using the mouse or some other input device.  If the child succeeds in choosing the correct response, the items that were matched are re-displayed at the center of the screen while a correct response sound is heard.  Then there is a brief multimedia reward.  

Then, another discrete trial begins, but this time with two possible response labels or pictures. One is correct while the other is an incorrect "distractor" chosen from the other pictures in the folder.  Once again, if the child makes the correct match, he or she receives another reward.  As long as the child continues to respond correctly, additional distractors (up to 4, depending on the options) are added to the discrete trials.  Below is what the screen might look like at the start of a discrete trial with 2 distractors in a reading mode trial.

 

If the child responds incorrectly in a trial, the program will do one of two things.  At the default setting, the program may (depending on the number of trials so far for the item being taught) re-demo the correct association at the one picture level and start the whole process of adding distractors all over again.  In this case, care is taken to insure that repeated incorrect responses do not lead to rewards at the one picture level.  The other possibility is an option called "errorless teaching".  In this mode, after every incorrect response, the correct response to the exact same trial that was answered incorrectly is demonstrated.  This is then followed by the child getting another opportunity to make the correct match to the same trial (with, perhaps, different response item positions).  This process repeats until the child responds correctly.

 Behind the scenes, the program tracks the child's progress.  It will automatically introduce a new picture, once the one being taught is mastered, or move on to another if the child is having difficulty with the current one.  It maintains mastered pictures at the same time that new ones are taught.  In other words, it will intersperse discrete trials designed to teach a new association with discrete trials designed to test or reinforce an association that has already been learned.  It will re-teach a picture if it becomes unmastered.  The parent or therapist can change most of the parameters that determine such events.   For instance, one can adjust the percentage of trials that will be "maintenance" and the number of trials used in computing the percent correct.

Unlike most "edutainment" programs, Labeling_Tutor allows one to add to and alter the pictures and written labels that are taught.  Reading labels can be in both upper and lower case, be composed of many words, and contain punctuation.  The manner in which picture filenames and written labels are defined allows one to associate a given label or picture with more than one label or picture.  As a result, you can readily teach generalization and categorization.  By default, the program does "similar matching", wherein the label attached to a given picture file is associated with that picture.  Alternately, one can configure the program for "dissimilar matching", wherein the label or picture for a given picture file is associated with the label or picture for a different picture file.  Using this mode, you can teach such things as associations or opposites.

Not only can you alter the written labels but you can alter every stimulus, response and auditory label sound heard by the child.  These sounds can be in your own voice and even in languages other than English.  These sounds can be recorded from within the program or they can be introduced using sound files created elsewhere.  One can also have the stimulus presented in a written form for those children who are non-verbal or who you are teaching to read.

Labeling_Tutor motivates children through colorful, interesting and interactive visual effects, sounds, animations and games.  Many of these rewards were chosen with autism in mind.  You can individually turn rewards on and off, and modify them so that the program will continue to engage a child over extended use.  You can modify the animations and games by substituting your own graphics and sounds for those that are built-in.  This feature, for example, will allow you to create a reward where the child's favorite cartoon characters bounce across the screen while singing.  One reward type will present random, one-time-through or looping slide shows composed of user supplied pictures and sounds.  Others reward types will play sound files and video clips that you have made or obtained from other sources.

The drill and reward environment can be tailored to suit a child's specific motor, cognitive and sensory handicaps.  One can choose from various input options (mouse, keyboard, switch or touchscreen); alter the size and appearance of the "pointer" used to select answers; adjust the size, color and font of written text; control sound volume; modify response and reward times; and adjust demo/game/animation speeds.  Care was taken to ensure that perseveration on graphics and sounds cannot interfere with the learning process, and the child can be prevented from exiting the program for a user specified period of time.  As a result, even a child with autism can use this software without supervision ... which makes it a great free-time activity!

Finally, option settings can be stored in preference files that can be loaded at start-up or while the program is running.  One can also configure these preference files to use different sets of stimulus and response sounds, reward pictures and sounds, video clips and stories.  This makes the program easy to use with more than one child or a child with multiple needs.

 Here is why Labeling_Tutor is such a great buy...

Labeling_Tutor ships with about 200 color picture files (like those found on this web page), plus an alphabet and the numbers 0-9.  These pictures are only meant to provide examples of what one can do with the program.  Sooner or later, you will want to teach other material.  Unlike other programs, Labeling_Tutor lets you do so.  You simply drop files containing pictures into a specific folder, add labels (which is easy), and the program will teach them.  The only restriction is that the images should be approximately the size they will be when displayed by Labeling_Tutor and that the file format must be either a JPEG, PICT (Macintosh Version) or BMP (Windows Version).

These pictures can come from virtually any source. One of the best ways of obtaining more is to buy one of the "photo-object" type CDROM collections that have appeared on the market in the last few years.  Several of these collections contain 1000's or even 10000's of high quality color images like those in my program and at a cost of only about $50.  Other sources of material are clip art, screen captures from other programs, drawing programs, a scanner, a digital camera, a video capture ... even an online forum or the internet.  With such flexibility, its relatively easy to find precisely the material that your child needs to be taught.

Because you can add your own pictures, alter all written labels, change all sounds and modify the rewards, Labeling_Tutor can be modified as your child's language improves.   As a result, it can be used for years!   That makes the program a great buy (especially compared to  software that, for example, costs about the same but only teaches 50 items).  It is also a great value when you consider how much time and money would be spent in a school or a home program trying to teach the same material that Labeling_Tutor can teach quite effectively.  Think of it this way. Every hour your child uses the program is an hour of costly resources that will be available to meet other needs.

 My customers say this about Labeling _Tutor ...

"This is a wonderful program."

"Thank you for creating such helpful software."

"You've put together something you can be really proud of."

"Fantastic! No child with Autism should be without it."

"It is set up in a discrete trial format, and is definitely worthwhile."

"...your program is up and running well and my son is really enjoying it."

"Thank you for this INCREDIBLE program!  My son LOVES it!"

"My son loves it, and he is quickly mastering many words by using it.  I am very grateful that you designed the program so that an autistic child can learn from it independently."

"Having a blast with software"

"... excellent for autistic students. I will use it frequently."

"Has great visual rewards.  Jim has done a really nice job with this program!"

"Thank you for creating such a wonderful program.  Even special Ed software was inappropriate for my daughter but this is just perfect and my daughter loves it (and she generally does not like the computer)." 

 Here is how to order Labeling _Tutor ...

Labeling_Tutor is available for either Macintosh or Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP computers.  Please specify the version you want.  On both platforms, a color monitor, microphone, speakers and a CDROM drive are required.  A color printer is suggested.  At least 5 MBytes of free RAM is recommended on Macintosh platforms and 16 Mbytes or more of total RAM is recommended on Windows computers.  

The price is $119.95 plus shipping.  If you live in California add an additional $9.90 sales tax.  Shipping to points in the United States is $5.00.  Shipping to Canada, Western Europe, Japan and Australia is $15.00.  Other customers may have to pay a higher shipping fee (contact me).  Purchase orders will be accepted from public schools ... otherwise, please pay by check or money order (no credit cards except through PayPal, in which case contact me).  Volume discounts and site licenses are also available (contact me).  There is a 90 day money-back guarantee, less the shipping charge.

To order or for more information contact:
Millennium Software
P.O. Box 1306
Torrance, CA 90505

email: peuapeu@aol.com
phone: (310)-378-7525

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