SAN ANTONIO – The TEAM Autism Research Center at the UTSA College of Education and Human Development received a grant to develop a language assessment for children with autism.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Innovative Autism Treatment grant was funded in July 2017 for $40,400.
"With the data, we look at each reference so the toy or item of interest, and we see how the child is doing with labeling it, with requesting it, and answering a fill in about it," said Catherine Canada, UTSA student.
They are using an assessment called Stimulus Control Ratio Equation or SCoRE.
"It's a way of looking at how the different aspects of the environment control the language of children with language disability, such as autism and how we can modify the environment to increase the language of these kiddos," said Lee Mason, executive director of the TEAM Autism Research Center at UTSA.
"Better interaction with the siblings and better overall communication in the home and then in the school setting," Canada said.
It's also helping families reach their children’s ultimate potential, while connecting in a way they never thought could be possible.
Family members of 2-year old Adrian Garza said they are thrilled about this new grant.
“My ultimate goal with him, with their help, would be for him to attend a regular school classroom and do regular things a child his age would do,” Pamela Garza said.
