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I've been involved with Creative Living for ten years now. It's one of the best things
on Earth. It's better than Disneyland.
It helped me discover a real talent of art.
I have very sensitive hearing. I mean, I'm very uncomfortable around crowds.
I'm still getting used to the fact I'm not living at home. My little sister dealt with
me.
Whenever you look at assistive technology or things that can help them, whether it be
a visual system or whether it be something like an iPad, something along those lines,
it just gives them other ways to express what they are trying to communicate. It's making
the world more concrete, which is what they relate to.
We did not focus on hi-tech solutions. We tried to define what the challenges were,
what the problems were. There's always the question of how would this really work in
the real world. And that's why we depend so much on the parents, the teachers, individuals
with autism, who can tell us well, maybe this would not fit so well, but if you change it
this way and this way, ah, this is what's going to be really helpful.
My device is a daily planner that would use a language that's more friendly to people
with autism. There's an issue of structure and daily routine that's a very important
issue for people with autism. It sort of helps them keep on track.
My product was the Doze Pillow and I tackled the issue of sleep as far as people with autism
goes getting a full night's sleep and how that affects their next day's activity. I
studied the sleeping habits of people with autism and I talked to a co-worker of mine
who works with children with autism and also here at the center. Allowing them to know
when they are getting a full night's sleep without being disruptive as far as numbers
go. Counting down is really, it can get people agitated and cause almost the reverse effect
of what I am trying to achieve.
Our son will always require some sort of assistance. It's not an extra for us, it's an essential.
We need better treatment.
Right now the more products that are out there that can help kids or adults on the autism
spectrum communicate with the rest of the world and understand the rest of the world,
the better. So, we're just really appreciative to North Carolina State University and the
College of Design for their interest in our growing community, and their support.
I'd buy them all. I'd buy them all, because somebody could use them.
First of all, autism is not "Rainman." Just because he can count, drop a bunch of toothpicks
and know how many are in a box, doesn't mean I can or anybody else can.