Digital application specially designed for autism treatment gets approved

By Staff Writer

Electronic provider Apple recently approved an application that aims to help children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

The new device called Skill Tracker Pro is designed to increase efficiency in the instruction of kids with ASD by eliminating hours of paper work. The application is available in the iTunes store for use on the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. It will be accessible on Android, Palm and Blackberry devices next year.

A certified behavior analyst said that the app allows special education teachers to devote more time to instruction and less on manually collecting data, charting results and creating skill sheets. Behavior professionals said they would be more helpful to their autistic students with the use of a mobile device.

Some of the Skill Tracker Pro's features include video recordings of teaching sessions, charting of all data and fully customizable parameters for each student. The device was created by Liz and Steve Maher, who have a daughter with an ASD.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that an average of one in 110 children in the U.S. have an ASD.