Ithaca College

Tina Caswell, clinical instructor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology is completing research on an exciting pilot program called STRIDES.

The STRIDES project is centered around non-verbal children, most of whom have autism. The goal is to increase social communication skills utilizing assistive technology (such as the iPad, with speech-generating software) in a motivating and recreational environment.

Program focus includes:

• Increasing a child’s social-pragmatic language skills
• Increasing a child’s social communication interactions with others, naturally increasing language learning, improving literacy skills, and increasing a child’s confidence to utilize their AAC device across all settings (social, academic, at home).
• Teaching both the child and the parent how to effectively use and implement a speech-generating device by initiating learning practices in a unique, meaningful and highly motivation setting -- on horseback!

Learn More:
STRIDES