TFA - Tools For Autism

Tools For Autism (TFA) is a free app that provides a set of tools to support people affected by autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) that can be used to teach behavioral patterns (social stories) and sequences of operations (tasks analysis).

The app can be used in two different modes, by different types of user: display mode (for content player) and editor mode (for operators).

1) The display mode allows users to play contents created specially for them.

2) The editor mode, allow parents, doctors or operators to create, edit and import (or export) contents. It is possible to use any picture on your device and is also possible to download (directly fom the app) the large ARASAAC pictograms library pre-classified in alphabetical order and by semantic categories.

Note: the default password for entering in editing mode is "1234" without quotes.

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DOWNLOAD USER GUIDE

http://rd.csp.it/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/ToolsForAutism1.pdf

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Credits:

Fabio Saracino: software development.

Francesca Brunero: User interaction and psicological/therapeutic features.

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This app runs is designed for tablet only and won't run on a smartphone

If you your main screen is empty, please install some module, or refresh the installed modules list.

You can install the module from the Play Store (search for "TFAPlugin") or directly wrom within the Tools For Autism app (enter in operator mode, press menu and select the "Published modules list" button).

You will se a list of available plugin. Touching a plugin you will be asked if you want to install it (or uninstall it, if it was already installed).

Key features:

[•] Two operating modes for use by patients/users or by doctors/parents

[•] Switching between modes is secured by password

[•] You can install only the modules/plugin that you need

[•] Notification about new modules availability

[•] Different combinations of task visualization modes can be used according to skills and abilities, and to user preferences

[•] Every sentence can be created using one of the four layouts: image only, text only, image before text, images (1-4) above text

[•] It’s possibile to use custom images, drawings or pictures available on user’s device

[•] Large set of pictograms (more than 8500, created by ARASAAC) can be downloaded very easily from the app

[•] Import and export functions, allows to easily perform backup and restore operations, as well as to share sotries between users and or devices

[•] Supported languages: English, Italian

[•] Text To Speech functionality to play social story and task analysis contents (from V1.3); the language of the speech corresponds to the device language (if available).

This app is part of the t4A (touch4Autism) project and is the result of a successful collaboration between the Foundation ASPHI Onlus, C.A.S.A. - Centro Autismo e Sindrome di Asperger of the A.S.L. Cuneo 1 and CSP Innovation in ICT, with the support of CRC Foundation, CRT Foundation and La Stampa (Specchio dei Tempi).

For more information about t4A , please visit the Asphi website:

http://www.asphi.it/PrimoPiano/Iniziative/2011/TouchForAutism.htm

For more technical stuff, please refer to these pages from CSP Research & Development site

t4A Project – Touch For Autism - http://rd.csp.it/archives/1291

t4A project - Tools For Autism Android tablet app - http://rd.csp.it/archives/2049

The pictograms library has been created by Sergio Palao at ARASAAC and released under Creative Common license. You can find the original and always up to date library containing more than 8500 images here: http://www.catedu.es/arasaac/

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Keywords: autism, Tools for Autism, Touch for Autism, t4A, TFA, Social Stories, Task Analysis, AAC, Communication Boards, TFAPlugin