SMART vs CPAT

The main goal of SMART-ASD project is the evaluation and the experimental development of protocols and software for helping practitioners and parents to determine which are the best technological solutions for people with ASD and/or intellectual disabilities. Nowadays there are many available solutions in the market, it is very important that parents and practitioners use this tool to identify the best solutions for each person El principal objetivo del proyecto SMART-ASD es el desarrollo y evaluación experimental de protocolos y software para ayudar a profesionales y familiares a determinar cuáles son las soluciones tecnológicas más adecuadas para los alumnos con autismo y/o discapacidad intelectual. Con tantas soluciones potenciales disponibles, resulta esencial que familiares y profesionales cuenten con herramientas para identificar las soluciones más efectivas para cada persona.

CPAT is provided as part of the Teacher Training and Attention in Autism (TTAA) Erasmus+ funded project (https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/psychology/ttaa/index.aspx) and is freely available. The app is designed for use by teachers and practitioners to help develop and promote basic attention skills in autistic children (as well as anyone who can benefit from improving attention skills). Attention is a fundamental cognitive capacity critical for human behaviour and especially related to academic performance and engagement in classroom settings. Therefore, improving attention skills can lead to substantial impact. The app is designed for teachers and practitioners (‘Users’) who are interested in helping students to develop their basic attention skills. The app includes a series of game-like activities that are designed to train different attention skills. The activities progress in difficulty as a function of the student’s individual performance. The app also includes customization tools to help the student engage with the activities. It is important to note that the app is not a Magic solution, and that training attention skills requires effort and commitment. It is strongly recommended that before users start using the CPAT app they take the freely available online course: Attention in autism, available here: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/attention-and-autism). You can also see here for version of this course in different languages: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/psychology/ttaa/outputs.aspx. For previous uses of CPAT in research you can read in the following research publications: • Shalev, L., Tsal Y., & Mevorach C. (2007) Computerized progressive attentional training (CPAT) program: Effective direct intervention for children with ADHD. Child Neuropsychology, 13, 382-388. • Spaniol, M.M., Shalev, L., Kosyvaky, L. & Mevorach, C. (2018). Attention Training in Autism as a Potential Approach to Improving Academic Performance: A School-Based Pilot Study. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 48(2), 592–610. • Spaniol, M. M., Mevorach, C., Shalev, L., Teixeira, M.C., Lowenthal, R., de Paula, C.S. (2021). Attention training in children with autism spectrum disorder improves academic performance: A double-blind pilot application of the computerized progressive attentional training program. Autism Research;1–8. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2566