COMPUTER-DIRECTED INTERAVTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

THE AIM OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP PILOT EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE THAT UTILIZES A HIGHLY INTERACTIVE LASER-DISC INFORMATION COMMUNICATION SYSTEM TO TEACH BASIC COGNITIVE CONCEPTS OF POSITION (SPACE), FORM, AND COLOR DISCRIMINATIONTO AUTISTIC CHILDREN. THIS COMPUTER-DIRECTED INTERACTIVE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM UTILIZES LASER-DISC INFORMATION TECH- NOLOGIES THAT WILL PROVIDE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THECRITICAL EDUCATIONAL AND INSTRUCTIONAL NEEDS OF MANY LEARNING HANDICAPPED CHILDREN (MANDATED BY PL 94-142). THE PROPOSED TECHNOLOGY WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THE ACUTE SHORTAGE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS. SUCCESSFUL COMPLE- TION OF PHASE I PILOT SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT WILL ESTABLISH THE TECHNICAL MERIT AND FEASIBILITY OF THE PROPOSED EFFORTS THAT MAY LEAD TO COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS OR SERVICES. THIS SHALL BE FOLLOWED BY A PHASE II REQUEST THAT WILL AUTOMATE THE EXTENDED SKILLS CURRICULUM RECORD ESTABLISHED BY THE LOSANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, DIVISION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION, TO TEACH 200 LEARNING HANDICAPPED CHILDREN. THE AUTOMATION WILL PROVIDE A PERMANENT RECORD OF STUDENTS' PERFORMANCE, AN INDIVIDUALIZED TUTORIAL PROGRAM THAT IS PACED TO EACH CHILD'S SPECIAL NEEDS.