06/09/09 - Researcher writes book on how to teach people with autism

Date: June 9, 2009
Contact: Seth Seymour
423.648.1709
seth.seymour@siskin.org

Institute researcher writes book about technique to teach new skills to people with autism
“Seeing is Believing” helps parents, educators and therapists use video self-modeling

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Tom Buggey, Ph.D., a researcher at Siskin Children’s Institute, has written a how-to book about a technique designed to teach new skills to people with autism and other developmental disabilities.

“Seeing is Believing,” published by Woodbine House, informs parents, educators and therapists how to use video self-modeling to teach a desired behavior to children and adults with autism.

Dr. Buggey will have a book signing Saturday, June 13, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Barnes and Noble at Hamilton Place Mall in Chattanooga.

Video self-modeling is a technique in which a person with autism is filmed performing a skill or behavior that is slightly beyond his or her present functioning. This is achieved by either manipulating the filming — prompting the subject to perform the task — or editing two or more video clips together to make it seem like a seamless event. The edited video is shown to the person, which allows the individual to see him- or herself performing the activity correctly or at an advanced level. This process allows the person to observe the proper performance and form a visual memory of the activity — a process called “feed-forward” — which ultimately changes and improves his or her abilities.

“Seeing is Believing” explains the process of making self-modeling videos, including how to:

• choose the behavior/skill to teach;
• conduct a task analysis;
• select and use camcorders and video software;
• storyboard video scenes;
• plan and shoot footage;
• transfer the video to a VCR, DVD or computer;
• edit and manipulate the footage; and
• keep track of and interpret data

The book is available for purchase online at www.woodbinehouse.com. For more information about video self-modeling, visit www.siskinvsm.org.

About Dr. Tom Buggey
As one of the world's leading researchers in video self-modeling, Dr. Buggey serves as Siskin Children’s Institute’s Endowed Chair of Excellence in Early Childhood Special Education at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. In addition to conducting research at the Institute, Dr. Buggey also teaches courses as a faculty member in UTC’s College of Health, Education and Professional Studies. He received his Ph.D. in Early Intervention from Pennsylvania State University.

About Siskin Children’s Institute
Since 1950, Siskin Children's Institute has served children with special needs, such as autism, developmental delays and Down syndrome. The Institute achieves its mission in a comprehensive way: a quality preschool education where children with disabilities learn together with typically developing children; family support and community outreach programs; innovative research focusing on early childhood development and special education; and developmental and behavioral pediatric health care. For more information about Siskin Children’s Institute, visit www.siskin.org.

##