An iPad™-based picture and video activity schedule increases community shopping skills of a young adult with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the iPad 2™ with Book Creator™ software to provide visual cues and video prompting to teach shopping skills in the community to a young adult with an autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability. Methods: A multiple probe across settings design was used to assess effects of the intervention on the participant’s independence with following a shopping list in a grocery store across three community locations. Results: Visual cues and video prompting substantially increased the participant’s shopping skills within two of the three community locations, skill increases maintained after the intervention was withdrawn, and shopping skills generalized to two untaught shopping items. Social validity surveys suggested that the participant’s parent and staff favorably viewed the goals, procedures, and outcomes of intervention. Conclusions: The iPad 2™ with Book Creator™ software may be an effective way to teach independent shopping skills in the community; additional replications are needed.

• Applied behavior analysis
• autism spectrum disorder
• community-based instruction
• intellectual disability
• iPad™
• shopping skills
• technology

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Acme Markets™ for accommodating the study, with gratitude to Dan Porcellini for his assistance with video recording. The authors thank Melmark, Inc. for their support of this research, including staff and supervisors who assisted with video recording and data collection.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.