Sensory Support: AI Solutions for Children with Special Needs"

PRESENTATION

04/2025

“Special Needs Children Create, while their Families Chat!“

Deon Jones is the heart behind Uniquely Me Creative Arts (UMCA), an organization born out of love and necessity. UMCA was inspired by her son Elijah, who was born with Down Syndrome and later diagnosed with autism. As a result of his diagnosis, Elijah struggles with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). SPD is a condition where the brain has difficulty processing and responding to information received through the senses, which presents behavioral challenges for special needs children. Elijah’s struggles with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) and Deon’s passion to advance special needs children and their families led to the creation of UMCA.

UMCA meets every second Saturday of the month at Bethany Baptist Church, 460 Marcus Garvey Blvd, Brooklyn, New York, 11216 from 10 am to 12 pm. Our children engage in sensory-focused creative arts activities-music, dance, drama, and visual arts. Simultaneously, their families meet with occupational, physical, speech, and behavioral therapist and various other experts in the special needs field. Essentially, UMCA Saturday’s is a holistic approach to supporting

special needs children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) and their families.

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BROCELLE

1. Sensory-Focused Creative Arts Activities for Children

2.Expert-Led Workshops for Families

3.Peer Support and Networking

4.Individual Consultations

5. Respite for Caregivers

6.Access to Resources and Referrals

• Personalized Learning and Therapy Plans:
• Behavior Prediction and Management: AI systems can monitor and analyze patterns in a child's behavior, helping to predict and mitigate potential sensory overload or meltdowns.
• Interactive and Adaptive Tools: There are AI-driven tools and applications that provide sensory-friendly activities.
• Data-Driven Insights for Parents and Therapists: AI can help in collecting and analyzing data regarding a child's progress over time.
• Educational Resources and Support: AI can offer tailored educational resources, strategies and supports for parents and caregivers.
• Communication Aids: For children with SPD who also struggle with communication, AI-powered tools can facilitate better interaction.
• Remote Monitoring and Teletherapy: AI enables remote monitoring of a child’s activities and progress, allowing therapists to provide feedback and support without being physically present. This is especially useful for families who cannot easily access in-person therapy.

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Personalized Learning and Therapy Plans

• Otsimo: An educational app that uses AI to create personalized learning games for children with special needs, including those with SPD.
• Birdhouse for Autism: A platform that tracks a child’s behavior, diet, mood, and health, using AI to offer personalized insights and strategies for parents and therapists.

Behavior Prediction and Management

• Mightier: An emotional regulation tool that uses bioresponsive games to help children recognize and manage their emotional responses.
• Brain Power: A system that uses AI and Google Glass to help children understand and manage their emotions and behaviors in real-time.

Interactive and Adaptive Tools

• Timocco: An online gaming environment designed to improve motor skills and cognitive abilities, adapting in real-time to the child's abilities and progress.
• SensoryTreat: An app that offers a personalized sensory diet for children with SPD, adjusting activities based on the child's responses.

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Communication Aids

• Proloquo2Go: An AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) app that uses AI to help children who struggle with speech to communicate.
• Talkitt: An innovative app that translates unclear pronunciation into understandable speech, facilitating better communication.
• Eye Gaze-eye driven communication device.

Remote Monitoring and Teletherapy

• TheraWe Connect: A teletherapy platform that enables remote monitoring and communication between therapists and families, providing real-time feedback and support.
• Amwell: A telehealth platform that offers virtual therapy sessions and consultations, allowing therapists to monitor and interact with children remotely.

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