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Integrator Uses Automation to Help Autistic Son
Two-year-old Brody Buzzard, who has mild autism, “hears” better when pictures accompany verbal instructions.
As a Control4 dealer, Mark Buzzard has rigged an automation system specifically for the needs of Brody and his care takers - mom and dad.
"Autistic children are very visual," says Buzzard. "Using a visual communication strategy really helps them understand what is happening next and what to expect. It relieves a lot of stress and creates stability for them."
Buzzard explains that Brody "hears" better when pictures and objects accompany verbal instructions.
For example, he better understands "bath time" when a picture is presented of a kid splashing in the tub … rather than just parental goading. The Buzzards use third-party products and Apple iPod/iPad apps for this purpose, but dad would like to integrate such applications into a Control4 system for Brody and others like him.
Because language is so difficult for me, I am very visually oriented. Please show me how to do something rather than just telling me. And please be prepared to show me many times.
Lots of consistent repetition helps me learn. A visual schedule is extremely helpful as I move through my day. Like your day-timer, it relieves me of the stress of having to remember what comes next, makes for smooth transition between activities, helps me manage my time and meet your expectations.
I won't lose the need for a visual schedule as I get older, but my "level of representation" may change. Before I can read, I need a visual schedule with photographs or simple drawings. As I get older, a combination of words and pictures may work, and later still, just words.
- From "Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew" by Ellen Notboh
Specifically, Buzzard intends to create an app for Control4 similar to the iPod/iPad version of iPrompts from HandHold Adaptive, which employs visual prompting templates to help individuals transition from one activity to the next, understand upcoming events, make choices and focus on the task at hand.
"My goal is to have a visual for Brody that will communicate routines like bath time, play time, lunch time, dinner, breakfast, outside, haircut, therapy time, cleanup, etc.," Buzzard says. "It could pop up the image/activity on the touchpanel, TV or iPad to prepare him, show the text, and maybe announce the activity."
Brody has his wall-mounted touchscreen installed at child-level height in his bedroom.
The Buzzard household uses Control4 to send email and text alerts to the parents, and audio announcements to Brody, if the toddler tries to sneak out of the room.
"He also falls asleep to his favorite cartoon and I shut off his TV and dim the lights from another room without having to make any noise entering and exiting his room," Buzzard says. "Sometimes he'll get up and make a mess, so I have a motion set to alert me if he's being a little renegade in the middle of the night or during nap times."
In addition, an IP camera in Brody's room is integrated into the whole-house Control4 system, so the parents can monitor his playtime, as well as his progress in therapy.
And Brody loves music, so dad has rigged the Control4 system to run certain playlists for different routines such as bath time.
Like all 2-year-olds, Brody "loves to lock and unlock the doors now, so my next step is to install ZigBee door locks [from Kwikset] and add those to the system for alerts and control," Buzzard says.
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Article Topics
News · Home Automation and Control · Control Systems · Home Health · Autism ·About the Author
13 Comments (displayed in order by date/time)
Love you Brody!
Mark, this is a great story! Thank you for sharing.
Great story, and a very innovative approach.
I enjoyed the story. My son has cereberal palsy, and using an RF based remote is great for him. controlling all his room media with lights helps alot. I would like to see more manufacturers and integrators using this technology for special needs assitance.
Having a 4-year-old autistic grandson, I’m very much aware of what goes into trying to motivate him and communicate with him. Thank you so much to Julie for bringing this story to the front burner, and thanks especially to Mark and Brody for coming up with this application. I’m passing this on to my son and the rest of our family, and will bring it up to our local AZ autism awareness groups. Hopefully through Mark’s efforts and others who see the need for helping with all sorts of personal challenges, we can make life better and more fulfilling, and less stressful, for both the afflicted and their families. Creative applications of technology can better the lives of everyone, so let’s put on our thinking caps and figure out new ways to implement the powerful electronics and software we all love to use - make them work instead of just play.
Wonderful comments.
I too want to thank Mark for sharing. I think we’re going to see a lot more great ideas from him.
I hope more of you will share these stories with us. Please email me at jjacobson at ehpub dot com
Awesome implementation and vision!
This is where we are going in this industry. The technology is becoming reliable enough that is can be used for more than just entertainment.
Great stuff!
Mark thanks for being an awesome dad and learning all about integration for our Brody man! Brody you are the BEST kid ever! Thanks for teaching us new things each day. I appreciate CEPro taking an interest in autism. So many people are not aware of how it affects peoples lives. Thanks for sharing our story.!
Julie,
Thank you for bringing this story to light. It shows the caring and innovative side of our business and hopefully others can build on it as an opportunity to help others with this and other conditions. I know many products in our industry can help and inspire others like Brody as well as elder care clients. Thanks to the Buzzard family for sharing their story.
EXTRAORDINARY article! As the mother of a 5 year old darling w/autism, I can see the profound benefits this technology can pose to those w/autism and other special needs. It’s wonderful when technolgy can help those who can benefit so much from it. More stories like this, please! :D
We know first hand of the advantages of early intervention with a child having special challenges. Whatever the needs are, this is such an exciting area to develop! I have heard it said that some travel neurologically via freeways and others by the back roads, but they both “get there” none the less. This sounds like a great way to make the road less traveled much smoother.
As a Control 4 representative, I’ve seen a lot of different uses and implementations of our products. But the way Mark uses the system for his son is the most inspiring and thoughtful use of our products I’ve ever seen. Way to go, Mark, Robin and Brody!!!!!!!
heartwarming and so much more rewarding than simply making rich people happy. The industry shoud be proud of this example