Howard Shane, PhD

      Howard Shane

 Research Overview

 Howard Shane’s research focus is on children with complex communication impairment related to autism and other developmental disorders.  Currently he is studying the use of technology and visual supports to improve communication and learning in persons with autism.  He is keenly interested in the development of a visual language system to both improve and augment the spoken language system for persons with autism who have difficulty processing spoken language.

 Dr. Shane’s earlier research focused on the development of augmentative and alternative communication systems for persons with neuromuscular disorders.

About Howard Shane

 Howard Shane received his PhD from Syracuse University and completed a Doctoral Fellowship at Mayo Clinic.  At children’s Hospital he is the Director of the Center for Communication Enhancement and the Autism Language Program at Children’s Hospital Boston. He has designed more than a dozen computer applications used widely by persons with disabilities and holds two US Patents.  Dr. Shane has received Honors of the Association Distinction and is a Fellow of the American Speech and Hearing Association. He is the recipient of the Goldenson Award for Innovations in Technology from United Cerebral Palsy Association and author of numerous papers and chapters on severe speech impairment, lectured throughout the world on the topic, and produced numerous computer innovations enjoyed by persons with complex communication disorders.

Key Publications

Shane HC, Albert PD. Electronic screen media for persons with autism spectrum disorders: results of a survey.  J of Autism Dev Disord 2008 Sep;38(8):1499-508.

Higginbotham DJ, Beukelman D, Blackstone S, Bryen D, Caves K, DeRuyter F, Jakobs T, Light J, McNaughton D, Moulton B, Shane HC, Williams, MB. AAC technology transfer: an AAC-RERC report. Augment Altern Commun. 2009 Mar;25 (1):68-76.

 Shane HC, O’Brien M & Sorce J. Use of a visual graphic language system to support communication for persons on the autism spectrum. Perspect on Augment Altern Commun. 2009 Dec;18:130-6.

 Gosnell J, Costello J, Shane, HC. There isn’t always an app for that! Perspect on Augment and Altern Commun. 2011 Apr;20:7-8.

Shane HC, Laubscher EH, Schlosser RW, Flynn S, Sorce J, Abramson J. Applying technology to visually support language and communication in individuals with ASD. J Autism Dev Disord. Published on-line 21st of Jun 2011:DOI: 10.1007/s10803-011-1304-z.

Gosnell J, Costello J, & Shane, HC. Using a clinical approach to answer, “…what communication apps should we use?” Perspect on Augment and Altern Commun. 2011 Sept;20:87-96.

Schlosser RW, Shane HC, Sorce J., Koul R, Bloomfield E & Hotz L. Identifying performing and underperforming graphic symbols for verbs and prepositions in animated and static formats: a research note. Augment Altern Commun. 2011; 27(3): 205–214.

Schlosser RW, Shane HC, Sorce J, Koul R, Bloomfield E, Debrowski L, DeLuca T, Miller S, Schneider D, & Neff A. Animation of graphic symbols representing actions and prepositions: effects on transparency, name agreement, and identification. J of Speech, Lang, Hear Res (2011).

Shane HC, DeRuyter F, Blackstone S, Vandheiden G & Williams M. Using aac technology to access the world. Assist Technol. (In Press).