Quartile

Autism Strengths & Interests

Short Summary of Strengths & Interests

• Enjoys playing games such as dominoes.
• Likes math, especially addition.
• Is strong at spatial reasoning.

Is good at matching visual items

This game is not appropriate

Has a good memory for sensory details, including visual, touch, taste and smell

This game is not appropriate

Has a good memory for words, phrases and dialouge

This game is not appropriate

Has a good memory for pictures, numbers and patterns

Is This Game Appropriate? Yes

Description
Children who can remember simple addition facts will be able to quickly determine which tiles will fit in a particular space. Since the tiles have dots representing amounts, children can also use counting to determine when they can place their tile.

Likes to put things in order or a sequence

Is This Game Appropriate? Yes

Description
The spatial arrangement of the tiles on the board allows players to select either a placement for one simple addition problem or a placement for a dual problem resulting in two or more addition problems with the same addendum. Children with autism are often challenged by such a puzzle and may enjoy constructing complex math patterns.

Learns through visualizing or "replaying" actions in their mind

This game is not appropriate

Likes activities with rules, such as math and phonics

Is This Game Appropriate? Yes

Description
The requirement to have all intersecting tiles have the same total as the number in the center of the tile just played provides a rule that introduces higher level math reasoning. This rule may appeal to children with autism who like sameness and symmetry.

Is very concrete and literal

This game is not appropriate

Learns in small "chunks" (for example, phone numbers are 3 chunks of number xxx-xxx-xxxx that are combined together)

This game is not appropriate

Is good at nonverbal reasoning and logic

Is This Game Appropriate? Yes

Description
For many children with autism, numbers provide a type of language that is predictable and nonthreatening. Once they have the basic addition skill, they will enjoy the ability to demonstrate their reasoning by manipulating numbers as they play their tile on the Quartile game area.

Likes spatial problem solving

Is This Game Appropriate? Yes

Description
Quartile provides opportunities for both reasoning with numbers and space. The challenge of using one tile to solve multiple problems may be appealing to children with strong spatial reasoning abilities.

Can read well with good vocabulary, though may not fully comprehend content

This game is not appropriate

Likes to use and has good fine motor skill

This game is not appropriate

Likes established routines or set ways of doing things

Is This Game Appropriate? Yes

Description
Addition problems have one right answer. This is comforting to children with autism who may have difficulty dealing with ambiguity. Although the Quartile game area may develop in many ways, the pieces can only be placed in limited ways.

Likes manipulating, constructing or building things

Is This Game Appropriate? Yes

Description
Children with autism who are strong as spatial reasoning and math may enjoy trying to construct a complex board, with fewer pieces connecting multiple problems. If fact, a higher level alternative would be for advanced players to use the fewest pieces possible to get the highest score.

Likes to use and has good musical abilities

This game is not appropriate

Likes to use and has good drawing skills

This game is not appropriate

Autism Special Considerations

Appears to ignore other's communication and/or has difficulty giving eye contact to a communication partner

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Sit at an angle to the child, so direct eye contact is not needed.

Look at the game instead of each other.

Eye contact is not needed in Quartile.

Has difficulty understanding complex verbal directions

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? No

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Break down directions into small steps. Don't go through all the directions at once.

Use the online video at Simplyfun.com to walk children through the directions. Video support is helpful for children with special needs.

Combine short verbal instructions with visual and physical examples of each step. It is important that the child comprehend the nature of how continuing rolls of the dice are made.

Play the simple version of the game where addition is not needed; players just match dots on the edges for 1 point for each tile.

Let children read the directions as they are explained. Visualizing the words is often a stronger learning method for children with autism.

Uses vocabulary inaccurately or demonstrates echolalia (repeating another's speech)

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Talking is not needed in Quartile except to demonstrate how a score was obtained.

Respond to immediate echolalia (repeating what was just said) by rephrasing the child's response into a correct format, so the child can hear and repeat that phrase. For example, assume you are playing with a child named Andy and you say, "Your turn," and Andy repeats, "Your turn." You can say, "It's Andy's turn. You say, my turn." This allows the child to hear and repeat the correct response. Eventually, the child will pick up the pattern of response.

Delayed echolalia (repetition of previously heard comments) may have a hidden meaning or association. Look for connection in the phrase used to the current situation. For example, the child says, "After these messages we'll be right back!" Think what the repeated phrase is associated with for the child. Try to interpret what is meant and rephrase it for the child. For example, you might respond by saying, "It sounds like you want a break for a few minutes. Is that what you mean? You can tell me, 'I need a break.'"

Gets stuck repeating a verbal topic or physical actions and/or has difficulty attending to others' actions or topic.

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? No

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Conversation is not need. Any extraneous words or actions can be ignored.

Reinforce attention and actions by commenting on what was done correctly. For example, "You are good at checking my adding!"

Has difficulty producing speech/communication

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Conversation is not needed. The child can write down a score if needed, or someone else can determine the score.

Has difficulty sequencing multi-step actions and/or doing complex abstract tasks

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? No

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Quartile requires understand complex thinking about math. Children need to attend to more than one addition fact at a time to combine three or four tiles. The game can be modified to add only one tile or to players can do simple matching of dots.

Demonstrates difficulty initiating and maintaining social interactions

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? Yes

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Social interaction, other than turn taking is not an essential part of the game. However, players can be encouraged to comment on each other play and check the accuracy of the tile placements.

Acts out or demonstrates avoidance behaviors when frustrated, overwhelmed, or needs more sensory input.

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? No

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Reduce extraneous noise or allow the child to wear head phones or ear plugs if loud sounds cause anxiety.

A weighted vest worn during the game may provide additional pressure input and thus reduce fidgeting due to sensory needs. Pressure can be calming when used for no more than 20 minutes at a time.

Practice a phrase to ask for help and role play situations in the game where it is needed.

Provide techniques for self-calming, such as holding a special toy.

Allow time for movement. For example, a child who needs to move frequently can be given an opportunity to 'celebrate' their turn by running around the table or jumping up and down 10 times.

Has short attention span for non-preferred activities

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? No

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification?

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
If math is a non-preferred activity, Quartile is not recommended. The simple version of the game requiring matching only may hold children's attention more easily. Another option would be to reduce the number of tiles used, so the game is shorter.

Needs sameness or consistent routines and/or has difficulty with transitions from one activity to another

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification? No

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Play games at the same time every day, so the child anticipates the game routine.

Change the location of the game, so the child may play in different rooms, at the table, or on the floor. This will build tolerance for variation.

Prepare the child ahead time for the introduction of a new game. Talk about aspects that will be motivating for the child, and let them explore the parts of the game before setting out the whole game.

Has difficulty understanding others' feelings, intentions, and the reasons for others' actions.

Is This Game Appropriate for Child with Characteristic? Yes

Can Child with Characteristic Play Game w/o Modification?Yes

Strategies for Developing Compensatory Skills:
Understanding others feelings and intentions is not needed for success in the game.