Questions about Early Intervention Software

Laureate Learning Systems has been publishing award-winning talking software for special education since 1982. All of our programs are authored by clinical experts who understand the unique needs of students with disabilities. Laureate offers over 80 programs specifically designed to teach critical cognitive, language, and reading skills to individuals with a wide variety of special needs. Here are the answers to some questions we are frequently asked about early intervention…

Q. How early can children with special needs benefit from using your software?

A. Laureate has software that can meet the needs of even the youngest and/or most severely handicapped children. Children functioning below six months of age can use our Creatures Games to -increase their auditory and visual attention, learn cause and effect and turn- taking, and develop intentionality. High-quality natural sounding speech, -colorful graphics, and amusing animation captivate, encourage, and instruct the user. All of our programs are easily accessible through a single switch or touch screen. Laureate software provides the consistent, supportive environment that children with special challenges require to achieve success.


Q. Which of your programs are most appropriate for early -language intervention?

A. Laureate’s programs are organized into a linguistic hierarchy which outlines seven stages of language development. Because the software is integrated, children can move easily from one program to the next as they meet their goals.

The Early Vocabulary Development Series and The Exploring Vocabulary Series provide receptive training of 100 nouns and 40 verbs. Talking Nouns I, Talking Nouns II, and Talking Verbs are companion programs which encourage the expressive use of this core vocabulary in communication exchanges. Adjectives and Opposites introduces the concept of opposites in a fun, exploratory environment, while First Categories provides beginning categorization training.

The newest member of our syntax intervention programs is Simple Sentence Structure which trains Subject-Verb-Object word order. The Early Emerging Rules Series introduces negation, plurals, and
the prepositions “in” and “on.” The Microcomputer Language Assessment and Development System (Micro-LADS) is a comprehensive syntax remediation package that uses over 600 pictures to train 46 grammatical forms.

The Words & Concepts Series integrates language and concept training in a unique way. Each program uses a core vocabulary of 40 nouns in 6 related activities: Vocabulary, Categorization, Word Identification by Function, Word Association, and the Concepts of Same and Different. The companion Concentrate! programs reinforce the lessons from Words & Concepts in a fun game format.


Q. I have parents asking for more language intervention -services in our Early Essential Education (EEE) program. Can Laureate software help me meet this need?

A. Laureate software provides a cost-effective solution for increasing the number of language sessions children receive without hiring additional staff. Our programs are designed to be used independently, so your students can use them without assistance. Children can use Laureate software five days a week, enabling them to meet their individual education goals more quickly and efficiently.


Q. Can Laureate software save me time?

A. There are several ways in which Laureate can help you save time and enhance your effectiveness. First, you’ll save time writing individual education plans because most Laureate programs come with Goals and Objectives which can be easily integrated into a student’s program. Second, Laureate software will cut down on your paperwork because all of our instructional programs include data collection and a performance summary which can be saved on disk or printed out. A test level also helps you document student progress.


Q. Can your software help make inclusion work in our district?

A. As an increasing number of preschoolers with disabilities join integrated classrooms, Laureate software can help facilitate inclusion. Many of our programs encourage collaborative learning, helping children with special needs interact and communicate with their peers. Your students will not only reach their educational goals more quickly, they’ll build their confidence, independence, and self-esteem.