Efficacy of TeachTown: Basics computer-assisted intervention for the Intensive Comprehensive Autism Program in Los Angeles Unified School District.
Twenty minutes of TeachTown: Basics CAI plus twenty minutes of linked off-computer activities daily can boost language and cognitive scores for young students with ASD in public-school classrooms.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Whalen et al. (2010) tested TeachTown: Basics in Los Angeles preschool and kindergarten classes. Kids with autism used the computer program for 20 minutes, then did 20 minutes of matching off-computer activities. The study ran for three months.
Half the classes kept using their normal lessons. The other half added TeachTown each school day. Researchers tracked language and thinking scores for both groups.
What they found
The TeachTown group made bigger gains in language and thinking tests than the control group after three months. The boost showed up in both talking skills and problem-solving tasks.
Teachers said the mix of screen time and hands-on work kept kids engaged. The short daily dose fit easily into the class schedule.
How this fits with other research
Wang et al. (2025) looked at 15 later studies and found computer training still helps kids with autism pay attention and think socially. Their 2025 review includes the 2010 TeachTown trial, showing the pattern held up over time.
Williams et al. (2002) tried computer reading lessons eight years earlier. They saw kids stay on task longer with screens, but word learning was small. TeachTown added off-computer play and got stronger language gains, building on that first idea.
Abdi et al. (2023) used a multi-part language package and saw very large vocabulary jumps. Their gains were bigger than TeachTown’s, but the package took more staff time. The two studies together suggest computers give solid, low-cost help, while fuller programs can add extra boost when staff are free.
Why it matters
If you run a preschool or K-1 class for students with autism, you can add TeachTown: Basics tomorrow. You only need two 20-minute blocks and the linked off-computer kit. The study shows this simple mix can lift language and thinking scores in one semester without pulling kids out of class.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) has shown increased popularity recently and there are many studies showing promise for this approach for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). However, there are no between-subject studies to date assessing the efficacy of CAI with this population. In this study, 47 preschool and K-1 students in ASD classrooms participated from Los Angeles Unified School District. TeachTown: Basics, a CAI program which also includes supplementary off-computer activities, was implemented over 3 months for approximately 20 minutes per day on the computer and 20 minutes per day in supplementary TeachTown: Basics activities. Compared to the students in the control group, the TeachTown: Basics students showed more improvement overall on language and cognitive outcome measures. In addition, students who used TeachTown: Basics demonstrated significant progress overall in the software and those students who used the program for more time demonstrated larger gains within the software and in outcome measures. Although not conclusive, these findings offer possibilities for the use of CAI for remediating many deficits for children with ASD and other special needs. In addition, CAI may offer solutions to schools and parents with insufficient funds for more expensive treatments.
Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 2010 · doi:10.1177/1362361310363282