Integrator Uses Automation to Help Autistic Son
By Julie Jacobson
Mark Buzzard hopes the "visual communication strategy" of conveying, for instance, "bath time" that helps his 2-year-old son will help others.

Brody Buzzard is a playful 2-year-old with a mild case of autism. So it's no surprise that his father Mark, principal of Liberty Bell Alarm & Home Theater in Sacramento, Calif., has taken an interest in home health technology.

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.

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