From the article: Apps for Children With Special Needs
iPads have quickly become a useful tool for kids with special needs, many of whom are communicating and managing behavior with the tablet computer in a way they never were able to before. If you've found the iPad to be useful for your child, describe how he or she is putting it to use -- augmentative communication? picture schedules? timer? books? movies? Please include your child's age and diagnosis in your response. Share Your Experience
Steve Jobs Helped My Autistic Son Speak
- Through the kindness of Autism Speaks & Apple, my non-verbal, autistic son won an IPad. It's helped him find his voice. Thank you, Mr. Jobs. My son now has 110 words. When he's able to say "Thank you," I will have him send those words up to you in Heaven with a balloon. BJ uses his donated IPad to communicate receptive & expressive needs/wants. It helps us understand BJ & offer him a tool to help with emotions he is feeling & the voice that he can't yet express them with. BJ has so much to say--& thanks to Mr. Jobs' idea, he's developing the voice to say it. The IPad gives us a peek into the the BJ we know is there, but who can't find his way out... yet. IPad technology impacts BJ's daily life--It offers potential & hope. He can communicate more at school, the doctor's office, & home. He can be a child more, as opposed to a little person frantically trying to relay a message but doesn't have the means to (sadly, like a stroke victim with aphasia). Thank you, Mr. Jobs.
- —evette521
Loving the iPad's Portability
- I knew that my book-loving son with CP would like having access to new books, but I did not appreciate the portability aspect until I could bring the books/apps to him, rather than me bringing him to the computer. He is able to read books on the iPad and play with other apps when he is resting on the floor. He also likes ABA-type apps, drag and drop games and other silly noise apps (dare I mention Farting Zombies??).
- —Guest Randi Sargent
