iPads Autism/ Communication Disorders

In the technology we live in it is imperative students are prepared to function and take advantage of technology. Not only does technology help us in our everyday lives but can assist in helping students with Autism and other communicative disabilities. 

The video below shows a presentation from Lauren Meatty. She works with preschool aged children with the Schwartz Center in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts. Her presentation describes the benefits of using iPads with applications and accessories.

iPad Apps for Autistic and Nonverbal Children

Applications and Notes from the Presentation:

• Students using iPads have something that will attract students to them which will allow them to practice their verbal skills. So not only can an iPad help them communicate but it can also help improve their social interactions with other students.
• The interaction on the iPad can spark their inferencing and comprehension skills by asking questions while playing games and applications. 
• Model Me Going Places is an application that provides students with a way to say yes or no by just touching. The program can be programed to use different words.

• Proloquo help students be to communciate by providing various voices and sentence starters, words, and objects to help students verbalize their needs. 

• Talking Leonard Tiger is an application that repeats what students say. This could be used in speech therapy to help students with articulation and verbalization skills. 
• Little SkyWriters allows students to practice handwriting in a self- correcting mode. Students are to guide the airplane around each letter and the plane will not allow students to make the letters incorrectly. 

iPads are a great way to motivate students and foster independence. Apple has tons of applications that can not only help students communicate but to learn and practice basic skills. Handwriting, practicing math problems, and pictures to speech are all ways in which the iPad can be used in the classroom.