Autism+&+the+iPad

= = =Autism & The iPad = By: Jodi Linn Mar

The iPad, like other computers, is an effective tool for many on the autism spectrum. It's flexibility and portability offer some additional advantages over laptops or PCs. The touch screen and layout make the iPad more accessible for children with coordination or learning difficulties; these children may find sliding and tapping easier than either typing or writing. It can be easily carried, and can be helpful for calming and focusing children who are on the go. This allows for repetition, and constant "sameness" to drive the student using it. The iPad might possibly be one of the best adaptive learning technology devices on the market today.

With the right applications, can be used as a communication board or augmentative communication device. Some children have been captivated by the iPad, finding the motivation to master quite a few new skills in a short span of time. Autistic children are able to complete tasks in several repetitions immediately one after another.

The largest drawback for the iPad is it's fragility. It is lightweight and autistic children prone to violent outbursts can easily break one. It is not built like the assistive communication tools intended for this audience. There are alternatives though. There is a heavy duty case called the "Otter Box" that will protect the iPad from most drops and falls.

**Assistive Features **
The iPad itself is the assistive device. Although the entire line of Apple products come with assistive features like Text to Speech and magnification for vision along with settings that can be changed to help students with physical and motor control issues, some autistic students do not need these. The iPad stands alone as a great device but it is the exponentially growing list of apps that make it the excellent tool it can be for working with autistic students. = =

Benefits
One of the most apparent benefits of the iPad is that it is a larger device than the iPod or iTouch. The larger size makes it more accessible to more autistic children with physical and motor disabilities. Autistic children who tend to have short attention spans or little interest in most anything are showing increased interest in using the iPad. Through the use of the device students are showing understanding, and increased interest rates in multiple learning areas.

What to Use
Many applications are available that will teach spelling, counting, drawing, making puzzles, remembering pictures and more for autistic children.

**20 iPad Apps for Kids with Autism**


 *  [|Model Me Going Places 2]  – Social Stories – Free


 * Is That Gluten Free? – Nutrition – $7.99
 * Sentence Builder for iPad – Language – $3.99
 * <span class="s1" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">TapToTalk – Language – Free
 * <span class="s1" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Story Builder – Language – $3.99
 * <span class="s1" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Understanding Autism – Educational – $2.99
 * <span class="s1" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Proloquo2Go – Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) – $189.99
 * <span class="s1" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Question Builder for iPad – Language – $3.99
 * <span class="s1" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">AutoVerbal Talking Soundbox – Language – $9.99
 * <span class="s1" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">iCommunicate for iPad – Language – $29.99
 * <span class="s1" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">MyTalk Tools Mobile – AAC – $39.99
 * <span class="s1" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">iDress for Weather – Life Skills – $1.99
 * <span class="s1" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">MyTalkTools Mobile Lite – AAC – Free
 * <span class="s1" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">TapSpeak Button for Ipad – Language – $9.99
 * <span class="s1" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Grace – Picture Exchange for Non-Verbal People – Language – $37.99
 * <span class="s1" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Alexicom AAC – AAC – Free
 * <span class="s1" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">AACSpeechBuddy – AAC – $44.99
 * <span class="s1" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Visual Impact – Living Safely – Life Skills – $34.99
 * <span class="s1" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Off We Go – Going to the Dentist – Social Stories – $4.99
 * <span class="s1" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Off We Go – Going on a Plane – Social Stories – $4.99

===<span class="s1" style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;"> ===

<span class="s1" style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">User Friendly
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">There are many apps that are useful in helping autistic students. As an educator you can break them up several different ways. By subject, by task, or by specific outcome that is desired by the application. By subject looks just like a regular school class list: Language Arts, Math, Science, Health, etc. I would add in Communication or Books. Tasks would be broken into categories like practice, quizzes, tests and others. Desired outcomes would look like the behaviors you are working on like, attention span, communication, and organization. Most of these apps are cheap $3.99-$9.99 on average. Of course there are many others that are more powerful that cost more but some are worth it.

<span class="s1" style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Pricing
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Starting at $499 and pricing up for storage space to $699 the iPad is an affordable tool for families and teachers of students with autism.

<span class="s1" style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Links to more information:
Apple Fox News Report Abled Body Parenting Tap to Talk <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">﻿ <span class="s1" style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Resources:    [|http://www.theautismeducationsite.com]  Apple Support