Autism and IPads

Autism affects 1 in every 68 children.  Autism is more common in boys than in girls.  Many students with Autism are non verbal.  Ipads can help them say things to use they are not actually able to verbalize.   They can tell us their wants, needs, and ideas through some apps on the iPad.  Some built in features that already come with the iPad are voice over, live listen, and Siri.  Voice over explains what is happening on the screen of the iPad.  They can navigate the iPad by listening to the voice over.  Live listen amplifies the persons voice talking to them and drowns out background noise.  Siri can type notes for the student.  Zoom is also another feature that magnifies everything.  Touch Autism is a site with a multitude or apps for students with Autism.  It even features some apps for teachers, parents and therapist.  It has apps designed especially for nonverbal  students and does not require writing.  Daycape is an app that helps students with planning and events.  At the time it is due or time to go somewhere, a popup comes on the ipad letting the student know what is next. 

You can embed videos or pictures to help remind the students what the activity is.   ProLoQuo2Go gives no verbal students a voice.  The student can create a sentence by putting the symbols in order.  This app is a little pricey at $200 but seems very worth it.  Qr voice allows you to record your voice with messages or instructions for the students.  You can create the recording then print a QR code to allow the students to access it.  Social stories helps compliment others.  It makes speaking to others easier and more natural. 

When someone is non verbal you can not be sure of what they understand and know.  I viewed a video of a man who was non verbal all his life.  His mom assumes that he did not know many things that a normal child would.  When they discovered an app that would talk for him they discovered that just because he could not talk did not mean he was not understanding things.  He was able to start having conversations with his mother due to this app.  When they went to restaurants, he was able to order for himself using the app.  This was an amazing discovery for the son and the mother.  I want to make sure if I have students in my class with special need I am able to provide them with things that will help make them more successful.  The apps mentioned above all seem like they are great to use with students with Autism.  We need to make sure we do all we can to make them feel as much a part of our class as anyone else.