Autism and iPads

A year and a half after the launching of the first iPad, excitement still exists for this amazing device. As more and more apps become available, it is difficult to keep up. Many people with disabilities are discovering its many uses to facilitate communication. For people with autism, iPads can be dramatic in their application. They are easy to intuit, simple to navigate, and have beautiful graphics. And so compelling that they can be either a very effective reinforcement - or a huge distraction. Precisely because they are so easily accessible, it is critical to create times to use the iPad as a teaching tool and other opportunities to allow the person with autism uninterrupted access to explore. And the difference needs to be clearly delineated.

Shannon Des Roches Rosa and Danielle Samson are among two iPad experts featured at the Morgan Autism Center conference coming up on October 1 at Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California. Both offer specifics on utilizing the iPad in practical ways to facilitate play and learning. Because it is such a new tool being used in ways it wasn't originally designed to be, it is worthwhile to get some advice from the experts. Shannon is also the co-author of "The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism" and has an ongoing blog with notes about iPads at http://www.squidalicious.com/p/on-ipads.html. Danielle is a long time speech therapist who has been very active in the Augmentative Alternative Communication world. Both are worth checking out.