Autism and the Year of the iPad

‘New rage' for students with autism: iPads - DailyHerald.com

Teachers of students with autism say it's the year of the iPad.

It provides motivation. It helps with therapy and handwriting practice. It even models appropriate ways to share toys or take turns.

For 7-year-old Joshua Brooks of Glen Ellyn, the device has educational, therapeutic and entertainment value — something teachers and parents say they're recognizing more these days.

“It's really been a great tool,” said Joshua's mother, Lisa Brooks. “We use it for a combination of enjoyment activities for him and also educational components. He prefers playing the games and the various apps that are on there, and we use the iPad with him a lot as a motivational tool.”

More @ http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120226/news/702269896

iPads Help Autistic Children | children, zoey, ipads - WTVC NewsChannel 9: Chattanooga News, Weather, Radar, Sports, Lottery

iPads Help Autistic Children | children, zoey, ipads - WTVC NewsChannel 9: Chattanooga News, Weather, Radar, Sports, Lottery

Local children living with autism are finding a new and easier way to communicate. iPads are being used in classrooms at Siskin Children's Institute. The touch screen Apple tablet allows children without the necessary communication skills to express their wants and needs more clearly.

28-month old Zoey Jones is a happy, playful little girl who is living with autism, a developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate with others. Zoey's parents say the disorder can be frustrating.

"We struggle with trying to know what she wants," said Maria Jones, Zoey's mother.

But Zoey's parents say that struggle is a little bit more bearable thanks to the new technology offered by the Siskin Children's Institute. Last year, they got 4 iPads to use in classrooms, and nearly 20 more are on the way thanks to an anonymous donor. "We know that there is a lot of proof in research that visuals work well with children with autism or autism-like characteristics and the iPads have allowed us to implement that faster and quicker," said Kelly DeJong, the Escalate Consultant for Siskin Children's Institute.

More @ http://www.newschannel9.com/news/children-1009377-zoey-ipads.html

Temple Grandin on autism and iPads (VIDEO)

Temple Grandin interview about autism and iPads - YouTube

Apps in Education: Managing Individual Education Programs (IEP) on the iPad

Apps in Education: Managing Individual Education Programs (IEP) on the iPad

Managing Individual Education Programs (IEP) on the iPad

Individual Education Programs (IEP) can be difficult to put in place at the best of times. IEP's are sometime a source of concern and frustration. The more informed people are about the IEP process the better the IEP can be. Parents will normally work with teachers to develop a plan to help the students succeed in school. The IEP assists this process by describing the goals the whole team sets for a student during the school year, as well as any special support needed to help achieve them. Here are a number of apps that make managing and collecting data for the IEP Process just that little bit easier.

More @ http://appsineducation.blogspot.com/2012/01/managing-individual-education-programs.html

LetterReflex - Overcoming Letter Reversals - by makes of Dexteria

App Store - LetterReflex - Overcoming Letter Reversals

Does your child get his b’s and d’s mixed up? How about her p’s and q’s? LetterReflex provides a fun way to help overcome common letter reversals. The first activity, Tilt It, uses kinesthetic learning to teach left from right. The second activity, Flip It, allows them to practice what they learned while honing their letter discrimination skills.

Tilt It: Teach Left from Right using Kinesthetic Learning

According to research, a key reason for letter reversals is not knowing left from right, and as a result kids get confused when trying to discriminate between a “b” and a ‘d” or a “p” and a “q”. They’re not quite sure which side the letter loop should go on.

Our Tilt It activity uses kinesthetic learning techniques to help kids map their left side/right side to correct letter formation. They will learn the correct position of letter loops by being challenged to tilt the device in the correct direction to form letters.

Designed for fun as well as education, Tilt It is a maze game that gets progressively more difficult as the learner succeeds at each level.

With practice, they will form an instinctive correlation between letter formation and left side/right side.

Flip It: Practice Letter and Word Discrimination

Using arcade game action, Flip It challenges kids to visually discriminate and manipulate letters and words to match the correct orientation. The activity will help hone their visual discrimination skills and further cement their knowledge of correct letter and word formation.

Both activities are designed to be repeatable and engaging, and when used on a regular basis will help address the problem of letter reversals.

Tracking and Progress Reports: The app includes an automatic tracking and reporting feature makes it easy for parents, teachers and therapists to identify time on task, accuracy, and progress. You can email the reports right from the app.

LetterReflex is a universal app compatible with iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch. Buy it once, and use on all your iOS devices.

App pedigree: LetterReflex is from the creators of Dexteria, the top-ranked, critically acclaimed app that improves fine motor skills. Here’s what people are saying about Dexteria:

Great app *****
by Kinyanni
Easy to use and very motivating. I was surprised how well it works on the iPhone screen. An excellent tool for fine motor practice, and would be great for teaching pre-writing skills.

Thank you *****
by MiraclesMommy
Thank you for creating a great app and for being a part of A4CWSN!!! My daughter loves it and I'm happy she is getting some help with fine motor. She hasn't been well enough to attend OT and I was afraid she'd regress but not with your help! Thanks again!

great fine motor app *****
by Caitlin's Mom
This app is so engaging and helpful at the same time. Making learning fun! Thanks for a great app!

Features:
•Unique kinesthetic approach to solving letter reversal problem
•Easy to use, fun to play
•Designed to be used in short sessions, repeated over time
•Runs on all your iOS devices
•Randomized game play ensures kids won’t get bored
•Automatically generates usage reports
•Reports can be emailed to parents, teachers, therapists

More @ http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/letterreflex-overcoming-letter/id485920074?mt=8

What is the point of iTunes?

How Amazon has proven that iTunes is totally obsolete | ZDNet

Amazon has proven that there’s absolutely no need for an iTunes-like interface to accomplish everything Apple claims iTunes is needed to do.

That sound of silence you’re hearing is Amazon proving that iTunes is totally obsolete. Isn’t it time Apple just put iTunes out of our misery and killed the blasted thing off?

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/diy-it/how-amazon-has-proven-that-itunes-is-totally-obsolete/324

iPads4U on Vimeo

iPads4U on Vimeo

iPads4U from www.A4CWSN.com on Vimeo.