Assignment 2-2

1. Apps for
Autism
How this popular piece of technology is helping
children with autism exceed expectations

2. Autism
 A developmental disability characterized by deficits
in:
 Verbal and nonverbal communication
 Social interactions
 Repetitive behaviors and interests
 1 in 88 children are diagnosed
 5 time more common in boys
*Information retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/Features/CountingAutism/

3. Barriers to Learning
 Communication
 Many children with autism are nonverbal or have very little speech
 Inability to communicate basic needs, wants and feelings
 Sensory
 Sensory input is received, but process abnormally
 Can cause distress and confusion
 Social
 Lack of interest and ability to connect with others
 Attention
 The individual must be interested in order to maintain focus

4. The iPad
 Apps include a text-to-speech tool allow individuals
to communicate needs, wants and feelings
 Colorful visuals and sound keep children engaged
 The easy to use touch screen is appropriate for
children with underdeveloped motor abilities
 In a comparison of the iPad and picture exchange
systems, teachers reported
 Using the iPad resulted in faster communication
 The iPad was easier for students to manipulate
 Students liked using the iPad
(Flores, Musgrove, Renner, Hinton, Strozier, Franklin & Hil, 2012)
60 minutes Apps for Autism Click this link to view a 60 Minutes special on how
iPads are changing the lives of individuals with autism, as well as their families
and teachers.

5.  Communication  Attention
 Specific apps are  “Teachers reported that
designed with a text-to- students found the iPads
speech feature that helps motivating and that use of
individuals create speech the iPads reduced off-task
behavior.” (Price, 2011)
 Output is clear and
immediate
 Exchange of
communication is quick
 Social
 "One of the problems is other technologies make kids look
so different," Folks says. "Kids don't want to be seen with
them. [Now] they can download a book, put it on an MP3
player, and listen to the same book everyone else is
reading.” (Stroud, 2010)

6. Bibliography
 Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). New Data on
Autism Spectrum Disorders. Retrieved from
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/CountingAutism/
 Flores, M., Musgrove, K., Renner, S., Hinton, V., Strozier, S., Franklin
, S., & Hil, D. (2012). A Comparison of Communication Using the
Apple iPad and a Picture-based System. Augmentative and
Alternative Communication, 28, 2, 74-84.
 Price, A. (2012). Making a Difference with Smart Tablets: Are iPads
really beneficial for students with autism? Teacher
Librarian, 39, 1, 31-34.
 Stroud, S. (2010). Merging IT with AT. T H E Journal, 37, 8, 13-14.