iPad Apps for Autistic and Nonverbal Children

So now that I've done my own search of about ten different examples of AT used in the classroom, I wanted to see what a professional had to say.  I recently viewed this video in which Lauren Meatty speaks about "using iPad apps as communication and learning tools for autistic and nonverbal children".

This video was full of a lot of great information!  She began by saying the student population she works with is typically younger grades and some of their disabilities are severe (i.e. very spastic and hands fisted), others are nonverbal or have limited communication.  Also, she said she doesn't recommend iPads for everyone; it should be for children who don't have any other way of doing things.  She goes over many, many apps that may be helpful -- many of them can be used with just one finger!

I thought it was interesting that she pointed out "kids who won't engage in other things, for some reason the iPad brings them in".  She mentioned a student who had a communication box on her desk wouldn't use it much because it made her look different and she didn't want to draw attention to herself.  No student (with a disability or not) wants to seem different than others, especially those school age children; the social aspect is so important.  This particular student replaced her communication box with an iPad and suddenly all of the students were intrigued!  I thought this was an awesome.

Here is a list of just a few of the apps that were talked about in the video (there's tons more!):

• Duck Duck Moose: Plays familiar songs such as "The Wheels on the Bus" and "Old MacDonald".  Whenever the child touches the screen, something happens.
• I didn't catch the name of the app, but it is a glossary for American Sign Language.  You choose a word and a picture/video shows up to demonstrate the appropriate sign.
• Yes/No App: Allows students to make a choice between two options.  Can be changed to other words (i.e. milk/juice, stop/go).  Also has the option to put a picture on the button instead of text.
• SonicPics: Allows the user to take pictures and add speech to the video.  The example Lauren used was taking pictures of a student during an activity in class, the teacher can add narration, and then the video can be emailed home to parents to keep them in the loop.
• SpeakIt: "If you can type it, it will then speak!"  The text is read in a computer voice, but it is still a voice.
• Tap to Talk: Preprogrammed phrases for students to touch and then it will speak.  It is a free app, but with that, it is not customizable. 
• Proloquo2Go: much more expensive ($200) version of Tap to Talk, however, you get what you pay for.  This app is very customizable and has a lot more options.

A point that she made in the video, that I found to be key was you don't want the iPad to replace social interaction.  It is so important to continue the back and forth between the student and teacher as the iPad is being used.  A simple "what do you think is going to happen? Where did the cow go?" keeps that person-to-person interaction which is so important, especially with the students with autism population.

While I'm not familiar with all of the apps that are out there (in fact a lot of the apps she spoke about in the video were new to me!) I do feel comfortable with using an iPad, especially in a trial and error fashion.  If an iPad was a resource my classroom had, I would feel very comfortable with trying out appropriate apps and then working with the students to understand how to use them.

(I tried to keep this post shorter, but there was so much information I gained from the video.  However, I didn't even include it all in here! So I suggest, if you have the time and are interested in iPad apps for students with disabilities, for you to watch this video.)

Reference: iPad Apps for Autistic and Nonverbal Children Video