How the iPad Helps One Child With Autism
There’s a great article in the Huffington Post today by Ariane Zurcher, entitled “My Daughter Emma, Autism, and Her iPad”. In the article, Ariane talks about how an early Christmas gift of an iPad for her daughter Emma has given her new hope that Emma might actually be able to read and write, something that she thought might never happen.
Quote:
“Of course the implications are exciting,” writes Ariane. “Up to this point I had wondered whether Emma could learn to read or write. I wondered if the wiring in her brain was too jumbled to be able to, just as many autistic children who can read and write, cannot speak. The other night convinced me; reading and writing are achievable goals.”
The article describes how fascinated Emma is with the iPad, and lists some of her favourite apps, including Learning Touch First Words, iWriteWords and Sound Shaker. She's also just started looking at the Montessori Crosswords app. According to Ariane, her daughter’s most favourite app of all is Interactive Alphabet - ABC Flash Cards ($2.99), as she likes the way the letters come to life when she touches them and the different musical sounds for each letter.
It’s a long article but well worth reading, and pretty amazing to think that the iPad could actually be helping to make the lives of autistic children and their parents better and even helping them learn.
Source: Huffington Post
