Thank you for this powerful report. It is difficult in some of our local school in Louisiana for non-verbal children to receive assistive technology despite on their Individual Educational Plan that they "DO" qualify for an AT device. I hope our State can benefit our children with autism from this report. Also, it would be helpful if 60 minutes can learn about "People First Language." We are not labeled by our disability, we are labeled by our name that was given to us by our parents! Check out Kathy Snow.
I have a brother with autism... he absolutely LOVES to use his iPad and iPod Touch. There are so many great educational apps to use... and they are great when we are on the go! He uses his devices in the car, on the school bus, and even when we are waiting in line at the grocery store. It is comforting to know that he is using educational apps that are supplementing what he is learning in school!
His use of Apple products inspired me to create my own app! It is an elementary school math app, intended for grades K-2.... but my brother is 17 and he uses it to refresh his math skills. I put a lot of time into making sure it is interactive and fun for kids to use. I also made sure that it was reasonably priced... so of those other apps out there are pretty pricey.
Please feel free to check it out! It is called 'K Math' offered by StudyByApp. http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/k-math-review/id445661670?mt=8
If you do check it out and like it, please leave some feedback on iTunes and let me know what you think, or where improvements can be made!
I would like to see CBS do a follow-up on other cutting edge technologies that allow communication and access for a wider spectrum of people with disabilities - for example, the Tobii ATI products, which can operate via switch, eye gaze, and/or touchscreen in addition to traditional keyboard and mouse, and thus can be operated with very high levels of sophistication by users with stroke damage, ALS, severe cerebral palsy, etc. My four year old daughter is in line for her first Tobii (hopefully Medicare will fund purchase very soon - she had a GREAT equipment trial). This will be the first time we will be able to actually formally assess her cognitive abilities, which thus far appear to be at or above typical for a child her age. Plus, she'll be able to talk with ANYONE - peers, strangers, distant relatives, all those people who don't have any special training to communicate with her. But these are also machines that adults can use for very high levels of communication, such as business and professional applications.
Hi5! Our son's Mild/Moderate Teacher tells us he becomes quite verbal, attentive, responsive and participatory whenever the lesson plan incorporates the iPad, Promethean Board, Mac, PC, or any interactive and touchscreen technologies. Our son is diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum. Also, because of Sensory Processing Disorder, using e-gadgets, instead of pencils, to write helps him show that he does know his kindergarten lessons, while attending class in an Inclusive- Least Restrictive Environment. Likewise, Semantic Pragmatic Language Disorder isn't as evident when his General Education Teacher permits speech/language technology tools to accommodate our son with sharing his knowledge and expressing his thoughts. As his Parents, we've known all of this for over 5 years, prior up Regression and pre-diagnosis of Aspersers Syndrome. But, these understandings and usages of apps for Autism were not as well known or widely accepted. Thanks Steve Jobs, Spectrum Vision, A4CWSN Apps for Children with Special Needs, Spectronics, AutismClassroom, DynaVox and a plethora of hi-tech companies, Scientists, Educators and Inventors who are 'pushing the envelope' Autism Apps-wise. We are sharing this CBS News/60 Minutes Apps 4 Autism story and Dr. Temple Grandin's feature on our 'EnjoyHi5Autism' social networks, including http://enjoyhi5autism.blogspot.com, https://www.facebook.com/EnjoyHi5Autism and http://familyenjoyingh5autism.blogspot.com. Mrs. Brenda Lee Cosse', Parent Advocate LA Developmental Disabilities Council Creator/Social Networker/Blogger "disAbilityVOICE - Disabiility Rights Advocate" http://www.facebook.com/DisabilityVOICE
It does not matter what the disabilites are. Sometimes I feel the focus is on certain disabilities and this makes me sad.. There are so many people with different disabilities who benefit from using an ipad. I am not sure if everyone knows but Tapspeak is not the only app that has switch access. SoundingBoard by AbleNet also uses switches. I would love to see more apps available for those who use switches.... What a great way to open the doors even more for our special children.. :-)
We have a child with cerebral palsy and multiple disabilities but, not autism. These kids also are making great gains with the iPad and its MANY useful apps. My husband and I also develop apps for children with autism and multiple disabilities, What's more amazing is seeing a child in a wheelchair that barely has ANY more skills use a switch to access a communication App. TapSpeak apps are the only apps that had THESE kids in mind. Aren't these kids just as applaudable???
Thank you 60 Minutes! I'm elated you can share the magic of iPad apps and what they can do for the special needs community! As a teacher, I discovered how powerful iPad apps can be that I even created my own app! It's amazing to see a student's face light up when they connect and get excited about learning through the iPad. I hope your broadcast will bring in a new crowd of parents, caregivers, teachers and therapists who are unaware or skeptical of the possibilities this technology can bring.
Although my daughter is not on the Autism Spectrum, I'm excited to showcase a device that can work for all kinds of special needs children. My daughter has a speech disorder called Apraxia, which makes is very difficult to speak. Her receptive language is amazing, however she lacks in her expressive language.
My daughter was the Virginia recipient of the 50 iPads for 50 children in 50 states tour sponsored by Gary James and the A4cwsn community. She recieved her iPad over a week ago and I have already seen wonderful progress! I would encourage any parent to check out www.A4cwsn.com or join the Facebook page (A4cwsn). There are not enough resources out there for special needs parents and I really appreciate CBS for getting some national attention on this issue. Great Job!!!
I am the parent of a 9 year old with Autism. We have had our iPad for a little over a month! I have been blown away by the knowledge that my daughter(who was also diagnosed with an Intellectual Disability a year ago) has! We have found some AMAZING apps from some awesome developers through the A4cwsn website! Gary James is the father of a child with Autism and saw first hand how the iPad changed his sons life. He is commited to providing ipads to kids with special needs as well as reviewing apps that are appropriate for our kids. Please look at the work being done! www.a4cwsn.com
Very happy about this story as my son is on the autism spectrum with a speech delay! He will also be receiving an ipad from Apps For Children with Special Needs (see below). My son may also soon be a client where Josh in this segment receives his speech therapy. I cannot wait to see what awaits us with the power of the ipad! My son is very bright and high functioning but has difficulties with expressive language. Thank you for being raising awareness for Autism and the use of ipads!!!
For more info about Apps for Children with Special Needs and Ipads please visit Gary James website http://a4cwsn.com/ or visit us at https://www.facebook.com/a4cwsn There is a wealth of information and support for families.
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Also, it would be helpful if 60 minutes can learn about "People First Language." We are not labeled by our disability, we are labeled by our name that was given to us by our parents! Check out Kathy Snow.
His use of Apple products inspired me to create my own app! It is an elementary school math app, intended for grades K-2.... but my brother is 17 and he uses it to refresh his math skills. I put a lot of time into making sure it is interactive and fun for kids to use. I also made sure that it was reasonably priced... so of those other apps out there are pretty pricey.
Please feel free to check it out! It is called 'K Math' offered by StudyByApp.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/k-math-review/id445661670?mt=8
If you do check it out and like it, please leave some feedback on iTunes and let me know what you think, or where improvements can be made!
Mrs. Brenda Lee Cosse', Parent Advocate
LA Developmental Disabilities Council
Creator/Social Networker/Blogger
"disAbilityVOICE - Disabiility Rights Advocate"
http://www.facebook.com/DisabilityVOICE
-Tiffany Fixter
Owner/Teacher
My Video Schedule
Although my daughter is not on the Autism Spectrum, I'm excited to showcase a device that can work for all kinds of special needs children. My daughter has a speech disorder called Apraxia, which makes is very difficult to speak. Her receptive language is amazing, however she lacks in her expressive language.
My daughter was the Virginia recipient of the 50 iPads for 50 children in 50 states tour sponsored by Gary James and the A4cwsn community. She recieved her iPad over a week ago and I have already seen wonderful progress! I would encourage any parent to check out www.A4cwsn.com or join the Facebook page (A4cwsn). There are not enough resources out there for special needs parents and I really appreciate CBS for getting some national attention on this issue. Great Job!!!
Stacie Mikels, Virginia
Apps For Children with Special Needs (see below). My son may also soon be a client where Josh in this segment receives his speech therapy. I cannot wait to see what awaits us with the power of the ipad! My son is very bright and high functioning but has difficulties with expressive language. Thank you for being raising awareness for Autism and the use of ipads!!!
For more info about Apps for Children with Special Needs and Ipads please visit Gary James website http://a4cwsn.com/ or visit us at https://www.facebook.com/a4cwsn There is a wealth of information and support for families.