Posting #4
Technology
iPad Gives Voice to Kids With Autism
Supraja Seshadri
CNN News
May 14, 2012
4 pages
MAIN IDEAS
Sharia Siddiqui, a young girl, has autism. Her only form of communication for most of her life was crying to get what she wanted, and she struggled with communicating. She was non-verbal and couldn't express what she wanted or how she was feeling.
Sharia's parents say that the iPad has given Sharia a sense of control that she didn't have before. She knows that she need only point to gesture to something she wants, and if she touches something on the screen, she knows that something is supposed to happen. At first, Sharia only played games and watched movies, but eventually she was introduced to apps like Proloquo2Go, First Words, ABCs and Me and Puzzle Me. This helped Sharia learn to put together short sentences to express what she wanted, such as, "I want Dora".
Sharia isn't the only autistic child who has successfully used the iPad to communicate. 142 apps were released this year specifically designed to help kids with autism. Parents who have children with autism have also designed their own apps in an attempt to help their children and other children communicate. For example, Tricia Estrada of San Diego has developed apps for her son, Evan. Her app is called Wonkido, and it is also a website. It consists of a series of animations, 4-5 minutes in length, depicting social skills such as "asking to play" and "going potty". By watching, kids are able to acquire a database of episodes to draw from for future social situations, according to Tricia.
The iPad has become a more common tool for communicating due to its lower cost compared to other equipment that was previously used to help autistic kids communicate. iPads are now available for as long as $399, while alternative equipment cost between $9000 and $15000.
"Steve Job did not realize he was giving a voice to the voiceless," Phoebe Tucker, a speech language pathologist states.
CONCLUSION
Overall, it seems that the iPad has been a growing tool in helping autistic children learn to communicate, opening doors for them that they did not previously have. Now children who had problems communicating have a voice and are able to learn through video episodes and games on the iPad. The inexpensive iPad compared to previous communicating equipment makes the iPad an ideal tool for communication with autistic children.
OPINION
I think it's wonderful that autistic children and their parents have been using the iPad to communicate with each other and it's also wonderful that parents have been creating apps to help autistic children learn. Steve Jobs may not have known that by creating the iPad he was "giving a voice to the voiceless", but the iPad is now such a big tool in helping autistic children. I think it's wonderful that people are using technology for beneficial things, not just to play games on.
I think it's amazing that Apple is expanding its products to a wider audience. Adding features to the new Apple iPad to help kids with autism learn, is definitely a positive investment because not only will it gain a large popularity, but it will help children learn in a way that will be productive. Communication is a large part of this world and communication skills can be the very deciding factor between success and failure. The iPad is such a versatile creation (ex. movies, games, photos, internet, etc.) that almost anything can be done with it nowadays. I especially like the quote "giving voice tot he voiceless."
ReplyDeleteMichael W
iPad is proving to be more than just a really big iPod Touch. It's giving children with autism, such as Sharia Siddiqui, the chance to express themselves in a way that could not have been achieved without this amazing piece of technology. It has not only just helped Sharia communicate better to the point where she can express what she wants, such as "I want Dora." The App Store has released 142 apps this year geared specifically towards helping people with autism. Even the parents of autistic kids have developed their own apps, such as Tricia Estrada of San Diego who has developed the app Wonkido, which also doubles as a website. The thing that is truly amazing about this new way of helping children with autism is that it is incredibly cheap; iPads are around $400 dollars while alternative equipment can cost up to $15,000. It seems that even Steve Jobs did not anticipate every use of the iPad.
ReplyDeleteI think it is really awesome that the ipad is being used to help people with autism instead of just being a cool toy for the masses. Though the ipad costs much less at $399 than the competitors at $9000, it could help many more people like Sharia if it was more available to people who can not afford it at its current price. regardless it is fantastic that apps like "puzzle me" and "wonkido" are making the ipad a useful learning tool.
ReplyDeleteThe iPad has turned out to be a great help, not just a time waster. Helping kids with autism communicate is so important and it is wonderful to know that there's an app for that, too. With at least 142 apps for helping kids who find it more difficult to communicate, we know that technology isn't necessary as harmful as people sometimes make it out to be. And with such a low price compared to other equipment, it's nice to know that even less fortunate children may have a chance to improve their life.
ReplyDelete