iPad Apps for Autistic & Nonverbal Children

"There's something about this little box that just brings kids in." - Lauren Meatty 

The video posted above is  such a treasure trove of information. Lauren Meatty, the current Director Of The Regional  Consultation Program at the Schwartz Center for Children, provides us with a very information-filled presentation on using iPads with autistic and nonverbal children.

She begins by speaking about a young girl with Spastic Quadriplegia and how her family tried in vain to find THE

device that would allow her to come alive; to communicate with the outside world. 

That device was the iPad. When Meatty first used the iPad with the child the results were very positive. Almost immediately it caught this young girl's attention and just as quickly she began to interact with the device. 

To  hear Meatty speak so effusively about the iPad, one could surmise that it is the perfect device for special education. No doubt the positive aspects of the iPad such as size, cost, adaptability, and the availability of educational apps far outweigh the negative aspects. That supposition should be accepted along with the notion that one device cannot be a cure-all for every student. Also, depending on the district you're in iPads for every special ed student may be cost prohibitive. Meatty herself highlights this fact by stating that one program that she is very fond of, Proloquo2Go, costs $200. 

However, when I carefully weigh the good and the bad, I have determined that the iPad will most certainly play a large role in my classroom. I am fortunate to have my own iPad and I've downloaded some apps to see exactly what they are capable of providing my future students. 

In her presentation, Meatty is very succinct at pointing out the apps that have worked for her. Among them:

• Cut The Rope: Helps teach finger isolation and motor skills.
• Elmo's Monster Maker: Teaches children about the human body.
• Duck Duck Moose: Allows students to interact with popular early childhood songs.
• The aforementioned Proloquo2Go: A very customizable app that allows users to select a voice to speak for them. They also have the option of programming the user's voice.