iPad+use+for+the+Disabled

Mary Jean Loosbrock ED222A Article Review March 28, 2012 [|4 Ways iPads Help Individuals with Exceptions]



**__4 Ways iPads are Changing the Lives of People with Disabilities __**  “For people lacking motor skills, touch screens are more intuitive devices. There is no mouse, keyboard or pen intercepting their communication with the screen. Larger platforms, like [|iPads], are preferred over smaller [|iOS] and [|Android] devices for ease-of-use and, of course, the cool factor.” iPad touches are the most recent forms of modern technology. Not only is this advanced material helping out businesses, institutions, individuals, educators, but it is also allowing and benefitting those who are disabled. “Out with the old, in with the new.” There has been found four basic reason that have helped those who may have exceptions especially those who have a disability in languages, communication, cognition, and upper and lower body movement. This piece of equipment allows those to feel more independent and in good communion with others with and without disorders. The articled shared a touching story about a three year old boy who has cerebral palsy that developed barriers to his language ability and movement. He was diagnosed to be 12 months behind his normal growth pattern of a three year old. Then his father decided that by getting him an iPad he may be able to communicate better. Within an amazing short period of only four months, Noah gained all of his language and movement skills back to the average of a three year old. Today, the three-year-old is constantly on his iPad using different applications offered through this device such as reading and writing in different languages such as English, Spanish and Arabic. Now he is going to enter into a five year old level of reading and writing in school next year. “The iPad unlocked his motivation and his desire because it’s fun,” says his dad Sami Rahman, co-founder of [|SNApps4Kids].  There are four ways that touch devices are changing the lives of people with disabilities that the article mentions. This device can be used as a communicator, therapeutic device, behavioral monitor, and also as an educational tool. The article mentions that as technology used for communication, such as speaking into devices that type out the words or touch devices that speak, use to be very expensive. The prices ranged from $8,000 to $900 but now the devices have become so much more advanced and obtainable that the prices for these devices have dropped to the highest of $499 to the lowest of $189.99 for different apps like the Proloquo2Go. Due to this lower cost for these technologies people who have a harder time or a duality speaking and communicating they can use these to help assist the. Not only that, but they can also download pictures music and reading material to customize exactly what that individual wants. Another option is Assistive Chat ; this allows the person to quickly come up with the sentence needed because the app predicts several sentence completion options. Also, Yes|No is another app that an individual can immediately respond to questions asked to them. “For hard-of-hearing iPad users, soundAmp R amplifies sound in a variety of situations. Users can also record lectures or presentations they want to listen to again later.”  A therapeutic approach to the iPad basically helps individuals who have little or difficult ability to movement in their hands. For example the iPad allows individuals to draw, watch, and feel how their hand and finger movement is correctly or incorrectly moving. It also is portable therefore, anyone can place it on a treadmill and be completely involved in the app they want to do such as a game or movie and walk or run at the same time without even realizing they are working out. As for the educational aspect of the use for iPads, they have not yet been approved by the Education Systems. The devices seems to be beneficial for students with and with out disabilities. They provide learning games and other aspects to help motivate and allow students to understand material better.  Behavior Tracker Pro is an app for educators, paraprofessionals. Parents and other professionals who want to keep track or behaviors children display especially those with disabilities. The iPad allows for other devices to be used to help with behaviors in children such as the app that allows for taking notes and audio clips and videos to help remember or display behaviors better. “The app automatically turns that input into visual graphs and charts.” This article does point out however, that these advanced technology especially the iPad does not cure disabilities it just allows those to be able to become more on the level of those with out disabilities. Despite this notion, iPads are extremely beneficial and will bring those with any disability more in communion with others