Re: iPad, assistive technology evaluation

[Guest guest]

I'd try Infinitec through Easter Seals and the Illinois Assistive Technology

Program. Also, I found YouTube to be bizarrely helpful. I just typed in key

words and found a lot of little videos of folks with disabilities using them

and the strategies they used. Obviously, the quality was all over the place.

But, still..

I'm really interested in this for . But, haven't quite got it

together. So let us all know as you learn.

Also, I keep thinking that iPad 1's will drop dramatically in cost now that

iPad 2 is out. A quick search on eBay recently didn't proof that out. Go

figure. Charlotte

From: IPADDUnite [mailto:IPADDUnite ] On

Behalf Of G Mrozak

Sent: Monday, April 25, 2011 9:41 AM

IPADD

Subject: iPad, assistive technology evaluation

A friend asked me about iPad and assistive technology for a teen who is

non-verbal.

She is especially interested in any sources who could help evaluate if this

is a

good option for her son. (Websites, checklists?)

She knows she can do a 1-month trial, but before she makes arrangements,

she'd

like to know what skills are important to use this successfully. She would

also

like ideas & tips for how to effectively use that 1-month trial.

I've read with interest about the seminars, etc., on the topic, but did not

save

them. I think my friend wants real-life suggestions from real parents.

I'm happy with private replies.

-Gil

[Guest guest]

The ability to point accurately and use categories to select menu items will be

needed. Ann

>

> I'd try Infinitec through Easter Seals and the Illinois Assistive Technology

> Program. Also, I found YouTube to be bizarrely helpful. I just typed in key

> words and found a lot of little videos of folks with disabilities using them

> and the strategies they used. Obviously, the quality was all over the place.

> But, still..

>

>

>

> I'm really interested in this for . But, haven't quite got it

> together. So let us all know as you learn.

>

>

>

> Also, I keep thinking that iPad 1's will drop dramatically in cost now that

> iPad 2 is out. A quick search on eBay recently didn't proof that out. Go

> figure. Charlotte

>

>

>

> From: IPADDUnite [mailto:IPADDUnite ] On

> Behalf Of G Mrozak

> Sent: Monday, April 25, 2011 9:41 AM

> IPADD

> Subject: iPad, assistive technology evaluation

>

>

>

>

>

> A friend asked me about iPad and assistive technology for a teen who is

> non-verbal.

>

> She is especially interested in any sources who could help evaluate if this

> is a

> good option for her son. (Websites, checklists?)

>

> She knows she can do a 1-month trial, but before she makes arrangements,

> she'd

> like to know what skills are important to use this successfully. She would

> also

> like ideas & tips for how to effectively use that 1-month trial.

>

> I've read with interest about the seminars, etc., on the topic, but did not

> save

> them. I think my friend wants real-life suggestions from real parents.

>

> I'm happy with private replies.

>

> -Gil

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Gail,

Quentin is beginning to trial an IPAD soon. I had similar questions and below is

the answer from our specialist at Giant Steps Therapeutic School in Lisle. My

question was about software (proloquo vs. pictello). There is also alot of

information on One Place for Special Needs website.

Thais

Quick

review of the Ipad used for people with autism. Currently the best

communication program out there (in my opinion) for use on an Ipad,

Iphone or Itouch is Proloquo2go. This program offers symbols

" similar " to that of Boardmaker. A student, who has mastered or

understands Boardmaker symbols, can easy understand the pictures in

this program. I must stress though, that student should have a full

understanding of what Boardmaker symbols are and stand for.

1.

IPAD with Proloquo2go: I can program digital files (pictures of items

around the home or school that would be specific to the user) into this

program to help create a more individualized program that fits the

needs of the student it is intended for. Boardmaker symbols are not

digital, and while I can take a picture of a boardmaker symbol and

upload it into this program the quality is very bad. (I have tried it

already) Also if there is a need to upload " too many " Boardmaker

symbols then a student would not be ready for this program.

2.

IPAD users: should understand cause and effect and be able to navigate

through the program(s) using a solid pointer finger on a touch window.

Also, typing is a feature on the IPAD but not a necessary skill to have

in order to use the IPAD.

3.

IPAD Apps: There are tons of Apps offered for people with autism to use

on an IPAD. Of course the ones chosen for each user differs and depends

on the users cognitive and physical abilities. Can this user scroll,

flip and tap to navigate through a program? Does the user have math,

reading or writing skills? Can the user match? The apps are chosen by

the user ability.

3. Pictello: is not a communication program. It is

a social story program intended to help the user as such: (this would

run along the idea of books on tape-reads the story aloud for you while

flipping through pictures/pages. The user should have touch window and

" scrolling " knowledge to utilize this independently)

Stories to teach social skills or to recall events.Photo albums to allow

non-speaking people to share their news and interests.Sharing important events

and memories with family who live far away.Talking books.Teaching

narrative skills as part of a literacy or language skills curriculum.

(This only holds true if the student is the actual programmer ex: he

creates story, types it etc.)Schedules, Task instructions, etc.Pictello

stories would need to be created daily, weekly or whenever the need for

a new story would come up. Pictello does not use " Boardmaker symbols " .

It does use the same symbols as Proloquo2go which are similar to

Boardmaker.

While IPAD is the newest rage out there, we must make sure that the user is

capable of using it. The user should be able to:

take ownership of his IPAD /carry it independently from place to place

have touch window skills/navigate through the program using his fingerunderstand

Boardmaker symbols

[Guest guest]

Most of the apps we’ve uploaded for are highly motivating, familiar

activities she already enjoys – so we’re only introducing the new format of

the iPad, not new materials, too. She seems to really like it. Her music is on

there. Two downloads of TV show episodes she loves are on there, too (Yogi Bear

and Ferdinand the Bull/Disney version). All she needs to do to access either of

those is touch an icon for ‘movie/videos’ or ‘ITunes’ and off she goes.

She also has some books that we’re still working on her learning how to click

on the ‘Read to Me’ version so it’s like a read aloud book, again,

familiar books so not introducing any other ‘newness’ to it other than the

formatting/delivery of materials. And that category has a familiar icon as

well, it’s a picture of a book, opens to a bookshelf with the book covers

displayed, one touch on the cover she wants to ‘read’ and off she goes.

Another thing that was helpful, surprisingly, was just organizing the apps icons

onto one page, and by order of her preference in exploring them, starting left

to right, which is her preferred schedule format, too. That way she doesn’t

get frustrated with too complex a field of choices.

Hope this helps. Start small and you might be surprised with how quickly they

learn how to turn on their preferred items. Motivation is the key!

Laurie

From: Charlotte Cronin

Sent: Monday, April 25, 2011 10:16 AM

IPADDUnite

Subject: RE: iPad, assistive technology evaluation

I'd try Infinitec through Easter Seals and the Illinois Assistive Technology

Program. Also, I found YouTube to be bizarrely helpful. I just typed in key

words and found a lot of little videos of folks with disabilities using them

and the strategies they used. Obviously, the quality was all over the place.

But, still..

I'm really interested in this for . But, haven't quite got it

together. So let us all know as you learn.

Also, I keep thinking that iPad 1's will drop dramatically in cost now that

iPad 2 is out. A quick search on eBay recently didn't proof that out. Go

figure. Charlotte

From: mailto:IPADDUnite%40

[mailto:mailto:IPADDUnite%40] On

Behalf Of G Mrozak

Sent: Monday, April 25, 2011 9:41 AM

IPADD

Subject: iPad, assistive technology evaluation

A friend asked me about iPad and assistive technology for a teen who is

non-verbal.

She is especially interested in any sources who could help evaluate if this

is a

good option for her son. (Websites, checklists?)

She knows she can do a 1-month trial, but before she makes arrangements,

she'd

like to know what skills are important to use this successfully. She would

also

like ideas & tips for how to effectively use that 1-month trial.

I've read with interest about the seminars, etc., on the topic, but did not

save

them. I think my friend wants real-life suggestions from real parents.

I'm happy with private replies.

-Gil

[Guest guest]

Yes!! But one reason I am excited about this technology is I think it will

help improve his " point " . I think it might be fascinating enough for

him to TRY and be engaged. But, I also think that all the people who support

him, family, friends, and professionals need to buy in to this. So I won't

be investing until we create a comprehensive plan as part of his ISP to

integrate it into his life. That needs to include training of the folks who

support him in his group home.

I'm hoping we'll be able to find some simple games that will engage him to

start. Dreaming, dreaming.. fingers crossed. Charlotte

From: IPADDUnite [mailto:IPADDUnite ] On

Behalf Of mom4art50

Sent: Monday, April 25, 2011 10:34 AM

IPADDUnite

Subject: Re: iPad, assistive technology evaluation

The ability to point accurately and use categories to select menu items will

be needed. Ann

>

> I'd try Infinitec through Easter Seals and the Illinois Assistive

Technology

> Program. Also, I found YouTube to be bizarrely helpful. I just typed in

key

> words and found a lot of little videos of folks with disabilities using

them

> and the strategies they used. Obviously, the quality was all over the

place.

> But, still..

>

>

>

> I'm really interested in this for . But, haven't quite got it

> together. So let us all know as you learn.

>

>

>

> Also, I keep thinking that iPad 1's will drop dramatically in cost now

that

> iPad 2 is out. A quick search on eBay recently didn't proof that out. Go

> figure. Charlotte

>

>

>

> From: IPADDUnite <mailto:IPADDUnite%40>

[mailto:IPADDUnite <mailto:IPADDUnite%40> ]

On

> Behalf Of G Mrozak

> Sent: Monday, April 25, 2011 9:41 AM

> IPADD

> Subject: iPad, assistive technology evaluation

>

>

>

>

>

> A friend asked me about iPad and assistive technology for a teen who is

> non-verbal.

>

> She is especially interested in any sources who could help evaluate if

this

> is a

> good option for her son. (Websites, checklists?)

>

> She knows she can do a 1-month trial, but before she makes arrangements,

> she'd

> like to know what skills are important to use this successfully. She would

> also

> like ideas & tips for how to effectively use that 1-month trial.

>

> I've read with interest about the seminars, etc., on the topic, but did

not

> save

> them. I think my friend wants real-life suggestions from real parents.

>

> I'm happy with private replies.

>

> -Gil

>

>

[Guest guest]

Noah has an iPAD and the potential is tremendous...I know Ann and others in the

field will have valuable professional suggestions. As a parent, what I would add

is that it needs to be used often and consistently. I am not great about

following my own advice and consequently, though Noah has had his iPad with

Prolo Quo To Go, a great program, and some other apps for some months now, I am

not seeing more progress in his use, independent or prompted...His programs are

also spotty in their usage of the device, but they are better than I am...I have

been thinking about speech therapy again, but I know if I just carry it along

and use it more, he would probably gain skill in using it.

Repetition, creativity, practice are key as long as other necessary skills are

there.

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...