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=** iPad Uses for Children with Autism **=

For children with autism, communication is often difficult and for some impossible, leaving them unable to convey what they want or need. Touch-screen applications designed for tablet computers like the iPad are now giving children with autism new ways to express themselves, some for the first time. Teachers and parents are hailing the technology as a breakthrough, one that can reveal the true depth of knowledge and emotion trapped behind a wall of silence. "The iPad has also been called a revolutionary tool to help children with autism learn how to communicate and socialize more easily." (Harrell, A.)

**What is an iPad?**
An iPad is a tablet computer that was designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc. It is primarily used as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, apps and web content. Its size and weight fall between those of a more modern smartphone and laptop computers. Similar to an iPhone and iPod Touch, the iPad is controlled by a multitouch display and a virtual onscreen keyboard. The iPad uses a Wi-Fi connection to access the internet.

History of the iPad
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Main points from the video
1971 Steve Jobs (age 16) meets Steve Wozinak (age 22) and decide to make a computer together.

A local store called The Byte Shop buys 50 machines for $500 a piece

They approach a manufacturer, who calls the owner of the store to see if the order is legitimate. After being assured that it was, the parts are issued to Jobs and Wozinak on credit. The profits of this started a billion dollar company called Apple.

1985- Steve Jobs is fired from the Apple company by the board. Leaving Apple allowed him to build skills to create his vision about mobile computing. He became an effective team leader and led his team to make his vision become reality.

The idea of a tablet is not new. 1972- Allen Kay publishes a paper describing a tablet. January 28, 2010- iPad is introduced

Related Issues with the iPad
Since the iPad is a relatively newer piece of technology, problems in the iPad do exist. According to Graham Barlow, here are various problems that iPad users have reported about this piece of technology (Barlow): 1. The iPad is slow to charge and for some users they are unable to charge it. The iPad required a high-powered USB port to charge and only seems to charge when being plugged into the main port using the charging plug. 2. There have been issues over the iPad's Wi-Fi problems where some users have difficulty connecting to the internet. 3. Some users have found it difficult to sync Outlook Calendars or Contacts to the iPad. 4. The iPad contains no Word programs. This poses a problem because if children with autism are using the iPad to practice spelling or typing, they are unable to save the progress they have made to the iPad.

**Advantages of the iPad for Children with Autism**
For children with autism who are non-verbal the iPad is making communication breakthroughs conceivable for these children. The iPad makes it possible for those children to have a voice and communicate what they are feeling and thinking with others. The iPad has specially designed applications that are able to be downloaded and used for the sole purpose of helping children with autism. The use of assistive technology is any item or piece of equipment or software designed to increase, maintain, or improve the functionality of a child with disabilities, and the iPad does just that. The applications that are available to download on the iPad help children learn to handle social situations that can be stressful. These applications can help children develop fine motor skills, which promote motor functions like writing or handling small objects. According to Pradnya Joshi in the //New York Times// article, //Finding Good Apps for Children with Autism//, "the iPad has lowered the cognitive base you have to interface with a computer. You touch it and something happens" (Joshi,P). This makes it easier for children with autism who have fine motor issues. The iPad contains an array of apps, however, it is difficult to know which applications are most effective. The applications that are recommended to help those children with autism are classified into categories such as: language, art and music. Furthermore, when looking for the proper application for a child with autism, the //New York Times// article, recommends looking under the following developers: Insini, Toca Boca, Duck Duck Moose and Oceanhouse Media, these specific companies produce wonderful applications. There is such a variety of applications to take into consideration when finding the perfect ones for your child. The i Pad allows you to search by categories. For instance, you are able to look at specific applications for text-to-speech help. Some of the text-to-speech applications that are available on the iPad are as follows: Other categories on the iPad are: emotions, social behavior, oral and written language, language therapy, autism tests and many other applications that help you find the perfect application for your child's specific needs. Click here to get a complete list of all the categories and applications that are useful to children with autism on the iPad. Another advantage of the iPad is that parents, teachers and/or therapists that work with children with autism are able to behavior track their child's progress on an iPad app. There are also applications that are available that help the child work on their math and spelling skills by modifying the program to fit their understanding level. Another great advantage that the iPad brings to children with autism is that there are apps that allow children to learn to model appropriate behavior. An app can be downloaded that can be used to create a story that can teach a student to wash their hands or brush their teeth. Some children with autism have a difficult time grasping simple concepts. By using the app to create a story the child and watch and re-watch the activity being modeled on the iPad and learn to follow that story by using the visual the iPad has created for them.
 * __Assistive Chat__- this application is a text-to-speech app with word prediction. This application costs $24.99.
 * __Easy Speak__- this application is another text-to-speech application. This application costs $1.99.
 * __iMean__- is an application that has a letter board with large easy to read keys and word suggestions. This application costs $4.99.
 * __Intellipad__- this application combines the functionality of a notepad with word prediction, text-to-speech and a customizable keyboard for $19.99.

**Disadvantages of the iPad for Children with Autism**
Along with the many advantages of the iPad, there are also several disadvantages. Children may become dependent on the iPad and may not want to work through their treatments one on one with their teachers, therapists or parents. The child may being to become attached to the iPad and depend on it for his communication 100% of the time, rather than continuing improving his or her own verbal communication. Another disadvantage of the iPad is the cost. The iPad can range in cost from $700-$900 and while not only having to purchase the iPad itself, but the related applications for children with autism cost anywhere from $1.99-129.99. Depending on the types of apps your child needs to help improve their functionality the prices vary from inexpensive to expensive.

The Future Direction of the iPad
The iPad provides a voice to children with autism and helps improve their functionality and development by using the applications that are available on it. The iPad is portable and incredibly hands on for children with autism to work with. Therefore, parents and teachers are able to have this tablet with them at all times so their child can constantly be working on this piece of technology. The iPad is heading in a direction where there will be more developments for aiding children with autism and promoting the facilitation of learning and development. The production of the iPad 3 is to start in January of this year and will be released in 2013. The iPad 3 will produce a large amount of newly designed applications that are accessible for children with autism.

**Conclusion**
The iPad helps children with Autism learn things that were deemed impossible. Possibilities are opened up in the world of communication for a community that struggles everyday with this skill. While there are many advantages to the use of this technology, the disadvantages cannot be ignored. The iPad is expensive and its applications can only be used if paid for on top of the high price of the tablet. Overall, the iPad can provide a voice to a child who was forced to be silent and help children with Autism learn more than was ever thought to be possible.

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Barlow, G. (2010, April 19). 10 Common iPad Problems. In //Techradar//. Retrieved February 12, 2012, from http://www.techradar.com/news/mobile-computing/tablets/10common-ipad-problems-solved-684416 ======

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Harrell, A. (2010, August 11). iHelp for Autism. In //SF Weekly //. Retrieved February 10, 2012, from http://www.sfweekly.com/2010-08-11/news/ihelp-for-autism/ ======

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(2011, November 8). In //Autism and the iPad: A New Route to Communication//. Retrieved February 9, 2012, from [] ipad-route-communication/ ======

Joshi, P. (2011, November 29). Finding Good Apps for Children with Autism. //The New// York Times . // The Brief History of the iPad //. (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2012, from http://cl.ly/1R381E0H2P2c0l1q3i1p/o