Portable electronic devices such as tabs and iPads are proving to be invaluable resources for imparting social and communication skills to children who have developmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder or Asperger’s syndrome. There are hundreds of specialized applications available for download that can run on these devices. Apps like What is the expression and All! they are helping children with special needs to acquire important skills.
What’s the Expression app helps kids express themselves better. Children with autism spectrum disorder often cannot understand how to express themselves in various situations. This particular app was created to address the problem of development. Children with special needs must learn to express emotions such as happiness, anger, surprise, sadness, etc. What’s the Expression helps them do just that.
Classification, on the other hand, is a basic skill that children often learn by observing their elders. But it could be a difficult exercise for those with an autism spectrum disorder. All Sorts helps children to observe various concepts and objects in one place and group them according to their common characteristics.
The elusive cool factor of these two apps for autistic kids can’t be overlooked. But it is their versatility that particularly appeals to the parents of these children. Katherine Fisher, a product reviewer and mother of an autistic child, said she tested various apps for autistic children and found these two to be the most appropriate. They delivered what they promised. Both What’s the Expression and All Sorts can move to more general early childhood education apps, Katherine said, adding that these two apps are updated regularly.
There are several other useful apps that have been designed to help both adults and children affected with Down syndrome, Lou Gherig’s disease, cerebral palsy, and similar disabilities.
Children with autism spectrum disorder show great signs of improvement after playing with such fun apps on their tabs and iPads. According to a recent study in Australia, corrective behavior was reinforced with the help of pictures and voice-overs in 10 autistic children who were unable to wash their hands. The researchers claim that more than 60% of their goal was successful.
But nearly 70% of autistic children fail in motor skills, and that includes poor movement planning. These children may have difficulty operating the small buttons on a tablet or smartphone. But the iPad, with its larger size, is often more accessible to autistic children.
One of the main reasons portable devices like tabs and iPads have become particularly popular with parents is the relatively lower cost of these devices compared to heavy and expensive text-to-speech devices.
Take the case of Rio, 7, an autistic boy. Before the iPad hit the market, Rio’s autism made him dependent on others for gaming, entertainment, communication, and learning. But with the iPad, Rio now electrifies the atmosphere with his newly acquired independence and skills. Those who have known Rio are surprised to see the transformation of the boy. It really is great with your iPad and a suite of apps for autistic children.
