iPads and Autism Resources: Fundraising, Donations, Research, and Education

While so many of us are waiting for our iPad2s, many (too many) kids with autism and other special needs are waiting to get any iPad -- any iPad at all. Families who want to buy iPads privately often don't have the means (these devices are expensive!), and school districts and insurance companies often cite the lack of longitudinal studies supporting the effectiveness of iDevices in special education.


To address both areas, I've been updating our iPad Apps for Autism spreadsheet with links to iPad Fundraising & Donations, as well as Research & Education links. I've pasted in the current listings below, but will be updating and expanding the list as more resources come in -- or are brought to my attention (hint, hint).

If you want to help a child get an iPad, look through the Fundraising & Donations section for ideas on agencies that are donating iPads to kids in need, or for instructions on how to run your own fundraiser (another hint: fundraising is really easy).

If you are hitting roadblocks with insurance companies or school districts that want official research to justify getting a child an iPad, look through the Research and Education links. Though, as I've said before -- the irony in Leo's case is that he probably wouldn't have qualified for an iPad as an AAC device, since he speaks "fluent requesting" -- yet his iPad has improved not just the quality of his learning but increased his learning opportunities -- he can learn anywhere he can take his iPad

If you'd like to help out a specific child in need of an iPad, consider donating to the Sahara's Voice iPad campaign. Her family is trying to raise funds not just for their own child, but for five other families as well.

I'm very proud of SEPTAR, the local Special Ed PTA I helped co-found -- because of our own successful fundraising, we were recently able to donate ten iPads to our district's Special Ed department! We're doing real good and making a real difference on a local but district-wide level -- more reasons to consider starting a Special ED PTA in your own area.

iPad Resources - Fundraising and Donations                                                                       

• Conover Mobile Technology Grant: www.conovercompany.com/grants
• Danny's Wish: How to Apply for an iPad Grant: www.dannyswish.org/news-events.cfm/id/86386
• HollyRod.org iPads for Communication campaign: www.hollyrod.org/ipads-for-communication
• iHelp for Special Needs www.ihelpforspecialneeds.com
• iPads 4U: Does your family need an iPad? a4cwsn.com/ipad2-4u/
• Squidalicious: How to Get Your Kid With Autism that Wonderful iPad: www.squidalicious.com/2010/11/how-to-get-your-kid-with-autism-that.html

iPad Resources - Research & Education                                                                        

• Helping autistic children with iOS devices: www.tuaw.com/2010/08/18/helping-autistic-children-with-ios-devices
• iPads for Learning - 21 steps to 1:1 success: asp-uk.secure-zone.net/v2/index.jsp?id=639/684/1625&utm_source=ipadsummary
• Learning: Is there an app for that?: Cynthia Chiong & Carly Shuler: www.joanganzcooneycenter.org/Reports-27.html
• Mobile Devices and Autism: Autism News of Orange County [PDF]: www.autismnewsoc.org/docs/AutismNewsWinter11.pdf
• Moms With Apps: Teachers Discuss iDevices in the Classroom: momswithapps.com/2010/12/21/teachers-part-ii
• SETT Framework for AAC evaluations: edweb.tusd.k12.az.us/assistive_technology/AT_SETT.htm

How to Get Your Kid With Autism That Wonderful iPad

So, you have a kid with autism and you know iPads can be awesome for kids with autism but your family budget isn't accommodating expensive right now, no matter how much of a difference an iPad could make for your child's ability to learn and play.

Basically, you know your kid with autism needs an iPad but you can't afford one. What to do? I'll tell you.

First, download an application from HollyRod Foundation's holiday iPad donation campaign to see if your child qualifies -- the two primary bases are family income and communication delays. (Everyone else: please donate to the HollyRod iPad campaign, either on their site or on CrowdRise.)

If your child doesn't qualify for the HollyRod campaign, don't fret. Instead, consider harnessing the combined powers of the holiday season and the Internet: set up an iPad fundraising campaign for your own child on ChipIn.com or GiveForward.com. These campaigns allow people to contribute whatever they can, directly to a fund that you set up. Then blog the campaign, tweet it, post it on Facebook, email friends & family -- enlist as many people as you can, cite as many articles as you need to to let everyone who cares about your child know how much your kid could benefit from an iPad.

Going hat-in-hand may not come naturally to you, but consider that you can ask as many or as few people as you like, that any contribution will make a difference -- and that you may actually be helping out all those relatives who wrestle with what to get your child for Christmas, Hanukkah, or birthdays. Remember: people can always choose not to contribute, but they can't contribute anything if you don't ask them.

Please trust me on this one: people are generous, the Internet is powerful, and your kid needs an iPad. It's a great combination. Good luck, and let me know if you have any questions.

P.S. If your child already has an iPad, iPod Touch, or access to an iPhone, tell friends & family who ask that nothing makes such kids happier than an apps-enabling iTunes gift card.

This Friday: Local Autism Art Auction & Fundraiser

A very cool local cafe, Jigsaw Java, is hosting an art auction this Friday, April 23, to raise funds for the local chapter of the Autism Society of America*.  (Leelo did a guided painting for this event.) I'd like to go, just have to find me a date, as Seymour & Iz will be at her school's Father/Daughter dance.

------

Benefit & Art Auction
FOR THE LOCAL CHAPTER OF THE AUTISM SOCIETY OF AMERICA

Friday, April 23, 2010
7:00-9:00p.m.

Angelica’s Bistro
863 Main Street, Redwood City, CA

Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at Jigsaw Java or via www.jigsawjava.com

Highlights of this event include

• A performance from guitarist, Nick Guzman, 19-year-old musician with Autism
• Additional entertainment by some young people with special needs
• A live demo of Mneme Art Therapy by Lisette Lugo with Nick Guzman
• Hors d’oeuvres and one drink included with each ticket
• Silent Auction
• Live Art Auction of the puzzle art produced during Mneme Therapy *

*This unique puzzle art being auctioned during the event was created by youth with autism [e.g., Leo] in 30-minute individualized sessions with Lisette Lugo, an artist and certified Mneme Therapist. Learn more about Mneme Therapy at ww.artwithoutboundaries.com

Note cards, puzzles and prints of the Artwork will be for sale. The actual pieces of art have been framed and will be auctioned off in the Live Auction. 10% of all monies collected for the art items will be given to the artists as royalties for the use of their art. A small step towards self-sufficiency.

Tickets or Family Member Sponsorships can be purchased at: http://www.jigsawjava.com/TestStore/tabid/72/List/1/CategoryID/12/Level/1/Default.aspx

Contact Mary Albitz at Jigsaw Java at 650-364-3634 or mary@jigsawjava.com for more information.

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*Like Autism Speaks, the Autism Society of America is not perfect. But they make a real difference for people with autism in the here and now, with such programs as their Pump It Up Bounce for Autism days, and AMC Sensory Friendly Films series.

DonorsChoose: Help Bay Area Classrooms in Need

Dear altruistic, amazing readers and friends:

It is your continuously generous support, fundraising, and activism that inspired me to participate in the BlogHer DonorsChoose campaign -- which kicked off today, and will be running for the month of October. To quote the inimitable Denise Tanton:

DonorsChoose is an online charity that makes it easy for everyone to help fund educational projects around the country. During the Social Media Challenge bloggers, Tweeters, Facebookers, (and BlogHers) will come together to raise money that goes straight to the place it's needed the most - the classroom. Last year, bloggers raised more than $275,000 and helped fund projects in 65,000 public schools.

I helped select Bay Area classroom projects supporting students with special needs or affected by poverty (unfortunately, it's not too hard to find dual-purpose classrooms in our area). I hope you find them compelling enough to help out, because there are so many options for supporting this challenge:

• Donate directly to the Bay Area project of your choice (even $1 helps)
  
• Visit BlogHer to find projects near your own area
  
• Install the BlogHer Social Media Challenge: Bay Area widget on your own blog (widget link on right side of page; contact DonorsChoose if you need widget support)
• Tweet about the BlogHer Bay Area DonorsChoose projects using a tidy short URL like http://tr.im/ApGB.
• Follow @donorschoose on Twitter
• Friend DonorsChoose on Facebook.
  

I am a particular fan of the Classroom Rug project, which describes the many ways in which a Word Map rug would enrich a local kindergarten classroom's learning experience. I am a geographer, I have a kindergartener, and I happen to know that the school in question has an established program for including a special ed child in every single classroom.

All the DonorChoose projects are worthy of your attention. Please help us fund as many programs as we can, by the end of October, even if it's just by spreading the word.

Gwendomama Fund: Make a Real Difference for a Real Person

Gwendomama is one of my favorite people and bloggers. She is a loud-mouthed, small-business-owning, straight-shooting, food-loving, empathetic woman and dedicated mom. She is a wonderful friend to folks both inside and outside of the computer, to parents who advocate for special needs kids, and especially to parents who -- like her -- have faced the unimaginable in losing a child.

The unimaginable happened to her again. Last month, she became a victim, and to literally add insult to injury, she has found herself in a financial hole. Please, please help us help our hardworking friend gather funds for her and her children's immediate needs: food, rent, utility bills.

We are bloggers. Our superpower is connectivity, and when we use that power for good, we can save and change the world. Please forward, blog, connect, and -- especially -- donate. The campaign will end next Friday, 5/22. No amount is too small, and the sky's the limit. Thank you.

updates (because the widget doesn't update consistently):

• 5/15 | 12:15 PM We have raised over $1000 so far, from 40 generous people, many of whom are scraping by, themselves. Blogosphere superheroes, I heart you!
• 5/15 | 6:00 PM: $1,765 from 59 contributors!
• 5/16 | 1:00 PM $2,240 from 70 contributors. Zowie!
• 5/18 | 7:30 AM $2,545 from 85 contributors. Four more days, thank you and keep it coming!
• 5/19 | 9:00 AM $2,940 from 96 contributors. Surely we can push it over $3K today?
• 5/20 | 5:30 PM $3,310 from 103 of the awesomest people ever linked by the Blogosphere. Two days left!
• 5/22 | 8 AM $3,450 from 107 scions of amazingness. Fundraising ends in 13 hours, so please give now if you can.
• 5/22 | campaign over: Volcanic thanks to the 108 of you who contributed to the Gwendomama fund; you gave us $3,475 reasons to believe in the Blogosphere!
  

Click on the widget to contribute money DIRECTLY to Gwendomama's PayPal account. Click the COPY tab to get the widget embed code:

Seeking Stories: The Can I Sit With You? Project

Three weeks of kids on spring break or out sick ended when I plopped Leo's little bottom on the bus this morning. I am exhausted. So, of course, back to work!

Here's our latest Can I Sit With You? announcement. Please take heed, because -- come on -- you know you have a good story and want to see it online and in print (um, and help the kids):

We've been so distracted by publishing two books and flitting among the associated events that it took us a few beats to realize: it's been over a year since we asked people to send us Can I Sit With You? stories.

Please, send us your Can I Sit With You? stories!

We know you have a wonderful tale or two from your school years, because so many of you have popped up at our readings -- or emailed us -- and told us so.

And who can resist the feel-good hat trick of getting a story published while helping to raise money for kids with special needs plus helping school kids in general feel less socially flummoxed?

So, damn it, tell us about your memorable social experiences in elementary and middle school. We want to share all kinds of stories: good or bad, triumphant or wrenching.

We always love to feature tales from former outcasts and underdogs, but would also like to hear more from those of you whose social seas were complicated by undercurrents like special needs and learning disorders, eating disorders, and gender or sexual identity. And then there's the funny. We also appreciate the funny, and the wry.

Got it? Good. Here is your assignment:

1. Read our Mission Statement
2. Read our Submission Guidelines
3. Write your story (we're only asking for 1000 words)
4. Send it to us!

If your story is a good one but you're worried about making it shiny and slick, no worries. We are skilled editors, and will spit-polish as needed.

Don't make us rap your knuckles with a ruler, pass you a nasty note, throw spit balls at you, or make fun of you on Facebook. Send us your story, and send it now.

In gratitude,

Shannon & Jennifer

Leelo Thanks the Blogsphere; in Particular Suzanne, Mary Beth, and Giddy

You did it! You tender-hearted and phenomenally generous denizens of the Blogosphere got Leelo and his local friends their scooter ramp, and you did it less than four days. I am so, so, so, so grateful for all your help, and will have no compunctions about shoving my Doc Martens-booted foot up the butt of the next person who makes a derogatory comment about bloggers.

But Oh My Goddess, thanks so much to everyone who helped with Leelo's Campaign, especially the last three people to donate over $20: Suzanne, Giddy, and Mary Beth. Leelo thanks you from the prompted bottom of his cuddly little heart:


Mwah,

Squid

Technorati Tags: autism, autism awareness, Friend of Leelo's, fundraising, Leelo

Help Leelo's Local Friends

Leelo's special ed department/occupational therapy department (i.e., special needs motor work) has no money to buy the kind of equipment they'd like; the kind that would really make a difference not only for autistic kids like Leelo but for all the kids in our city who rely on school district--i.e., public--support for their sensory and occupational therapy needs. Specifically the department would like to buy a scooter ramp as it will perform about fifty different functions in one compact space.

I said that I'd help. I said that if I invoked the power of the blogosphere, and got enough people to skip a latte or two (or five), there would be no way we couldn't raise enough money to get those kids their ramp.

So, feel like doing some good during this upcoming holiday season? I am trying to raise $757.90, which includes the ramp's purchase price and shipping. If we can raise the money by 12/20/06, it will be a lovely holiday gift for the special ed department. In fact you can even print out this page and tell your friends that you made a donation in their name instead of getting them a cluttery, tangible gift. A skipped latte's $2.50 is more than welcome.

Straight donations are great, of course, but I am also selling handmade Leelo coloring books at $20 each. The books feature the bold lines and simple rhymes that Leelo and his friends enjoy, plus scenes that will make any parent--but especially parents of autistic children--chuckle (or sigh) in recognition. All proceeds will go towards the ramp.

If you want a coloring book, go to the donation page, and click on the "contribute" button. You'll be redirected to PayPal. Put "coloring book" in your PayPal subject line, and don't forget to include your shipping address.

You can also help by ordering Leelo shirts and gear. A $10 donation is part of their purchase price. You can get Leelo gear at GoodStorm (t-shirts only) or CafePress (t-shirts, stickers, mugs).

I will add a further $10 donation from my own pocket if you send a picture featuring your Leelo gear to me at aba_help AT yahoo D0T com.

Here is the scooter ramp's description:

"This ramp incorporates a climbing feature with the addition of bilateral hand rails in addition to the rope attachment for hand-over-hand climbing. The ramp can be adjusted to 2 different inclines. Both ends of the ramp are beveled where the ramp meets the base and floor to give a smooth ride. Assembly consists of 4 wooden pieces held together with wing knobs. No tools ever needed. Easily disassembled and compactly stored."

Again, our deadline is 12/20/06. Leelo and his friends say Thank You! And please feel free to spread the word.

Technorati Tags: autism, autism awareness, fundraising, occupational therapy, special education