iPads & Autism Workshop in a Can

Here's the outline from the three hour Morgan Autism Center iPads & Autism workshop I gave today. I went much more in-depth on these topics during the presentation, so if anything isn't clear, do ask. Please note that I update the handout for every workshop, and so have to qualify that this information is current as of today. The workshop was oriented towards parents and professionals working with autistic children, but much of this information is useful for autistic adults and anyone interested in iPads.

The workshop itself went well -- lots of great questions from the audience, plus a Deaf attendee brought up several issues I had not considered, like the need for a labeling app that integrates user videos for pre-reading Deaf users, so they can see the signs for the objects -- as voiceover is not going to help in that context. 

iPads and Autism:
Helping Our Kids Learn, Helping Our Kids Play

Shannon Des Roches Rosa | www.thinkingautismguide.com | www.squidalicious.com

“My son Leo's life was transformed when a five-dollar raffle ticket turned into a brand-new iPad. I'm not exaggerating. Before the iPad, Leo's autism made him dependent on others for entertainment, play, learning, and communication. With the iPad, Leo electrifies the air around him with independence and daily new skills. People who know Leo are amazed when they see this new boy rocking that iPad. I'm impressed, too, especially when our aggressively food-obsessed boy chooses to play with his iPad rather than eat.”[1]

Benefits: Accessibility and Convenience

• No cursor analogy – direct touch screen
• Fine motor ease – stylus/mouse not required
• Portable
• Can replace backpacks – and cupboards -- of activities

Benefits: Cost

• Entry level iPad 2 (16 GB Wi-Fi) is $499
• Refurbished original iPad 16 GB currently on eBay for ~$300
• Other AAC devices (Vantage, etc.) cost several thousand dollars (but iPad may not be best choice, do AAC evaluation)

Benefits: Learning

• So much more than an AAC device! (Sometimes an issue)
• Screen is big enough to be digital parallel to paper or books
• Keyboard and screen are in same space, most kids aren’t touch typists, child doesn’t have to move eyes from screen to keyboard[2]
• Apps are organized, accessible, predictable framework
• Apps break learning down into discrete chunks, topic areas
• Learn without needing to read, including read-aloud books
• Learn independently or with support (but always supervised)
• Incidental learning opportunities abound

Benefits: Social and Play

• iPads are cool, they attract other kids – including siblings
• Can support social skills, formally and informally
• Independent leisure time: Learning activities, games, videos.

Overuse and Abuse?

• What about recent study: “Autistic Kids Obsess Over Screen Technology”? [3] 
• Autistic adults say “Yes, we’re visual and very focused, why not explore how to harness these traits productively.”
• Savvy kids can be experts, help other kids, mentor them.
• Makes me laugh, for kids like Leo, for whom independent is good!
• Valid concern for kids who crave screen time (so ... Screen Time app, etc.)

When iPads Are Not in Your Budget

• Go through insurance, school district – write into IEP
• AAC evaluation
• SLP recommendation
• Research[4] (longitudinal studies are ongoing)
• Fundraise: Community/Online – it works!
• Free: ChipIn.com, GiveForward.org
• Commission: Crowdrise.com
• iPad Donation Charities – watch out for scams
•  HollyRod4Kids, etc.

iPad Protection – Insurance, AppleCare, Loss

• All iPads come with 90 days of phone support & one year limited warranty
• Insurance (3^rd party): Protects against damage & physical loss
• AppleCare: Service, support for technical issues, up to two years
• Purchased content loss
•  iTunes iOS 5 remembers purchases, will let you re-download content (everything except movies)
• If something happens to your device, Apple can do a "Full History Regrant" of your iTunes account purchases

iPad Protection – Cases, Covers, Other Accessories

• Cases: Protection vs. Convenience
• All-Purpose Cases: ZooGue – Strap mounting for in-car movies, carrying, Targus 360° Rotating – sturdy, flexible stand options
• o   Protective: Otterbox Defender, GumDrop Military, Trident Kraken, Griffin Survivor
• CushPad for pillow-like support
• iBallz for corners (comes with cases, too)
• Bubcap for Home Button

Free Activities

• Paperless worksheets shared with DropBox/Photos/DrawFree
• Friend/Relatives facial recognition & interaction via Skype (free app)

Apps!

• See apps spreadsheet – collaborative effort with an SLP and autistic adult
• iPad Resource page: http://www.squidalicious.com/p/on-ipads.html

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[1] Rosa, Shannon Des Roches. “The iPad: ANear-Miracle for My Son With Autism.” BlogHer.com. http://www.blogher.com/ipad-nearmiracle-my-son-autism.

[2] Shap, Jacqui. “It was one of those ‘Oh Wow’ Moments.” iPods, iPhones, & iPads in Education. http://ipodsiphonesineducation.wikispaces.com.

[3] http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/01/26/autistic-kids-obsess-over-screen-technology/34118.html

[4] Sistach, Francesc. “Links to Academic Articles.” iAutism. http://www.iautism.info/en/2011/04/09/links-to-academic-papers.

iPad and Autism Workshops - That Work!

Yesterday's iPads & Autism workshop in San Diego was fantastic! The sold-out crowd of parents, professionals, and educators was enthusiastic, and had such great questions and input that I ended up talking for over two hours, and answering questions for almost two hours more.

It was a treat to meet folks from the welcoming, active, and well-organized San Diego autism community. I am indebted to host Janine from GoodKarma Apps -- developer of the crisis-defusing app FirstThen Visual Schedule -- for the invitation, and was delighted to meet her in person after a year of intense online conversations.

If you missed the San Diego workshop, there's always New York City on June 5th! Here are the iPad / autism topics I talked about yesterday; New York's talk will be similar:

How iPads Can Help Children With Autism Learn and Play

• The iPad: Leo's Near-Miracle
• Accessibility and convenience
• Cost benefits
• So much more than an AAC device!
• Independent learning
• Independent play
• Social cachet - coolness factor with peers, and siblings
• Evaluating whether the iPad is a good fit for you or your child
• Overuse: Are we plugging our kids in?
• iPad type and storage choices
• Is an iPad 2 necessary?
• What to do when an iPad is not in your budget - negotiating with school districts and insurance; online fundraising, etc.
• Protection – insurance, AppleCare
• iPad Protection – cases versus covers
• Managing Media: syncing, backing up, preventing content loss
• Accessibility and using Voiceover
• iPads in the classroom
• Apps and more apps! And then more apps!

Get your tickets now, and tell your friends to get theirs, too!

By the way, that online/community fundraising part? It works. Autism mom Deanne Shoyer, who has twins, made my day when she sent the following tweet out earlier this morning:

Special thanks to @shannonrosa for the inspiration and support - I've raised all the $ I needed to get ipads for both my boys!

Hope to see some of you in New York! Or, hey, you could always ask me to come give a workshop in your town. :)

iPad Workshop for New York Area Autism Families

Leo playing Swapsies

Hey folks! I'm going to be in New York City on Sunday June 5, leading a three hour iPads & Autism workshop/fundraiser in Soho. It will be modeled on the workshop I'm giving this Sunday May 15, post-IMFAR.

I keep hearing from autism families who want to know how iPads can best support their kids's communication, learning, and leisure. I also worry that parents get iPads for their kids with autism based on media hype, and without evaluating whether or not the device is a good fit. And there are so many tips and tricks -- do you know how to use Voiceover so your child can "read" themselves iBooks? Did you know that you don't need an app to make iPad social stories?

Here are the details. I'd be grateful if you could help spread the word:

iPads for Autism Workshop
to Benefit Reach for the Stars Learning Center

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/176035
The Soho Gallery for Digital Art

New York, NY

Nationally known autism and iPad advocate Shannon Des Roches Rosa* leads this in-depth workshop on the the vital need for iPads for people with autism. Ms. Rosa will demonstrate how iPads can be a dynamic and cost-effective communication tool for autistic children and adults, and will discuss the additional benefits of the iPad as well as fundraising, research, accessories, and - of course - apps.

So if you're considering an iPad for your loved one with autism, or already have an iPad but aren't sure how best to use it, this is the workshop for you!

Workshop proceeds benefit Brooklyn's Reach for the Stars Learning Center, "dedicated to the education of children with autistic spectrum disorders utilizing every possible tool to further their development."

*I so did not write this!

Come to San Diego for IMFAR, Stay for the iPad Workshop

Are you going to IMFAR, the International Meeting for Autism Research? IMFAR's goal is "to provide ASD researchers from around the world with a focused opportunity to share the rapidly moving scientific investigation of ASD."

I was lucky enough to be awarded an Autism Science Foundation IMFAR Stakeholder travel grant, so I'll be in San Diego May 11 through the 15th, covering IMFAR for The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism. I'm looking forward to getting my head blown off by the flood of information on latest in autism science -- though admittedly my noggin's already been knocked partially askew just from looking over the preliminary conference schedule, which has attendees fully immersed from 8 AM to 8 PM the first two days, and 8 AM to 3 PM Saturday.

As I was already going to be in town, the Autism Society San Diego kindly invited me to do an iPad workshop on Sunday, May 15th from 11 AM to 3 PM. If you're interested and you're going to be around, come! It'll be fun, though, ahem, not free. Here's what we'll be doing (and I write "we" because Janine, the Good Karma Applications Inc. powerhouse who developed Leo's beloved First-Then Visual Schedule app will be on hand as well).

In this Hands-On Workshop you will learn: how to determine if the iPad is an appropriate fit for your child; a survey of helpful apps and how to use them, and resources for getting funding and justifying a school district/insurance iPad purchase. Shannon Des Roches Rosa will give an expert, parent perspective on her son Leo's iPad story. Shannon and Leo were featured in Apple's iPad: Year One Video. Participants are encouraged to bring their iPad or iTouch devices so you can check out features as we talk! Not required for participation.

And somewhere in there, I'll be hitting Rigoberto's Taqueria and getting a Biciclette cocktail at the La Valencia.

Very much looking forward to San Diego.