My students need an iPad for the ability to communicate their wants and needs within the community.
FULLY FUNDED! Mrs. Simon's classroom raised $611
This project is fully funded
My Students
Ever see a child having a tantrum in public and think "just give him what he wants?" What if the child was unable to vocalize what he actually wanted? Now, picture a 12 years old out in the community trying to be independent and unable to vocalize what he needs or wants.
My students are young men and women on the autism spectrum trying to be as independent as possible.
They attend a special needs school in NYC and venture out into the community 2-4x a week. They are young individuals trying to be independent in a world that barely accepts them. They do enough that make them stick out as different, using picture boards, or little green/yellow books to get their wants and needs met, making it very difficult to fit in with their general ed peers.
My Project
Technology is always evolving. Typically developing teenagers today have iPods, iPads, iPhones, smartphones, etc. Teenagers with special needs walk around with small books that have picture symbols in them or with big bulky devices worn around their necks. Not very cool. The goal is to equip teenagers with special needs the same things their typical counterparts have, iPads. The iPad will enable students to communicate in a social setting, job setting, or other community setting, getting their wants and needs met in order to function as independently as possible. I am looking to provide a socially accepting means of communication to these teenagers. An iPad (with case) is how to do it. Start small: take a small group to the supermarket to pick up groceries. Engage with a cashier, a stockboy, ask for assistance, or merely say excuse me. They will learn that they too have a voice and can fit in, function, in a world so different to them
This project will start with a few and expand to many more.
The use of socially acceptable devices will give teenagers the ability to communicate with others, ask for help, hold a conversation, get a part time job, complete tasks in the community such as purchasing stamps or buying groceries. To be as socially equal to their typical counterparts and to decrease frustration and tantrums and to hopefully decrease bullying.
More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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