"Just because a person can't speak doesn't mean they don't have anything to say" said a parent of a non-verbal child. Communication helps people connect with others, express their comprehension, feelings, and needs. iPads have allowed my students with autism to communicate.
My students are eager to learn, and we are amazed every day with what they are able to reveal about themselves, and their knowledge.
All of our students have autism. This is a unique disability, in that it is not an intellectual disability, but a social and communication disability. This means that many of our students are non verbal, or unable to express their knowledge. One of the students first words were, iPad please. I have 5 iPads on loan this year and they have been highly effective.
Our school is high poverty building where 100% of our students receive free lunch. Students come from all over the world, 28 different countries, mainly from refugee camps. There are four languages spoken in our room. Our classroom is in the basement where we cannot access WiFi, and only have two working computers with one projector. Our goal is to support our students to communicate their knowledge, feelings, and needs so they are able to join the regular education classroom.
My Project
I am requesting two iPads minis to help with communication, fine motor development, sensory breaks, and academic engagement.
My 10 students and I share two computers. I am currently in school for my masters in special education with an autism certificate. I worked with my professors to create a schedule and curriculum based on the structure of having the students using iPads for their academic stations. I found the iPads allowed them to express the knowledge they already knew but hadn't shown through any other medium. They achieved this through writing, reading and math applications, along with Go Talk Now, a communication application. The iPads are also used for much needed sensory breaks.
These iPads give my students a voice, and broadens the amount of knowledge they can access on a daily basis.
I cant take their voice away next year when I don't have access to iPads anymore. My students have so much more to express and learn.
Nearly all 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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