Autism Technology
about a little girl who needed to go to the toilet but couldn ’ t find one . So I think my daughter got the sense of the urgency that is implied in the process .
There are so many useful ways to use an iPad . It is important to point out that supervision is vital when it comes to iPad use . If a child watches a video , you can repeat some of the words mentioned in the video to foster language skills . You can also point , say , and repeat the name of a color .
Many digital activities can be useful educational tools . Depending on the learning level of the child , you can start with simple things , as I ’ ve mentioned before , or you can do more complicated ones , like asking questions . Start with questions that require a one-word answer or questions that merely require the child to point — you can work your way up to open-ended questions .
From my experience , I ’ ve learned to never give up . Most of the time it will seem like your child is not acknowledging your efforts , or possibly just plain ignoring you . Believe me , the child is listening to you and sooner or later , all the effort you put into the activity will pay off .
I always thought my daughter was ignoring me when I was showing her the little ducks that don ’ t come back and pointing out the color yellow . Until one day when , out of the blue , she pointed to a book cover and she said “ Yellow .” It was the best kind of music to my ears .
The tablet also had a positive impact on my daughter ’ s speech . At first , she started copying what different characters were saying . It was like a miracle when she first said words that were pronounced almost correctly . At that point , anything was better than babbling . But after some time , she realized that those words need to be used at certain times . She is still not talking 100 percent or using the right words at the right time , but the progress she has made is real .
I am not saying it is ok for our children to spend all day in front of the TV or watching their tablets . All I am saying is that , when it comes to my own daughter ’ s progress , I need to give some credit to her iPad .
I know that some parents are totally against iPads and tablets . I am not saying that I know better . Just don ’ t immediately dismiss anything without researching possible benefits for yourself . Give it a go . Watch them react and interact in the new situation . Even if all I get is a smile or a bit of eye contact , that is more than okay with me !
Here is a list of iPad / tablet activities that could benefit your child . These ideas are implemented at the special school where I work , and my daughter has reaped the benefits of some of these digital activities :
� Watch clips that have just a few words that keep repeating ( useful for developing speech )
� Watch clips that show imaginative play ( useful for roleplay )
� Play simple digital games that require turn-taking ( a very important concept that sometimes seems difficult to grasp )
� Find apps that involve shape or letter tracing
� Enjoy clips that show easy dance routines
Don ’ t forget ! The learning process is a team game . As parents or carers , we need to be there to repeat , to accentuate , to emphasize , to model , to correct . Our children deserve the world and more . They deserve our hard work .
Have faith . I know for a fact that the tunnel is long but , believe me , there is a very bright light at the end of it .
Sonia Johnson was born in Romania but now lives in the UK . She is married with two daughters , one of whom is on the autism spectrum . Sonia graduated from university as an engineer , but started learning about autism support after her daughter ’ s diagnosis . Sonia hopes to use her years of experience in autism-related special education and family finance topics to help people in any way she can .