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iPads and Autism – Setting Up The Parameters

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Setting up the parameters for using technology is something every parent should do, but it is especially important when you are using an iPad for autism education. 
This blog gives you a brief introduction to how that is done, including:
  • How will you use the iPad?
  • Security issues
  • Selecting apps
  • Make sure you know how the apps work
  • Allocate the iPad for educational use only
  • The device cannot do the work for you, or replace you as a teacher
  • Implementing guidelines


Setting up the parameters blog

To read the whole blog, please visit iPads and Autism. Setting Up Parameters 

– Karina

Karina’s Child Development Club Blog – Using iPads With Children Who Have Autism

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Hi Everyone, 
I have been writing a blog for the Child Development Club’s website for a few months now. I have been sharing my insights on using iPads with children who have autism, not just in the classroom but for use at home as well. 

This is the first blog in the series, and I talk about iPads and why they work for children on the Autism Spectrum. 

ipads CDC Blog intro

If you follow the link to the Child Development Club website, you can read this full blog and sign up for their newsletter to get updates on my blog, as well as blogs from my fellow contributors. 

iPads and Autism. Why they work.

You can read the series of Child Development Club blogs on iPads for autism, and learn the many benefits of using the iPad with children with special needs:


– Karina 

Rational for using iPads in Education

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Imagine a school, just for one moment… Where you walked into the door of the school… And the very first questionnaire would contain the questions: “What do you love to do?” What is your favorite thing in life? What are you good at? What would make you smile? How would life/school be if you could do the things that you love to do?

Imagine a school whose curriculum catered for those kinds of questions… And designed a pedagogical program that is individual to your child, based on the answers to those questions?

Teaching to Children’s Strengths
It is then that we could abandon English, Math, Science, etc. in the way that it is taught now, where we just deliver buckets of information that has no relevance to kids. Alternatively, let’s say a child’s interest is cooking; what if we were to inspire them to want to learn for example they will want to learn to read because by reading they can gain more information from recipe books. They will want to learn about measurement because this knowledge will help them to become a better chef. They will want to learn about money because they will want to go shopping to purchase their ingredients. They will want to learn about science in the context of how cooking and science interrelate. They will want to learn to write, because they will want to write their own recipes. Just recently, there’s a program called Master Junior Chef and everyone is amazed at how incredible the children are.  
The comments I hear are “can you believe those kids?” “Those kids are just brilliant”.  “I can’t believe they can cook like that.”  The recipe (pardon the pun) really isn’t that difficult to understand and while I don’t want to take away from those amazing kids (because they really are amazing), but these kids are shining because they LOVE to cook; they LOVE to do what they are doing; and when children LOVE doing something, they WILL learn!!!  You don’t have to ask them, or cajole them into it, they can’t wait to get into the kitchen to cook; and to be a better cook, they will learn to read a recipe, learn the math required to get their recipes right; understand the science behind what makes recipes work, flavors taste better etc; and develop creativity in the way they present their food.  As I said above, it really is NOT difficult to comprehend and in my mind, this gives me a “recipe”, a foundation, a platform from which educating children should stem from.  If we start with what they LOVE to do; the rest comes naturally. 

I personally believe that using technology can bridge the gaps for those children who are struggling, but also make learning easier for any child. These kids come to school ‘tech’ ready and digitally aware so it makes sense that we give 21st century children the tools to learn using 21st Century technology.