FindMe(Autism)

FindMe(Autism) by Interface3 is a simple app designed for autistic children. The point of the app is to simple touch the person on the screen. Each time this is done, he or she gets harder to find as more and more destracting objects appear on the screen. This app was perfect for one autistic child that I have worked with. While this app was too easy for my brother, who also has autism, it was just what this child needed. It is compatible with the iPad and is free to download with no in-app purchases.

Sight Words by Photo Touch

Sight Words by Photo Touch made by GrasshopperApps.com is a highly customizable app, making it great for parents. This app works on a child’s sight words by having saying a word and the child has to choose which word was said. By default, the app contains a list of words for Preschool, Kindergarten, First, Second, and Third Grade as well as make your own custom list as well. It is free to download and there are no in-app purchases. It is compatible with the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. 

Mute Girl Finds Her Voice

"Carly can't speak. Many people called her dumb or mentally retarded. But after she turned 11 years old, she discovered something truly incredible and found her voice." If this video doesn't bring you to tears nothing will. Check out this video and see how Carly's parents never gave up on her and now they get to hear their daughter say, "I love you," to them.

Carly may not be autistic, but her parents went through the same thing that every parent of a non-verbal autistic child goes through.

Watch the video below or click the following link to see the video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmLVRXicdsI&feature=player_embedded.

App Guide: Count-A-Licious Toddler

I finally finished my third App Guide video! This one is about the app Count-A-Licious Toddler by Brainster Apps.

Watch the video below or click the following link to watch it on YouTube: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=w3zpW8yHfpc&feature=plcp.

 

Help Alex Spourdalakis

Alex Spourdalakis is a fourteen-year-old with severe autism. He was admitted to the Loyola Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois for gastrointestinal problems. While there, he has been a victim.

"Alex remained in locked restraints to all four of his limbs for in excess of 20 consecutive days."

"Alex's basic human needs were not met."

"Alex did not have any accommodations for his disability."

"He did not have access to any specialized evaluations or services from any professionals such as occupational health, speech therapy, developmental pediatrician or behavioral specialist who might have been able to address his disability."

"Alex did not have anyone attempt to provide him the ability to communicate."

"Not one professional that specializes in autism had examined him."

"None of the many standardized assessment tools for nonverbal patients had been utilized and his mother was told that staff is 'unable' to determine if he is having pain."

"Alex was kept in locked restraints without any written plan to work towards release."

"Alex's mother had been denied a list of physicians in charge of his care."

"His mother had been denied a list of medications that are ordered for her child."

"He had a delay in treatment waiting 5 days for an
ordered consultative physician to see him and one additional day until he was examined by a specialist for his gastrointestinal problems, the very reason he was transferred to this facility."

All of the above quotes are from a letter which was sent to CNN in order to get them to "do an investigative story into Alex's case and assist Alex in getting the appropriate medical care he needs."

To read the entire letter on CNN, click the following link: http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-942306.

A petition has been created on Change.org to get signatures so that CNN will investigate. Click the following link to see the petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/loyola-medical-center-maywood-chicago-illinois-provide-appropriate-medical-testing-and-medical-treatment-for-alex-spourdalakis.

A Facebook page called "Justice for Alex" has been created. Today, it was announced on this page that Alex is going to be moved to a different facility! Click the following link to see the "Justice for Alex" Facebook page and keep up with this young man: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Justice-For-Alex/593496450661862.

App Guide: Bugs and Buttons

I am making App Guide videos where I show how different educational apps work. Click on the following link to see my video for the app Bugs and Buttons on YouTube.

App Guide: Bugs and Buttons

Word Magic

Word Magic by Anusen Inc. is an excellent app to work with your child on their spelling and phonetics by having them find the beginning, middle, or ending sound of a word. It has great sound, graphics, and rewards to keep your child focused on this app. I highly recommened this app. I work with tutoring child with learning disorders and many of our children enjoy this app.  It costs $0.99 to download. It is compatible with the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

If Word Magic interests you, you can download Word Magic Lite and see how it works with your child. This version is completely free, but this it only has twelve words, where as the full version has more.

Music as Therapy for Autistic Children

“Music therapy helps in treating autistic children, but it has to be applied with kids in mind. It should not be too complicated for them to follow. Music that engages autistic children in dancing and singing works very well in helping them communicate and develop social skills. Autistic children respond to music by singing in the same note, and some of them may even start communicating through singing. They may take up an instrument to play, and this will help them gain interest in acquiring a certain skill. Music therapy can help different autistic patients in different ways, but generally, it is beneficial to them because it makes them more responsive to things around them.”

Click the following link for the full article: http://www.datehookup.com/content-music-as-therapy-for-autistic-children.htm.

Bugs and Bubbles

If you enjoyed the app Bugs and Buttons, then you'll love Bugs and Bubbles by Little Bit Studio, LLC. Like Bugs and Buttons, this app has eighteen "mini-games" working on counting, sorting, shapes, and more. It costs $2.99 with no in-app purchases. It is compatible with the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. 

Downloading Apps

For those of you who are perhaps new to Apple’s products (iPhones, iPod touches, and iPads) I understand that it may be confusing. So let me explain some things.

When you are on the page of an app in the App Store, you can see the price. Either it will say “FREE” or it will have a number. Now, just because it says “FREE” doesn’t mean that you will end up paying nothing. What that means is that it will not cost you anything to download the app. If says “$1.99″ then it costs $1.99 to download that app onto your device.

Now that you have the app on your device, all you have to do is touch the icon and it will open. Some manufacturers make it so that you now to have to pay to unlock the features inside the app. Maybe you can only do one thing until you pay to unlock more.

Watch out for apps where you have to pay, for example, $0.99 for each feature. If there are ten features and you want to use them all, that’s $9.90 you just spent on one app. These apps, in my opinion, are just for making money.

Not all apps do that though. A lot of good apps let you download the app for free and have it where you have to pay $1.99 to unlock everything on the app. Next to totally free apps where everything is unlocked, these are the best out there.

One example is Word Magic. It doesn’t cost you anything to download it, but some features are locked until you pay $0.99 and unlock everything. So, basically, Word Magic costs $0.99 becasue that is the most you can buy.

However, don’t buy the full version of an app just because you want the full version. Some apps may be great for your child without buying the full version. Download the app, try it out, and if you want the full version (and the price is fair) then buy the full version.

REMEMBER, ONCE YOU DOWNLOAD AN APP, APPLE WILL NOT GIVE YOU A REFUND!

Even if you delete the app later, you will not get a refund, so choose wisely when deciding which apps to purchase.

Also, some app manufacturers make the full version and free version of an app as too separate apps. Another example is LetterSchool.

There is LetterSchool and LetterSchool Lite. These are two individual apps. The only difference between the two apps is that LetterSchool Lite only does letters A to E and numbers 1 to 5 while LetterSchool does the entire alphabet and numbers 1 to 10. Instead of buying within the app (also called an in-app purchase) you go and buy a different app if you want the full version. When you buy the full version of the app, make sure to delete the Lite version. I honestly don’t know why, but you aren’t supposed to keep both versions on one device at the same time.

Another important thing for any iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad user needs to know about is when you delete an app that you already paid for. Let’s say you delete LetterSchool because your child can write all his or her letters perfectly and doesn’t need to work on it anymore. Well, if you change your mind and decide that you want to keep it on your device to have your child practice writing occasionally, you won’t have anything to worry about.

Once you have purchased an app, you will never have to pay for that app again (on that same account). If you paid for Letter School already, then Apple won’t make you pay again. You simply download it again.

The Differences Between a Meltdown and a Tantrum in Children with Autism

Check out this video with Deb Lipsky talking about the difference between a meltdown and a tantrum in children with autism.

Click the following link to see the video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClvnCyP3DLU.

Purchasing Apps

There are three ways to pay for an app on an iPod touch, iPad, and iPhone.

(1) Using a credit or debit card.

I will advise you not to do this just for security purposes. Apple has one of the best security systems in its products, but there is still a chance your device could get hacked. Then, the hacker will have access to your card number, which you put into the device once so that each purchase is automatically deducted from your card.

(2) Having bills mailed to your address.

This is want my parents have my brother’s iPad set under. My old school dad does not, under any circumstances, put card numbers into a computer/device/machine. So, with this, all it needs is your mailing address and bills will be mailed to you. Now, my parents have never been sent any bills. I will explain why in the next section.

(*3*) Using an iTunes Card.

This is the method that is safest since you put in no personal information. At many stores, you can buy what is called an iTunes Card. This is essentially a gift card for iTunes. However, you can’t put in any amount you want on the card. The cards have a set amount, which you match to buy it. Many stores sell these card, but I know that Wal-Mart sells the amounts: $15, $25, $30, $50, and $100. To buy the $20 card you would pay $20 to the cashier at the store, no tax included. You pay exactly $20.

Once you buy a card, all you have to do is get a code off the back of the card, which you do by scratching it like a lottery ticket scratch off,  and put the code into iTunes. Now, I’m sure you guys are wondering why these are iTunes cards when you buy apps in the App Store. I sure did! Well, the App Store is a part of iTunes, Apple just puts it under two different buttons.

So, you go to iTunes and scroll down to the bottom. There you will see a button that says “Redeem.” Click that, enter the code, and now your money is on the device! This also helps to make sure you don’t spend too much money since you pay ahead of time.

The reason I starred (**) the third option is because when you set up your device, you must choose between option (1) or (2). I recommend using option (2) since it’s safer and also use option (3). So, options (1) and (2) are your mandatory choices, even though you only choose one of them, and option (3) is completely up to you.

(2) + (3) = Safety, Easy, Budgeting

Do it whatever way you prefer. I’m trying to make you do anything. I just wanted to give you my opinion about it.