iPads help LI autistic children learn

Kaitlyn Rossi sat at a colorful table inside a Medford school for autistic children and did something with an iPad that she struggles to do any other way: correctly identify an image flashed before her -- in this case, a rocket.

For Kaitlyn, 3, who speaks just a word at a time, it was a big step forward. The iPad allows her to show her teachers what she knows while helping her master new words and concepts faster than ever before.

Kaitlyn is a student with the Young Autism Program, or YAP, created by the Developmental Disabilities Institute, a Long Island nonprofit that serves about 1,500 people with autism.

The iPads -- nine in all -- were donated to the institute in July by the EJ Autism Foundation, a Long Island-based group that raises money and awareness about the developmental disorder for which the cause has not been determined. The organization has donated 30 iPads so far, including 15 to the East Islip school district.

Founder Bea Peterson said the device "helps fight the mystery of autism," adding that she plans to donate more.

"This has so many possibilities," she said. " . . . These kids tend to be very visual. They're hooked on it instantly."

Kaitlyn's teacher, Allison Petterson, said that with its colorful screen and crisp images, the iPad holds students' attention. She said the device has a wow factor that even her instructors can't match.

"The iPad has built-in reinforcement; when they touch the right picture, it cheers for them," Petterson said. "It's more motivating. If I put three regular pictures in front of her, for some reason she can't do it."

Andy Shih is the vice president for scientific affairs at Autism Speaks, a national advocacy group based in Manhattan. He said electronic tablets have wide appeal to people with autism, including those who have less motor coordination and have trouble using a computer mouse.

He said all tablets have a predictability that appeals to those with autism.

"Our children like routine, instruction and a structured environment," Shih said. "A device like that would fit into their style of communication."

Melissa Paladino, YAP's education supervisor, said the iPads help give nonverbal students a voice, which she calls "incredibly exciting." Many of her students, she said, have used a much more expensive and bulky device called the DynaVox Maestro.

She said she wondered if the iPad, which she said offers a greater range of services and games, might soon supplant the older technology. In addition to its lower cost and lighter weight, the tablet is mainstream; it's something a student's brother or sister might use.

"The social acceptance of these devices helps them feel very confident," Paladino said of her students.

Shih said Autism Speaks has been monitoring technology for years, trying to find what type of device best helps people with autism reach their potential. He said tablets are a big draw, but that they're "not a miracle cure," adding that "the content is more important than the device itself."

Luke Amalfitano, 5, is using an iPad to help him learn to read.

One program allows him to spell a word associated with a picture. When Luke saw an image of a mat on the screen, he dragged the corresponding letters to the empty slots alongside the image. When he finished, a voice read the word aloud.

His teacher, Vanessa Leal, said the consistency of the voice helps Luke retain the word and improve his vocabulary.

"There's no variation," she said. "It helps with his acquisition of new sounds."

Luke's mother, Tina, said she already sees improvement in her son's ability to communicate.

"His sounds are becoming clearer," she said, and those outside his immediate family can understand what he means. "He's doing great. He amazes me every day."