iCan

The iPad is without a doubt the hottest item on the market for special educators. Its built in accessibility features allow for users with special needs to have the same access as a typically developing user. It seems to be a universally designed tablet, but it still is not as universally designed as possible. I have a student in my ABA school who uses Proloquo2go to speak. Many of our ABA programs can be run using his iPad. This student has fine and gross motor difficulties. Therefore, he often presses the wrong icons on Proloquo2go and has to delete what he has selected and try again. Although the touch screen is wonderful in many respects, it poses a lot of challenges for students like mine who have motor difficulties (in addition to the visually impaired). The most obvious change would be to create some buttons and/or a flip out keyboard. Another thought is for the touch screen to provide feedback (vibrations) when touched. Perhaps different patterns of vibration can be set for different functions/applications. This would definitely assist the visually impaired. Although the iPad is not as universally designed as it could be, I believe Apple is committed to making their products accessible to the widest range of consumers. Apple will probably take over the special education world if they continue on this track.