Easter Seals Tri-Counties to Incorporate iPads into Therapy Sessions

Innovative Technology Allows Children and Adults with Special Needs To Communicate Using iPad Applications

Easter Seals Tri-Counties, the region’s leading non-profit provider of services for individuals with autism, developmental disabilities, physical and mental disabilities, and other special needs, will soon use the iPad as a tool for speech therapy to improve both expressive and receptive language in children.

“Communication can be a huge challenge in the developmentally disabled population,” said Mary London, CEO of Easter Seals Tri-Counties. “Tools like the iPad and its applications are bridging the gap, allowing our clients to communicate using a medium that is motivating and easy for them to use.”

The applications allow children to use the iPad’s touchscreen to select images that correspond to specific phrases. For example, a child can select a photo of a backyard to notify his therapist that he or she would like to go outside. In addition, the intuitive nature of the touchscreen device allows the child to physically select images without relying on a computer mouse, which requires motor skills that the child may not have.

“Technological advances are quickly changing the way we relate to each other and the same is true for people with developmental disabilities,” said London. “Speech therapy using the iPad is the wave of the future and we look forward to implementing this technology with the children and families we serve.”

Through a variety of programs, including physical therapy, rehabilitation, early intervention infant development and childcare, Easter Seals Tri-Counties has served over 100,000 individuals in Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, as well as families who travel from other parts of Southern California to receive treatment that is not available to them in their cities. The organization has a location in Ventura and Thousand Oaks to serve clients. For more information, visit www.EasterSealsTC.org.

About Easter Seals Easter Seals is the leading non-profit provider of services for individuals with autism, developmental disabilities, physical and mental disabilities, and other special needs. For nearly 90 years, we have been offering help and hope to children and adults living with disabilities, and to the families who love them. Through therapy, training, education and support services, Easter Seals creates life-changing solutions so that people with disabilities can live, learn, work and play in their communities. Support children and adults with disabilities at www.EasterSealsTC.org.

Source: http://eastersealstc.org/press_2011-02-28_ipad.html