iPad, Apps and Deaf-blindness

Gloria Rodriguez-GilCalifornia Deaf-Blind Services

In collaboration with

Susan Hiscutt, Aaron Hiscutt’s mother

Cristi M. Sailor, DHH itinerant teacher

Content

• Children who are deaf-blind with additional disabilities

• Advantages

• Disadvantages

• Considerations

• Video clips with Aaron and his mother Susan

• Aaron’s basic information

• Video clip with Johnathan

• Johnathan’s basic information

• Video: Gloria Featuring Several Apps

• List of additional apps and new website

Children who are DB with Additional Disabilities

• Who can use their vision to see the images on the screen

• Who may also be able to listen –but not critical if they can see the images- to the sounds, recorded or synthesized voice

• Who has the dexterity to tap, swipe, pinch, un-pinch images on the screen

Advantages of the iPad

• Students show interest very quickly when showing them the iPad

• Immediate response when using it• Only requires a light touch • Its use is very intuitive in comparison with other

devices• Very portable• Reasonably sturdy• Easy to change levels of difficulty

Advantages of the iPad (Cont. 2)

• Can use own digital photos that specifically fit a given activity when app allows it

• The cost is lower than traditional communication devices and you can do more than just use it for this purpose

• The size is good - bigger than iPod Touch or iPhone so you can enlarge things more

• The clarity of the speech is better than other devices - it sounds more natural and when you record your own voice it picks up the nuances such as intonation

Advantages of the iPad (Cont. 3)

• For the children it looks "cooler" and more "like everyone else" rather than the more traditional communication devices

• Child can hold iPad as close as she need to • Present crisp images and well contrasted• Provides accessibility features (e.g. voice over)

Disadvantages

• The screen is made of glass and its very glary and reflective

• If you go outside it may be too shiny

• It is thin and light and sometimes it’s difficult to set it up for the student when she cannot do it independently

Disadvantages (Cont. 2)

• Keeping the iPad from falling when the child taps hard against the screen

• It may be difficult for the child to find the icon when they are several icons on the screen, the same can happen when she needs to touch a specific button

• Sometimes the "page" will turn when the student or the adult points and moves the hand accidentally

Disadvantages (Cont. 3)

• Sometimes it’s hard to find the right apps in the iTunes store

• It would be helpful to be able to try out apps before buying them, so many are so new that they don't have reviews.

Considerations

• Try to avoid reflection of external light on the screen. For example, need to be careful with the reflections on the screen from the lights above

• Make sure the set up of the iPad its appropriate for the child (e.g., put the iPad on a slant so kids can see it better and place a non-slip material on the slant so the iPad does not slip).

• When recording your voice on the iPad make sure to make it loud enough

Considerations (Cont. 2)

• If the student uses a FM system, place FM microphone near the speaker so the child can hear better

• When creating new pictures make sure there is a good contrast between the picture and the background

• Be aware of providing just the right amount of support when the child is using the iPad.

Considerations (Cont. 3)

• When choosing a communication app perhaps start with the cheaper and simpler ones, and then go from there

• Encourage the students and the adults around to use it. A device is only good if people use it consistently

Videos Clips with Aaron and his mother Susan

• Aaron with his mother show the following apps and Internet programs:– Draw (length of video 2:45)– Times tables (2:12)– Google Earth (1:44)– You Tube/video on elevators (1:34)– Proloquo2go (2:11)

Aaron’s basic information

• Diagnosis: CHARGE Syndrome

• Age: 13 years old

• Hearing: Profound hearing loss in left ear. Severe hearing loss in the right. Wears bilateral BTE hearing aids since he was 10 months old, and FM System since 3 years old.

Aaron’s basic information (Cont. 2)

• Vision: Minimal vision in right eye, good vision left eye. Has bilateral colobomas of the optic nerve. Does not receive VI services.

• Main modes of communication: Sign Language, speech and pictures

• He had experience before using other communication devices

• Fully included in general education

Draw app

Download video associated with this slide - 20MB .wmv

http://nationaldb.org/documents/products/webinar/video/draw1.wmv

Times Tables

Download video associated with this slide - 16MB .wmv

http://nationaldb.org/documents/products/webinar/video/times tables.wmv

Google Earth

Download video associated with this slide – 13MB .wmv

http://nationaldb.org/documents/products/webinar/video/google earth.wmv

You Tube/Video on Elevators

Download video associated with this slide - 12MB .wmv

http://nationaldb.org/documents/products/webinar/video/elevators.wmv

Proloquo2go

Download video associated with this slide - 16MB .wmv

http://nationaldb.org/documents/products/webinar/video/proloquo2go.wmv

Videos with Johnathan

• Verbal Victor (2:42)

Johnathan basic information

• Diagnosis: Septo Optic Nerve Hypoplasia

• Age: almost eight years old

• Hearing: mild sensory hearing loss in right ear, mild to moderate in his left ear

• Vision: not clear the degree of vision loss, he seems to prefer to see with his peripheral vision

Johnathan’s basic information (Cont. 2)

• Main modes of communication: receptive: auditory and pictures. He seems to retain information better through songs. Expressive through behaviors. On an occasion he will speak, rarely he will use a sign.

• Educational setting: special day classroom.• Started using the iPad this year, at home he uses

her mother’s iTouch.

Verbal Victor

Download video associated with this slide - 20MB .wmv

http://nationaldb.org/documents/products/webinar/video/verbal victor.wmv

Video: Gloria Featuring Several Apps (11:21)

• Baby Finger

• Doodle Buddy

• Little Fingers

• Flashlight

• iLook

• Flash Cards

• Tap to Talk

Download video associated with this slide – 83MB .wmv

http://nationaldb.org/documents/products/webinar/video/appdemo.wmv

Other Recommended Apps

• Pins – Pins helps you to develop the creativity of your child with fun (fine motor).

• Mover lite – Quick way to exchange photos and contacts between iPhones and between iPads via Wi-Fi.

• Whiteboard lite- Collaborative drawing app for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad over local Wi-Fi or Bluetooth peer-to-peer.

• Old MacDonald - its sings the song and child can predict what animal is coming next.

Other Recommended Apps

• Pocket Zoo - whole map of a zoo and then choose an animal and can watch videos about specific animal you choose.

• Hang Man - good for categories, clues, it can be used for color recognition.

New Website Coming Up!

• "In about two months a new website that focuses on using technology to enhance the lives of children and youth with special needs will launch. If you would like to be notified when the site opens and receive a free enewsletter please send your email address to Cristi Mercedes Saylor at specialneedstech@yahoo.com.