Protective iPad 2 Case

iPad 2 CASE recommendation
Take a look at these videos of a super protective case for your iPad 2. I like to pretend I need it is becasue I use the iPad with children with ASD however, I have found I am much more likely to drop, run over, throw (by accident of course) my iPad then any of the children I work with.

Halloween is almost here!

For those of you who celebrate Halloween, it can be a "tricky" time for kids with autism. People are disguised, acting strangely, doing things differently, some are very scary looking and trying to scare everyone who walks by them! Trick or Treating can be concerning as well, but have no fear! We have found a social story for you!! Going Trick or Treating by Autism Inspirations can be used as is or you can use it as a guide and adjust it to meet your specific needs. Either way, we hope your celebration is a treat!! (So corny, I know!)

Don't forget! Our next meeting is next week! Hope to see you all there!

Random Apps of Kindness Alert- PRC Language Lab: Core Words

AAC companies are continuing to get into app development. We are so happy to add PRC to the list of good quality apps! Check out this FREE app- Language Lab: Core Words for the iPad. This app is released as the first app in a series, which we think is great because it means more are coming. This app targets core word vocabulary that relates to the Unity Core Word icons and language. Take a look at an app  Review by Pad Gadget.

CBS 60 Minutes.  Great segment on iPad and communication apps. Just remember that teaching of underlying language will be very helpful.

Coming this Sunday- October 23rd
iPads & autism on 60 Minutes

Language Links: Link it Up! can connect to your email so that you do not miss any blog posts.  So, this is
 an additional way to keep us connected between meetings. Every time a new blog post is written, you will get an email letting you know and the email will have a link to the Language Links website.

If you do not want to receive e-mail blog post links, just let us know and we will remove your name from the list. You can still get into the website.

Everyone is talking about the iPad!

Hello Everyone!

It's no secret that Robin and I think Apple products are incredible (I just got my first iPhone last week and LOVE it!!), but we're not the only ones! Linda Hodgdon, the author of several wonderful resources on using visual strategies and the website www.usevisualstrategies.com, wrote about the use of technology (and the iPad) in her latest newsletter.

She touches upon the many ways technology can be incorporated into our everyday lives and how it's becoming almost a necessity. Linda points out that we must remember to change with the times and to prepare our kids for what the future brings. Often our attitudes may be resistant at first, but weaken as we see the usefulness (and fun!) of the advancements. Even my mom said she would never understand "this texting thing" - and now she's disappointed that she can't use the same emoticons because, now that I have an iPhone, we can no longer use Blackberry Messenger. We now have to use regular texting -- oh! the insanity!!!

Read what Linda has to say in her October Newsletter.

I have been thinking about where we should start... I encourage everyone to take a look at the app Pictello.  Check these out:   Pictello Video Tutorial & Pictello Video Review  You can use Pictello to create a social story,  which provides information about what to EXPECT during an event, activity, or situation.  You can also use Pictello as a talking picture album to TELL someone about an event, activity, or situation. 

Here is one thing that  I have done with Pictello:

When I use Pictello as a talking picture album to TELL something, I create a 'starter' page as the first page- 'Let me tell you about ___________'' or 'I have a story to tell you'.  I use this format for all my talking picture albums, I primarily change theme of what is talked about but not the starter phrase.  For a variation, I may use 2-3 starter phrases to provide different models of language to start a story. I may use 'Let me tell you about, I have a story to tell you, and Let's talk about'.   

Let us know if you have used Pictello or any other social story/talking picture album app and what you have done with it, how it was introduced and taught.  We can get a list together of our favorite social learning apps so when we are ready for a new one, we will have options to choose from.

Welcome to Link It Up CARD!

Test Blog: to Link us up throughout the time between our fave to face meeting!