(February 2011) As a general rule, children with autism fare
better with visual stimulation than they do with auditory
information—and that’s where tools such as the iPad can help,
says Fred Volkmar, MD, director of the Yale Child Study Center.
Dr. Volkmar commented on iPad use for a story about a nonprofit
called Stamford Education 4 Autism purchasing iPads for children
in an autism spectrum disorders program. The story was published
in the Stamford Advocate and Education Week. “The nice thing is
that the iPad is high-tech, but it's relatively low-cost,” Dr.
Volkmar said in the interview. “Some of the devices that have
been out there to help children can cost $4,000 to $5,000, and
if you're dealing with a person who has trouble with impulse
control and anger, they can be throwing stuff across the room.”
The iPad starts at about $500. Autism spectrum disorders are a
group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant
social, communication and behavioral challenges. The U.S.
Centers for Disease Cont