The iPod and iPad are not just for entertainment. It is a tool that has greatly helped the needs of children with autism.
A Wonderful iPad Story
A very happy mother of a child with autism, Shannon Rosa, recently shared in her BlogHer post about her discovery of the iPad’s life-changing effect on her 9-year-old son Leo.
She narrated that she is not into buying the latest gadgets and has been holding off on the iPad. It came to her one day as a prize from a raffle draw conducted to support a school. She paid $5 for the raffle ticket without expecting to win, she only wanted to help.
She received the good news through a call from the school’s secretary, and immediately claimed her iPad prize.
Rosa said she wasn’t expecting anything significant when she gave the iPad to Leo. She added that before the iPad, her son has been using the iPod Touch “but its 3.5-inch screen was difficult for his fingers to navigate.”
She went on to say that she was so amazed after seeing Leo “whizzed through (the iPad) apps like a technology virtuoso… he began spending 30 minutes at a time on apps designed to teach spelling, counting, drawing, making puzzles, remembering pictures, and more. With the iPad, Leo electrifies the air around him with independence and daily new skills.”
The iPad has since then contributed to Leo’s good behavior as it keeps him pre-occupied. Rosa was so happy and remarked: “I don’t usually dabble in miracle-speak, but I may erect a tiny altar to Steve Jobs in the corner of our living room.”
Source: http://www.ziphone.org/2010/08/ipad-helps-children-with-autism
More Links:
http://www.sfweekly.com/2010-08-11/news/ihelp-for-autism/1/
http://www.gadgetsdna.com/10-revolutionary-ipad-apps-to-help-autistic-children/5522/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/18/ipad-apps-for-autism-and-_n_686020.html
http://www.inthestax.com/ipad-helps-children-with-autism-communicate/
http://www.parenting.com/new/blogs/show-and-tell/kate-parentingcom/how-ipad-can-help-kids-autism
It's my life, you're just along for the ride! 
I posted it because I thought it was interesting. For all I know it is all Bullshit! and marketing (then again what isn’t these days). Knowing almost nothing about autism, I really can’t say either way. However, I do have family and friends with autistic children. I know enough to agree with Eileen. Parents of autistic children ARE overwhelmed with the financial strains of special needs children, but every little bit helps. Not enough is known about Autism and nearly every case is unique, which makes it very hard to treat. Would you agree that if an Ipad makes life easier for one autistic child then it’s worth it? I agree that it’s an expensive solution, and if it proves to be effective (Big IF) then it should be made available to families of autistic children at little or no cost. Maybe even apple could step up and offer them at a huge discount (doubtful). I don’t know I don’t have the answer. I’m just raising the question. However, this isn’t about apple. It’s about exploring any and all possibilities. I also agree with Eileen that you have to be skeptical and question everything don’t take things at face value (especially not on the internet). Don’t believe the Hype! Also by having this discussion we raise even more question, which will raise more questions that will hopefully lead to REAL answers. I’m an IT guy. I’m always looking for a better way to use technology and an excuse to play with a new toy. Let’s face it the Ipad is a toy a prohibitively expensive toy to most, but tech is more often evolutionary not revolutionary. Wouldn’t it be great that the Ipad evolved into something more, something better. By the end of the year there will be over 20 different Ipad clones. Some purported to have a starting price of under $100. In a couple of years Ipads and tablets will be common and cheap. Should we wait till then to explore their therapeutic value? I’m just saying let’s keep our minds and eyes opened to the possibilities, whether it turns out to be an Ipad or something similar. Every little bit helps! Thanks Eileen for questioning the article. That’s what I love to see. I also added more links to post. Check them out tell me what you think!