Local Connections

When I first created this blog, I set up Google alerts for myself focused on the words "autism" and "iPad". This week I was thrilled to open my e-mail and see an article from a local Patch website featured. The Hatboro-Horsham Patch recently wrote an article highlighting Specialized iPad Services, a technology learning lab in Hatboro.

The mother of a son with autism, Karen Velocci opened the learning lab after realizing that there was a great need for technology education in the special needs community. She found that using the iPad was a great motivator for her own son and wanted to teach other parents and students how to harness new technology to allow individuals with autism to communicate.

One of Velocci's clients said that a scary experience with her own son led her to realize the true importance of technology-based communication.

One of Velocci's students, along with her 14-year-old non-verbal son Michael, Kuepper said the interactive approach has helped him to communicate better and learn more. 

"My son has seizures. He had a seizure one day," Kuepper said. "I thought we lost him."

When he woke three hours later, Kuepper said she asked him how he was feeling. He immediately grabbed his iPad, launched Proloquo2Go and went into the "feelings" category.

"He pushed, 'I'm scared,' " Kuepper said. 

The Specialized iPad Services learning lab is definitely a welcome addition to the local community, and I can only hope that parents and students in the area take advantage of their trainings.