New iPad learning technology helps learners living with autism and special needs

For children navigating the world with autism, using technological devices such as an iPad is an opportunity for improved communication, social networking, and sensory-friendly environments.

This was according to Zulaikha Goolam of iSchoolAfrica, who pointed out these benefits during a handover of iPads at Via Nova School on April 11.

Via Nova School, which supports children with autism and special needs, received new iPad learning equipment to enhance the learning experience and development of learners.

The aim was to help learners with autism to connect, communicate and thrive in ways that traditional methods often cannot.

Goolam said the iPad technology is designed to offer personalised, adaptable learning experiences that cater to individual needs, allowing special needs children to learn at their own pace.

“The iPad comes with built-in accessibility features for every disability from being blind or deaf to having cognitive disabilities like autism.

“The features are grouped according to a disability and the teacher is the one that understands the learner best, so they will curate the device to suit each learner’s needs.”

To shed some light on the impact of the devices on learners living with autism, she said they have difficulty with communication and typical paper-based learning.

She said the tools in the device, such as speech-generating apps, help these learners process and retain complex concepts to suit their learning style and express themselves in ways they never could before.

“The iPad offers them a whole different world of engaging with materials that suit their learning, so they are able to communicate on the device via the Augmentative & Alternative Communication [app].

“They are also able to read books and write on the device, which are skills they were not able to develop prior to the introduction to the iPads,” said Goolam.

She said the device offers learners an opportunity to show their full potential and for everyone to see each learner’s potential.

Goolam further said that the iPad has the organisation’s [iSchoolAfrica] specific apps, which match the CAPS curriculum and cater for the learners’ learning needs.

“Technology plays an important role in social skills development for children with autism and through virtual environments and role-playing apps on iPad, learners can practise social interactions in a safe, controlled setting,” said Goolam.

“This approach allows students to familiarise themselves with real-world scenarios and practise pragmatic social behaviours without the stress or pressure of live interactions.”

She added that sensory sensitivities are a common trait among many learners with autism and can make traditional classrooms overwhelming. The iPad provides a flexible and sensory-friendly environment where teachers can adjust the content to suit each student’s sensory preferences.

“Whether it’s through calming apps or adjusting screen brightness and volume, technology ensures that students can engage with the material in a way that is comfortable and non-intrusive, making the classroom environment more conducive to learning.”

Via Nova School Principal, Jeanette Sarpong expressed her gratitude for the “amazing” technology that caters for the school learners’ needs.

“This initiative is going to assist a lot because most of our learners learn through technology. It is very ideal for such technology to be introduced to them, considering that it caters for the different needs of each and every learner who is under the spectrum. Most of them use assistive devices to perform daily duties in the classroom.”

Sarpong emphasised the need to raise awareness of neurodivergent disorders such as autism, Down syndrome, dyslexia and cerebral palsy because most people lack knowledge about these developmental disabilities.

“We need to make people and communities aware that there is autism because we are realising that more and more learners are being diagnosed with autism. At Via Nova, we strive to bring people on board to learn about these neurodivergent disorders through activities like family days and concerts.”

She said the school hopes that more doors for donors and sponsorship opportunities like this one will open up as it needs assistance in many aspects of the learners’ development. More especially because the basic medical expenses to treat these disabilities are expensive.

“For families in the middle class and lower, it can be quite taxing because they still need to have a roof over their head and take their child to doctors’ very costly appointments. If we can’t support them as a school, then the parents usually find it very difficult so we need as much help as we can get,’ she said.

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