Breaking Through: Using Educational Technology for Children with Special Needs

While one-on-one therapy is certainly beneficial, for some children, the process of developing social skills, manual dexterity and educational competency presents much more of a challenge. Fortunately, the introduction of new and easy-to-use technological devices has created a quiet revolution in the field of special education. It was only a decade ago that the iPad - a portable interactive Internet device - was introduced to the public. Apple’s marketing people correctly predicted the iPad’s popularity, but they did not expect how uniquely appealing this device would be to children with autism, attention issues, physical challenges and a host of other learning disabilities. Today, numerous tablets offer programmes that can break through the barriers caused by psychological and physical challenges. To understand how you can optimise the use of these devices and select the best programmes available, best-selling author and special education expert, Barbara Albers Hill, has written BREAKING THROUGH. The book is divided into two parts. Part One provides the basics of using this new technology. Part Two provides a consumer’s guide to available devices, attachments and software programmes, making the book eminently helpful to both teachers and parents. If used correctly, the tablet is a device that can help develop new pathways in the brain and facilitate learning, socialisation and motor skills. While we may call it a breakthrough in therapy, you may call it nothing short of a miracle.