Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are said to take great benefits out of using apps. Studies say that apps can be useful for learning and social development.
According to Dena Aucoin, M.Ed., the Assistant Academic Chair in the Educational Studies program at Kaplan University, said that Apps are able to provide visual supports, structure, a schedule, language or pictures that are very much helpful for their communication. Like Aucoin, some authors have actually studied and suggested apps for autism and how these apps become very important and useful. Lois Jead Bradley wrote "apps for autism" and Linda Hodgdon also had her "Top 60 Recommended Apps for Autism" published recently.
There are many challenges for kids with autism especially when they get older. Teens for example suffer from obesity because of some imbalances in the body and problems with control issues especially with food and exercises. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that obesity is 50 percent more common in teens between the ages of 12 and 17 who are in the category under developmental disabilities like autism. Because of this, an app called "Healthier Me" was developed in New Jersey by the Kohl's Autism Awareness Program at Children's Specialized Hospital. This free iOS app can be acquired from the Apple store.
The Healthier Me app has categories for children/teens with autism that can be used to track their own daily personal care, fitness, healthy eating, and safety. The tool features reward milestones out of positive actions and reinforcement. Through the app, the autistic child can establish good hygiene, eating habits, watching out for food allergies, and staying safe and active.
Apps for ordinary kids can be harmful because of addiction but for kids with autism, these can be life changers. It is always important to keep the resources tapped and maximized because you will never know what milestones can be achieved with just a single tap on the tab.
