Pictured is Michelle Bussolotti, Disability Support Coordinator for UCP of Eastern Connecticut with five-year-old Sam.

Sam is a five-year-old boy with Down Syndrome and Verbal Apraxia.  Children with Verbal Apraxia have challenges with preparing and producing highly refined movements of the lips, tongue, jaws, and palate necessary for precise language and children with Down Syndrome usually learn best visually, making the iPad a perfect educational tool.  The iPad was integrated into Sam's therapy at school, where he was able to communicate with peers and come-out with words on his own.  At home, his family was using sign language, but really wanted to continue Sam's iPad therapy out of school.  Sam's Mother was able to get an iPad for Sam with the help of UCP's Disability Support Program and Bellows Fund.  

The iPad was never intended to help children with disabilities, but awareness of its usefulness for this purpose has skyrocketed in recent years.  The iPad has been used in therapy with children and adults with a spectrum of disabilities, including sensory, developmental, and acquired.  Applications can be purchased (and in some cases are offered free) to help people with disabilities communicate or develop skills.  Sam uses Alt-Chat software to communicate, for example.  The iPad truly gives a voice to those who have disabilities and helps them to develop one of their own.  

For more information on Apps available for people with diverse disabilities, please visit:

http://www.sccoe.k12.ca.us/programs/inclusion-collaborative/docs/Iphone_Ipod_Ipad.pdf

UCP’s Disability Support Program is funded by:

United Way

Chelsea Groton Foundation

Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut

Eastern Federal Bank Foundation

People’s United Community Foundation

RS Gernon Trust

UCP fundraisers and individual contributions

Thank you!