Tablets are so much fun for kids, and they are also a really great tool for kids with special needs. Although there are a lot of free apps to use, the tablet itself is not cheap, and so it needs to be taken care of. Taking Care Of My Device is a great story to start with when your child first gets a tablet. It lays out the "rules" of handling the device using really simple cartoon pictures and narration to explain what can go wrong if the tablet is mishandled.
Taking Care Of My Device is one of many apps developed by Touch Autism
for children with special needs, including Autism Spectrum Disorder and Down Syndrome. I recommend downloading this app, as well as checking out their many other special needs apps on Google Play._____________________________________________________________________
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STORE LINKS
Amazon (not yet available)
SCREENSHOTS
APP DESCRIPTION ON GOOGLE PLAY
"This app includes a nine page social story about proper care and handling of a device. The story focuses on why it’s important to take care of your advice and specific rules for properly caring for and handling a device. Perfect for preschool aged children, visual learners, or children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.
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The app opens up to a menu that allows the user to read the story, or go straight to the “rules” page, which is a concise list of 6 important rules for device care.
Devices such as iPads, iPods and other tablets have begun to be commonly used as tools or adaptive communication devices for children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome or other developmental delay.
These devices can be great tools, but they can also be very expensive and easy to break. This app teaches children in a simple and positive way how to care for their device to ensure that it is not lost or stolen.
Social stories are an important type of visual support often used with children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome or other special need. Teaching a skill to any child may be easier and less stressful when visual supports, like social stories are used. This social story uses simple text and descriptive pictures to explain why and how to care for a device.
Social stories were first defined by Carol Gray in 1991 and are commonly used to break down a task or social situation into small and easy to understand steps, often accompanied by descriptive pictures. Social stories are easy to implement and are used by many professionals for a wide range of behaviors and skills."