Big help for autistic support classroom
With just a few strokes of her new device, Leah Bohnak’s iPad screen lit up. The sixth-grader at Ringgold Middle School desperately wants to play an instrument but must first grasp reading and identifying musical notes.
Minutes after receiving the tablet, Bohnak played “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” She squealed with delight at her success and quickly moved to another musical application, eager to play with the virtual piano keyboard.
Bohnak’s autistic-support teacher, Stephanie Slavick, believes the device will be instrumental in helping her student reach her goal.
“Hopefully, we will be able to match up the keyboard (application) with notes,” Slavick said.
On Friday, Slavick’s classroom received a mobile iPad cart, courtesy of a grant secured by the California University of Pennsylvania Special Education Department.
Tablets are beneficial for students with disabilities because they provide access and break through stigmas, said Kate Mitchem, a Cal U. special education professor. Mitchem secured the $75,000 grant through the Trees Foundation, which was used, in part, to purchase Ringgold’s cart. Mitchem has students doing field work with Slavick’s class and decided to stretch limited resources as far as possible.
“This is a great opportunity. When we put (the devices) in the schools, they can be used on a daily basis by students, teachers and our students,” Mitchem said.
As a result, everyone can learn together. Slavick said her students will play a role in their own success.
“They can be active participants,” she said.
Numerous educational, skill-training and behavior-correcting applications came preloaded on the devices, which also will be used as reinforcement tools. Slavick said the devices will remain at school, but her students will be able to take them to their general education classes.
“Everybody uses iPads,” Mitchem said. “It’s a great way not to stigmatize things. We like when they can do things that other children can.”