Using iPads to Teach Communication Skills of Students with Autism

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of using an iPad to assist students with autism in learning communication skills. Three, 10 years old learners diagnosed with autism who present little or no functional speech, participated in the study. A multiple baseline design with AB phases across academic and social settings was used. During the baseline, students were given access to an iPad with the SonoFlex speech-generating device application, while no communicative attempts were observed. During the intervention, the students were taught to use the iPad to communicate with their teacher and peers for 6 weeks. With a least-to-most prompting hierarchy, all students increased initiating requests, responding to questions and making social comments in both class and recess settings.