iPad 64GB £299

kingfisherblue

Toto wrote: »

Can I ask who you've applied to for funding? I have a daughter with fragile x/autism. She's verbal but her understanding of language is poor, she hears a word or two per sentence and responds by parroting everything she's ever heard which might fit as an answer. She likes to play on the computer and I know she uses an ipad at school. I don't think our budgets will run to supplying ipads though. We've tried apps on her ipod but to her the ipod is for music and nothing else, so she doesn't use them.

I have applied through the Aidis Trust, but the family Fund would have been quicker

mookie

kingfisherblue wrote: »

I have applied through the Aidis Trust, but the family Fund would have been quicker

I've never heard of Aidis, but looking at the website it seems more likely a grant would be given for computer technology than via family fund. How do you apply as Predictable is something I might like to apply for dd at a later stage, she's only in reception the apple site says age 4+ but from what I can see I'm thinking she may be a little young for it right now.

kingfisherblue

mookie wrote: »

I've never heard of Aidis, but looking at the website it seems more likely a grant would be given for computer technology than via family fund. How do you apply as Predictable is something I might like to apply for dd at a later stage, she's only in reception the apple site says age 4+ but from what I can see I'm thinking she may be a little young for it right now.

Originally I was going to apply to Children Today, but they request that all applications for tecchnology funding goes to the Aidis Trust. I rang and asked about applying - this was in March. I was sent a two page form to fill in, which I returneed the same week. In July I hadn't heard anything, but wasn't too worried as I had been told that the Aidis trust don't fund anything themselves, but apply to several places for funding on your behalf, so it can take a few months.

I rang for an update in July and was told that they didn't have any record of receiving my application:mad:. They emailed me another form, which I again filled out and returned. This time, I left it about three weeks before phoning for an update. The form had been received and they had spoken to my son's teacher at school about whether it would benefit him - not a problem as she recommended it. I then had a detailed phone interview about my son's disabilities and medical conditions (of which there are many ). Behaviour was talked about - would he throw the device? Abilities were discussed, such as his reading age of about 7 (he's 13). The impact on his life was also taken into consideration - my son attends Scouts and Deaf Club, but people have difficulty in understanding him as he lacks clarity of speech, as well as having a learning difficulty and auditory processing disorder. I was told that a report would be written and funding applied for.

Fast forward to September. I rang to check progress - the report had not been written and the chap I had been dealing with had even forgotten that he had interviewed me. He had been off sick for a couple of weeks, then on holiday, and everything had sat on his desk. The report was finally completed about a month ago, so it has been sent to the funding officer at the Aidis Trust. He is now applying for funding from various places that give small amounts.

Hopefully, as it is less than £700, it shouldn't take too long to get enough funding. Once secured, the Aidis Trust will purchase the Ipad, P2G, lanyard and case, and will send them to me. I don't have to deal with purchase, sending in receipts, etc.

Although it has been a bit of a slog, I think I've had a bit of bad luck. I'm hopeful that my son will receive the Ipad in the next two or three months.

Proloquo2Go can be used by younger children, as it has symbols as well as the written word. It also speaks out loud. You can add photos, so it can help if family and friends have their photos added, along with their name. My friend's daughter is six and is non-verbal with learning difficulties and a few other things besides. She is now learning to use and Ipad and P2G in school, to help her with communication. Young children often adapt better to technology than adults, and having the written word under the symbol can enable children to start to recognise frequently used words. You can also add more symbols to P2G, so that it can be personalised for your child - my son will have a section about Scouts.

It is worth applying if you think your daughter will benefit. It might take a while, so an earlier application is better IMO.

Good luck, and let me know how you get on x

mookie

Thank you so much kingfisherblue, Proloquo2Go sounds really good I will look into that, I can completely relate to your sons issues, my dd has 18q- syndrome, many children with it are non verbal, she has a limited level of speech but with the same issues as your son the clarity of what she does say is difficult for people who don't know her to understand.

The hardest thing is watching your child tell somebody something and they don't understand so they reply with something that has no relation whatsoever to what they have just said

richmondhamptoncourt

Thanks for all the information Mookie/Kingfisherblue/24skins. I started reading this thread as I am seriously considering an ipad for my 12 year old - never thought it might also be helpful to my 3 year old who has recently been diagnosed with autism and has no speech but loves anything computer based (he is always playing with my sanfrancisco phone for example). Whilst I am not sure about letting him loose on something as expensive as an Ipad its something he could perhaps take over once his older sister and his 6 year old sister move onto (no doubt) another ipad version in a year or 2.

Richmond