NSU Horizons Spring 2012

A little iPad can go a long way. At Nova Southeastern University, the at screen touch pad is being used by researchers in the Occupational Therapy Department of NSU’s College of Health Care Sciences to improve the quality of life of patients who suffer from spinal cord injuries and other disabilities. At NSU’s Mailman Segal Center for Human Development, iPads were used in an initiative called 18 iPads in 18 Days to help facilitate the learning process for children with autism spectrum disorders at the Mailman Segal Center’s Baudhuin Preschool. The Occupational Therapy Department used a $13,000 grant from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation to purchase iPads to assist patients. According to its Web site, the foundation, created by actor Christopher Reeve, is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by fund- ing innovative research and improving the qual- ity of life for people living with paralysis. Depending on their injuries, patients with a damaged spinal cord experience symptoms that vary from pain to paralysis. Because of this, they have limited physical mobility. Using a desktop computer or laptop can be dif cult, since those functions require a certain level of dexterity. NSU’s occupational therapy researchers believe that Apple’s iPad, with its lightweight portability and touch screen, can help patients have greater access to the Internet, applications, social media outlets, games, and other functions. The iPad makes it much easier for them to read books and newspapers, which they would not have to pick up anymore, researchers said. So far, 20 iPads have been distributed to patients with spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and amputation-related injuries, as well as patients suffering from cerebral palsy. “The iPad program has been successful so far,” said Adrienne Lauer, Ed.D., OTR/L, the program director and an assistant professor of occupational therapy at NSU. “It has really made a positive impact on this population with disabilities, allowing them to more easily access mainstream technology.” Lauer said she hopes to receive more funding in the future to distribute more iPads to the people who need them the most. Using iPads helped revolutionize the manner in which teachers meet the needs of children with autism spectrum disor- ders at the Baudhuin Preschool as well. The Apple device was used with children who have communication challenges. The iPads provided an alternative means of communication between children with autism, who have dif culty communicating, and the teacher. Each iPad is equipped with applications such as Proloquo2Go, which is designed speci cally for children and individuals with special needs. The touch pad is user friendly, features colorful symbols, natural sounding text-to-speech voices, and an extensive vocabulary. Thanks to the generosity of several donors, the Mailman Segal Center was able to place an iPad in each of the Baudhuin Preschool’s 18 classrooms. “Autism is a lifelong disability that affects the way children communicate and relate to others and the world around them,” said Roni Leiderman, Ph.D., dean of the Mailman Segal Center. “We are grateful for the incredible generosity and support of our donors, who are responsible for the success of this initiative.” AROUND CAMPUS iPads Offer Hope BY KEN MA AND FELECIA HENDERSON Occupational therapy students learn how to use iPads to help patients reconnect. 34 HORIZONS