Ed Berenson was talking with his son Andy recently about Thanksgiving and their family’s plans. He searched for his son’s calendar, amid the numerous apps on his iPad to no avail. “I said, ‘Andy, where’s your calendar?’” Ed recalled. Within seconds Andy pulled up his calendar.

Giving Andy a Voice

Andy, who recently moved into YAI’s Hastings Residence, has autism. “His receptive language has improved as a result of using an iPad. He’s communicating more and he’s less frustrated,” Ed said.

Andy relies on two devices — a tiny iPod touch, which he keeps around his neck at all times, and his iPad. Both are loaded with Proloquo2 and Touchchat, text-to-speech communications apps, which will say the words for the series of icons that he selects. He also can opt for typing out sentences, which the device will also say. Andy is very comfortable with technology. Ed says his son is also a pro at finding just about anything on Google.

Watching Videos with His Brother

That makes Andy’s older brother Jimmy, who also has autism and has lived in the YAI home for six years, particularly happy. Andy finds videos and then they both plug in their headsets and watch together.

Technology is changing the lives of so many people YAI supports. That’s why this #GivingTuesday you can help YAI get connected with a donation. We are raising funds to provide wi-fi access in our residences, for the people YAI supports and for day programs to purchase tablets for some who could truly benefit from them.

Technology Reveals Hidden Abilities

“You unlock all kind of knowledge about your child when you expose him/her to technology he/she can use. There’s no question about that,” Ed said. “You learn a lot about the abilities your child has which you wouldn’t have known about. There are aspects of Andy’s intelligence you would never be able to see without these communication devices.’

Staff at YAI’s Hastings Residence have found many creative ways to use technology to enhance the lives of the people they support, according to YAI’s Nicole Schiaffo, a Residential Coordinator.

“One person, who has autism, may want to call his mother who works as a nurse. But she can’t always answer his call,” Nicole said. “Staff came up with the idea of having her create videos of herself talking to her son. She’ll say ‘how you feeling?’ and incorporates pictures of him or her together. If she doesn’t answer the phone, he still needs immediate gratification and he selects a video of her talking to him.”