New Devices Help Children Find Their Voice

Thanks to a generous grant from the Mount Laurel Foundation, Children’s Integrated Services Early Intervention (CIS) in Bennington has been able to purchase five iPads that children and their families can use at home to enhance communication.

According to Jennie Moon, Program Coordinator of CIS/Early Intervention, “An augmentative and alternative communication device includes a wide range of tools that can help children with learning or intellectual disabilities learn, communicate, and carry out daily functions. It not only gives children the ability to communicate their wants and needs clearly, but it also allows them to establish deeper relationships with others, participate in richer, more frequent social interactions and achieve a level of independence and decision-making that they may have never experienced before. Our goal is to ensure children have access to assistive technology to reach their full potential.”  

Currently, CIS has five iPads available to children participating with CIS/Early Intervention Birth-3 program. In addition, children must be recommended for the technology by their speech pathologist.

“Initially, iPads are provided on a ‘loaner’ basis to families,” says Moon. “The speech pathologist works with the child’s caregivers to make sure they understand how to take full advantage of the technology. Based on the experience with and data collected from the device, an application to purchase an iPad from Medicaid can be submitted and the loaner returned so that additional children and families can benefit from the technology.”

To learn more about the program, contact Jennie Moon, Program Coordinator of CIS/Early Intervention, at 802.447-2768 Ext:5841.