UCP of San Luis Obispo's iPads Without Limits Program

The iPad Without Limits program gives iPads to children and teens with disabilities. This video spotlights Tyler Monteiro, a San Luis Obispo resident who has both down syndrome and autism and is non-verbal. In Winter 2011, Tyler was given an iPad. He learned how to use it and more importantly how to communicate with it faster than we could have hoped for.

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The iPad is a new powerful communication

slash educational slash recreational device

that's good for so many different kinds of activities

specifically with communication devices

it's replaced a lot of other devices that we may have used in the past

just because it's much easier to get a hold of

and just by purchasing simple apps off the iTunes app store

the device becomes extremely powerful and

has tremendous benefit for individuals who have speech disabilities

I'm Susan Monteiro and Tyler is our son

Tyler is 12 years old and Tyler was born with Down Syndrome

and later was diagnosed with autisim at around 7 years old

Tyler is still non-verbal and never has spoken

Tyler having a dual diagnosis of Down Syndrome and autism

is very rare and most kids that have Down Syndrome

don't have that diagnosis of autism

You really would want to know as parents

obviously, if your child may possibly have another diagnosis

the best way to meet their needs

especially their communication needs

thinking about technology, I knew Apple had such devices

the iPad, that was going to be coming out, that was incredibly affordable

as compared to other assisted communication device

it's light weight, it's not chunky and heavy

it's absolutely very integrated into the whole of society

every application that you could think of

that helps a child succeed in a community is made

to work with them and stay with them

we heard about the scholarship program through UCP

iPads Without Limits, applied for it, and was able

to get Tyler an iPad. Tyler has been very successful with the iPad

he's also shown great success with learning how to look at books

he also has learned to look at pictures

most importantly this has become a way for Tyler to communicate

and the iPad is Tyler's voice

[Device} cheese stick

Can I have bottled water?

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[Female voice] He's really looking good

[2nd Female voice] He's looking adorable

[Device} bottled water

[Female voice] You already have that Tyler.

What do you want?

[Device} sandwich

[Female voice] You want a sandwich?

[Device] sandwich

[Female voice] ok

let's go, let's go in here

you have to get your plate

here I'll take this and you can put your sandwich on the plate

oh you want to put it on. Alright

very good

Want me to help?

You got it!

Thank you

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