The Use of Technology in Speech Therapy Sessions

This is a video of a little girl with autism who is using the iPad in speech therapy.  She is using the Grace App.  This is an app that allows the user to form simple sentences using the iPad.  In this video, Elsie goes from simply using the iPad to say "I want this" to saying "I want cereal".

This is the future of speech therapy.  My field is changing very fast due to technology like this.  Did you, or your child, ever benefit from speech therapy?  What do you think about the use of technology like this in therapy sessions?  Do you feel that it is more of a help or more of a distraction to the child?  Also, what are your thoughts for using technology like this with families who cannot afford to have these same devices at home for carryover practice?

New Beginnings

 My name is Jennifer Crawley.  As of Sunday (March 18), I will have been married six years.  My husband, Michael, works at Vestavia Hills High School.  We have a three year old daughter named Sarah.  I started a new job today at the Burkett Preschool in the Jefferson County School System.  I am a speech-language pathologist.  I have previously worked in the Bessemer School System (4 years) and also with the Alabama Early Intervention System (6 years).  I am enrolled in two online classes this semester to regain my certification after having been out of the school system for a few years.  


Here are a few pictures of my family ...

Jennifer and Sarah

Michael and Sarah