I find this tablet to be the most intriguing of the bunch. I would most likely buy one of these once the budget permits it. It would be great if there were more special needs apps. There are a few but not as many as on the Apple Ipad.

I was on the internet today and found this interesting article from our friends at the autism news wire. It makes sense and lends credence to the stories I have heard that the incidence of autism are higher in areas like silicon valley where really smart people live. Maybe asperger’s is some how more common in extremely smart people or their children.

Autism diagnoses are more common in an IT-rich region. The Medical Research Council (MRC) funded study, published today in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, has important implications for service provision in different regions and for the ‘hyper-systemizing’ theory of autism.

Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, Director of the Autism Research Centre (ARC) at the University of Cambridge, led the study (which was conducted in the Netherlands) with Dr Rosa Hoekstra, a Dutch autism researcher based at ARC and The Open University.

The researchers predicted that autism spectrum conditions (ASC) would be more common in populations enriched for ‘systemizing’, which is the drive to analyse how systems work, and to predict, control and build systems. These skills are required in disciplines such as engineering, physics, computing and mathematics.

The team had previously discovered evidence for a familial association between a talent for systemizing and autism in that fathers and grandfathers of children with ASC are over-represented in the field of engineering. The team had also previously found that mathematicians more often have a sibling with ASC, and students in the natural and technological sciences, including mathematics, show a higher number of autistic traits.

Click here for the rest of the story–>http://www.theautismnewswire.com/NewsITems.aspx?newsID=565&utm_source=Autism&utm_campaign=0feea8dbbb-201100611&utm_medium=email#

and

the intensive overview shown here.

The second video is from Geekazine, a nice tech site.

I am quite impressed by the device. If it gets good application support such as for education and special needs it could be an awesome device.

I would love to do some hands on testing so if you have access to one and want send us one let me know.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 seems quite nice. I am considering getting one to demo apps, and see if Android offers apps that are good for autistic people and other special needs educational purposes. Please take a look at the following video from mobile tech review.

http://kitchenclassroom.squarespace.com/links

A little about Gabrielle–>

I am a freelance writer, educator, and cooking instructor based in Philadelphia. I am the author of several nonfiction books for adults, including Insulin Pump Therapy Demystified and The Creative Jewish Wedding Book.

I currently teach a cooking class at Gratz College, in which teenagers cook meals for several hundred home-bound senior citizens each month. In my cooking classes, I have worked with teens with autism, Down Syndrome, ADHD and intellectual disabilities and appreciate the connections that we make as we cook.

Previously, I was a cooking instructor for Williams-Sonoma in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. As a mother of two young children, including a son with autism, I share my personal experience of engaging with them as they create healthy, wholesome food together. I am now conducting workshops for parents, parents and kids together, teachers and therapists about how to use cooking to connect, communicate and learn together! Drop me a line and we can talk about me doing a workshop for you.

Recently, I have begun a pilot program called Celebrations! at my synagogue for children with special needs and their families. If you are in the Philadelphia area, please get in touch about Celebrations!

Being a Jewish, Asperger’s father of 3 on the spectrum, I appreciate being recognized, and do the same for Gabrielle.

This morning we were on The Vegas Morning Blend, with the Lovely Dao and the dashing Shawn. I really appreciate the opportunity to be on the show.

Technology News Zone uses technology, education and the arts to fully educate people with autism and raise awareness to others. As a man inflicted with Apsergers and the father of three autistic children, David Berkowitz is fueled to assist autistic people and their families with much needed resources and funds. See how you too can help.

http://www.vegasmorningblend.com/videos/123835834.html

We spoke about and appreciate–>

Charity Music, inc.

http://www.charitymusic.org/autismadvocacy.html

We would like to thank KTNV TV, and ABC Television.

www.ktnv.com

Charity Music Inc, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public service organization, whose mission is to help cultivate the next upcoming crop of young artists by providing Musical Instruments, on loan, to homeless students, at- risk, and disadvantaged youth wishing to explore their hidden Musical Talents.

In addition, our “Notes of Appreciation” – Music for Our Military program hopes to provide Musical Instrument and Live Entertainment to over 157 Veteran Hospitals nationwide.

http://www.charitymusic.org/

We will be working with Charity Music as far as our instrument donations. We are, until we receive our 501c going to work with them as Fiscal Partners, they offered to help us in that regards. I appreciate it a great deal.

http://www.charitymusic.com/
http://www.charitymusic.org/volunteerism/volunteeropportunities.php

A link to us on their site–>http://www.charitymusic.org/autismadvocacy.html
Here is a video that they produced as well–>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NV2QfhWxa0k&feature=player_embedded

A friend that I know through Featsonv, www.featsonv.org is helping us with fundraising. She is a Scentsy sales person, and helps with autism and many local events. She set up a fundraiser for us online. If anyone wants to help us help autism, we are involved in an online Scensty Party, the link–>http://702candles.scentsy.us/ If everyone tells 20 people who participate, we could raise a bunch of money to get our new nonprofit rolling. We could then finish our 501c, buy tablets to donate to autistic people and their families and schools, and we can buy instruments to donate as well. We will donate Apple Ipads, and Android Tablets like the Motorola Xoom’s to autistic people and classrooms that need them. We can also use some of the funds to get marketing materials, and help spread autism awareness and awareness of our nonprofit and site as well.
The sales of the autism related scentsy items benefit autism speaks as well, they get a portion of the proceed from Scentsy for the sales of their logo’d candle devices. www.autismspeaks.org

Http://technewszone.com

Please take a look and tell others that is all I ask.

http://702candles.scentsy.us/

Here is a nice article about us, our mission and intent to help others on the autism spectrum–>

When the Apple iPad surfaced in April 2010, many schools adopted it to help children with communication and language skills – but with a starting price of $500, it’s pricey. Out of reach for many families with autistic children who could benefit from the device, Autism Advocacy and Technology News Zone, Inc. (a Nevada nonprofit corporation) wants to help iPads get into the hands of those children.

Established on January 11, 2011, the company has been actively seeking sponsorships and donations to purchase iPads and other technological equipment they can give to those in need; but the response has been lower than anticipated. Even so, David J. Berkowitz, Tech News Zone’s founder and president, remains hopeful that as word spreads and people become aware of their existence, his dream for getting iPads to kids with autism will become a reality.

How an iPad Can Help Autistic Children
Children on the autism spectrum struggle with communication, social, and engagement skills. They have difficulty integrating sensory information and dealing with change. An Apple iPad offers help in all those areas, as well as a unique ability to attract autistic children through their fascination with technology

Read more at Suite101: iPads for Kids with Autism: Tech News Zone Wants to Help | Suite101.com http://www.suite101.com/content/ipads-for-kids-with-autism-tech-news-zone-wants-to-help-a375923#ixzz1PUL7XqX5

http://www.suite101.com/content/ipads-for-kids-with-autism-tech-news-zone-wants-to-help-a375923

thank you to Vickie Ewell