Devices, apps engage students with disabilities

Aldebaran Robotics has created a device called "ASK NAO," a small, human-like robot that can model and talk to students with autism about emotions. "This helps children get used to communicating and interacting ... so they feel more comfortable using those skills with a person," says Alia Pyros, Aldebaran's autism marketing and community coordinator. Besides this device, applications such as Popplet and iThoughts can help students with attention deficit disorder organize their ideas, says Andrea Prupas, of inov8 Educational Consulting, which specializes in assistive technology. District Administration magazine (7/2013)  http://www.districtadministration.com/article/robots-apps-support-special-ed-students