Introduction to Micah's iPad

We were blessed to get Micah an iPad in December with the help of a county program. The goal is for Micah to learn to use it as a speech augmentation device, but there are so many other applications for him.
Since he is physically unable to write, educational applications provide a way for him to choose an answer using a simple touch. This can be documented and will demonstrate not only what he knows, but areas in which he needs help.
He may not be able to take a cd, put it into a player, close the top, and press play, but with the iPad, he can touch his music app, play, and change music. This has been one of the easiest things for him to navigate so far and he loves it. There are also many instrument applications, allowing him to choose and "play" the piano, violin, drums, and guitar.
Since he is unable to take a book from a shelf and turn the pages on his own, we have downloaded book apps which allow him to choose a book and turn pages with the touch of a finger. So far, since he is left handed, he often turns the pages backward! We're trying to teach him to reach across midline and touch the right corner. He is very proud of himself when he accomplishes this! Some books come with cool extras like coloring pages, puzzles, games, and music, all done by touch, of course. Because of these extras in his Toy Story Three book, he and Seth have been bellowing, "Hay Un Amigo En Mi," the Spanish version of the song, "You've Got a Friend in Me" heard at the end of the movie.
Micah loves looking at pictures just like his mama does. It gets him talking about the people he sees in them, which is good for speech therapy. Use those words, Micah Mooch!
This iPad can access the internet too, making it irresistible to the rest of the family when Micah goes to bed!
It is going to take some time to improve Micah's dexterity so that he will be able to use the iPad on his own. There are a few drawbacks we're trying to fix, like the stand swiveling away from him when he applies too much pressure, or the choices he makes not registering because he has touched too many at once. He already loves the iPad, though. He knows it is his and asks to take it everywhere. Someday he will. We are saving up for an application called Proloquo to Go. Once he learns to navigate it well, he will be able to use it to talk to and be understood by those who don't know Micah Speak.
Get ready, World, Micah has got somethin' to say!