Lynne Hibak holds a broad grin as she sweeps her fingers across an iPad, lighting up swirling streams of colour in the shape of a heart.

For the 32-year-old client of the Garth Homer Society in Saanich, the touch screen offers her entertainment and easy access to the Internet. For other developmentally disabled adults at the day facility, some who canB次元官网网址檛 speak or with limited movement, the technology has given them an unexpectedly rich voice to the world.

Hibak uses the iPad to research birds and animals she sees while volunteering at Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary. Her friend Laurie Fairweather does the same at her volunteer job Glendale Gardens, a.k.a. the Horticultural Centre of the Pacific.

B次元官网网址淢y fingers donB次元官网网址檛 always go where I want. You can make mistakes with the iPad and it's no big deal,B次元官网网址� Fairweather says. B次元官网网址淚f I come across a plant I donB次元官网网址檛 know at Glendale Gardens I can take a picture (with the iPad) and find it.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 research different subjects, like people with different disabilities,B次元官网网址� Hibak offers. B次元官网网址淚 have a disability myself and makes me more aware of other peoplesB次元官网网址� disability.B次元官网网址�

The iPad and its apps have been so successful in giving creative outlets to Garth Homer clients, the society bought 14 of the devices last fall.

High-functioning clients like Hibak and Fairweather adapted to the iPads quickly, but then so did those with significant developmental impairments. Clients who would normally struggle to pick up small objects can assemble virtual jigsaw puzzles, or paint with their hands or even play musical instruments. Deeply disabled, withdrawn individuals will engage using the iPad, even if just to splash a virtual fish pond.

For clients with autism, people who require and demand strict routines, the iPad allows staff to create visual, individualized schedules using digital photos of the client doing tasks B次元官网网址� eating lunch, driving in the van, going to a park. The clearer the routine, the lower the anxiety.

B次元官网网址淭here wasnB次元官网网址檛 the confusion or frustration that I was anticipating due to introducing something that is not familiar,B次元官网网址� said Rob Baker, a staff member who works with clients requiring a high level of care.

B次元官网网址淲e have clients with no capability to draw or hold a pen, but they can still use their hands and fingers. All of a sudden they can make art without obstacles. They found uses that I had no idea about.B次元官网网址�

Baker had the bright idea to introduce his personal iPad to Garth Homer about a year ago, just to test the level of interest and engagement from people in his program. A few moments using the hands-on device, and clients were hooked.

B次元官网网址淭he iPad can be whatever we need for our clients. It can be fun, educational, used for schedules. ItB次元官网网址檚 a great blank slate to start with,B次元官网网址� Baker says. B次元官网网址淚t makes a difference in their lives.B次元官网网址�

Colina Titus, Garth Homer director of client services, said the more profound the disability, the more impact the technology has on their life. One woman who canB次元官网网址檛 speak and who has limited motor skills uses images on the iPad to quickly communicate decisions on the day's activities or what she'd like for lunch.

B次元官网网址淐lients use it to make choices,B次元官网网址� Titus says. B次元官网网址淔or those who canB次元官网网址檛 speak, it's a fantastic tool.B次元官网网址�

Garth Homer executive director Mitchell Temkin said the society will likely buy more iPads this year and has earmarked money to develop in-house apps for assessing a clientB次元官网网址檚 employment capability.

The 14 iPads bought last year cost about $6,000, funded through wishing fountain coins donated by Butchart Gardens, and other fundraising efforts.

Temkin admits that in the beginning, it wasnB次元官网网址檛 clear if the iPads would be broadly useful, although now it seems the technology is improving their clientsB次元官网网址� quality of life, and allows them to B次元官网网址渇inger paint their thoughts.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲e mistake diminished communication capacity with diminished cognitive capacity, and that is completely false,B次元官网网址� Temkin says. B次元官网网址淭he iPad is tearing down communications barriers.B次元官网网址�

editor@saanichnews.com