iPadiCan: Trialling iPads to support primary and secondary students with disabilities

iPads have only been on the market since April 2010 but have rapidly gained great attention within educational communities. While their potential to support teaching and learning has been advocated by many, as yet little empirical research has been released on their application in primary and secondary classrooms. This paper reports on an action research study which investigated the possible role of iPads in supporting learning for students with disabilities. The project sought to document the practical steps required to implement iPads in classrooms, the applications which might be most educationally effective, together with the perceptions of students, teachers, parents and teaching assistants (TAs). The study provides evidence of the significant potential of the devices for children with a wide range of disabilities and, through a number of brief vignettes, demonstrates their capacity to support both learning and socialisation.