Apple early this morning shared a new pair of videos on its YouTube channel highlighting the effect that technology has on those with special needs. As this month is Autism Acceptance Month, the video, called “Dillan’s Voice,” features a teenager named Dillan and shows how he uses Apple products to express his thoughts.
Dillan is autistic and nonverbal but yet has very complex and powerful thoughts that he is able to express using his iPad with an augmented and alternative communication app. Dillan has been using his iPad to help communicate for around three years and the product has quickly become an integral part of his daily life. The iPad allows Dillan to communicate with his peers, his family, and his teachers, something his mom says is “incredible” to her. “Hearing Dillan’s voice is incredible,” Dillan’s mother says. “He’s insightful and smart and creative.”
The two-minute short film shows Dillan using his iPad around the house, in school, and in various social settings to express his thoughts.
Autism Acceptance Month is dedicated to the stories of people like Dillan. His words remind us how important it is to ensure everyone with a voice can be heard.
In a separate video called “Dillan’s Path,” Apple shares interviews with Dillan’s mother and his communication partner, who both express the monumental effect that technology has had on Dillan’s life:
Autism Acceptance Month acknowledges that every autistic person’s path is unique. For Dillan, the dedication of his loved ones, years of hard work and his iPad made a big difference in how he connects with others. Hear Dillan, his mother and his therapist / communication partner share that journey.
Apple has been recognized in the past for its accessibility features. Last year, the American Foundation for the Blind honored Apple with the Helen Keller Achievement Awards for its VoiceOver functionality. The foundation has also said in the past that Apple has done “more for accessibility than any other company.”
“Dillan’s Voice” and “Dillan’s Path” can both be seen below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMN2PeFama0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTx12y42Xv4
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
I wish Apple would release more videos like this, it’s easy for Microsoft or Samsung to put out ads trashing features or whatever, when you get on that emotional level… it just demonstrates a real connection between the users and the company. Opposing ad campaigns can’t tarnish that.
Millions of blind people use windows. They also use iPhones. Should it always be the company of fanboys? Nope.
People do *use* Windows. David’s point, which is firmly supported by every poll and study ever done on the subject, is that people *love* their Apple products, and connect to them in a more profound way than do users of their competitor’s offerings. Apple works very hard to achieve and sustain that connection with customers from all walks of life with every disability.
Microsoft is not even close to Apple’s level in accessibility. No company is!
Even the Apple Watch has full VoiceOver, and can be used by blind people.
Yes and for us visually impaired (blind) people to use window we must spend an exstra $1000 in software to make it right. Where with apple let’s see Mac it built in no exstra cost. iPhone it built in no exstra cost. iPad it built in no exstra cost.
Yes Microsoft claims to have acessability built in but a sky user who relies on it and they will say it stinks they had to shell out for JAWS at $1000 to use it for their job becouse Microsoft don’t do it right.
Android tries to be accessible but they got a lot of work to still do.
I should know my wife is totally blind and I’m what they call legally blind I can still se but just go enough to get around and can only see text if I really make it big.
Do people like you really need to reply to every single comment praising Apple with a grumpy/mean “fanboy” retort? I’d say nope, but apparently that would be incorrect!
Beautiful.
Inspired to make the world a little better today.
Completely agree. Super inspirational couple of videos.
Makes me appreciate what I have and what I can do to help others.
Awesome video — this shows the potential of technology… i think it is kinda wrong Apple using autism to help push sales, especially when you can find text to talk software on virtually all tablets… in this case it just so happens the therapist had an ipad – but it could have been a laptop, or surface, android device, or even a phone.
I just hope more breakthroughs can be made to help more.
Yah but what those other devices DON’T have is access to the vast App Store with tons of Autism specific apps that may or may not exists on platforms other than Apple’s own iOS. Just something to think about. Also, using Apple’s HealthKit, medical institutions have written apps specific to studying autism. Something that also doesn’t exist on other devices. It’s not about the hardware. It’s about the software. But to use the software you need their hardware. They go hand in hand. I think Apple differentiates themselves enough from other competitors in the healthcare space that they deserve the right to market these features as selling points for their hardware.
android certain have tried to branch out into the health area with android wear — when that was first launched they indicated it could be used for a lot of health stuff BUT companies werent convinced…
plus… similar software that were used in this ad have been around for many years… it easily could have been an android tablet that she brought out and he started typing on…
I’m no disputing about apples other gadgets or apps — none of that was on show… merely a story of how a boy was able to communicated thanks to Apple and their iPad
(and android do have apps for this…and surface runs full software that has been around for years.)
She could have had another product, but she didn’t. And if you take a look around , that seems to be the case in most scenarios. People could have had another device, but they prefer the iPad.
people with autism have been able to communicate in their own way long before technology — blocks with pictures and letters were onced used…
and not everyone has an idevice… after all, his mother didnt, has she had one he could have been communicating a lot sooner — ipads have been around for a few years now.
The word “iPad” was mentioned once on each video and even device (and logo) is covered with a case. I would hardly call that a sales push. Nobody said that only the ipad has the capabilities to assist him, so I’m not really sure what is your concern. Maybe you are just than exercising your internet given ability to complain about anything?
oh… this makes me laugh… the fact you state you wouldnt call it a sales push, means that apple have successfully done their job for people like you…
this is called subtle advertising… very similar to product placement in TV and movies…
we are told it is a story about a boy with autism, and how his life changed, etc – but then there is a subtle glimpse of an ipad, with a brief mention of it, and in case you missed it we see the apple logo at the end so that you know it was alllll about the ipad.
my issue is that they are using autism to sell and advertise…
@pdixon1986
Oh… you can laugh all you want… i guess that must mean you are right. Is it an evil laugh? Do you bring your pinky to the side of your mouth while you do it? Or is it more of a condescending chuckle? Like: “hum,hum… what an ingnorant fool. Poor soul needs me to teach him a thing or two about autism, and marketing.”
It is a commercial, who sait it wasn’t? Apple did not discover that iPads (tablets in general) are an immense help in the development/treatment of autism patients. Therapists did. I guess they are the ones to blame then.
Was the word “ipad” not supposed to be mentioned at all? So, if they mentioned it a lot, it’s a sales push. If they mention it once, it’s a sales push. If they don’t mention it at all, it’s a sales push… or a docummentary, not sure yet. And how dare (big, bad) Apple show their logo (once) at the very end of their ad? Inconceivable. Never been done before. Ever. In any of their commercials. We know Google and Microsoft don’t do it at the end of their ads.
My issue is that your mind is made up and -based on your other responses on the thread- you will not accept, or even contemplate, any feedback regarding the subject. Specially from us, lesser minded folks that have had their thoughts shaped by apple’s marketing department. You know, the one’s you refer to as “people like you”. I mean, that’s really the issue, is it not? Let the world know that you are too smart to fall for it?
Maybe for you it was “alllll” about the iPad. For me it was about teaching, learning, autism, progress, limitations, stereotypes, changing mindsets, understanding, breaking out, breaking through, contact, communication and ultimately, freedom. But that’s just me. You know, the simple minded folk.
So, please mister; shed some light, drop some more knowledge. May I have some more?
@311sie I could not agree more ..
at least people are talking about autism because of this ad…
That’s true.
Can’t….stop…crying…. This is beautiful…..Apple and other tech companies are truly changing the world and making it a better place for everyone!
I completely agree. It’s beautiful and world changing.
This is beautiful. I just cried. Wow.
I wish others follow the same path and introduce more and more technology to help people around us. Gadgets can become true friends if one makes them.
My best friend has two brothers who would be on the same end of the spectrum as Dillan. I go over to his house and it’s always been impossible to communicate with them whatsoever. I’ve always treated them as I would someone with severe intellectual disabilities (i.e. like a child) because I didn’t know that inside their minds something completely different was going on. This is so eye opening and beautiful. The way I think and act around those boys is going to be completely different from now on.
pdixon1986
Dude, its hardly a sales push.
This just shows how an iPad can help a person with autism.
I guess you always need to find something bad about this.
wow…you respond all the way down here…
I never said it was a sales “push”… i said it was “subtle advertising”…
Remember the “shot on iphone” vids — thats also subtle advertising… you are just looking at beautiful pictures without the words Apple or iphone being shoved in your face — thats because already we know it was shot on an iphone, so we already have those words in our head and therefore everything we look at in those videos is associated with Apple — you just dont realise it because it not a conscious thought…
It’s the same with this video… Had this been on an autism website – it would have very little to do with Apple at all – it would be just about autism and tech… in fact, an autism site would also show other tech being used – such as large touch screen desktop computers.
There is so much tech being used to help people with autism — a lot of stuff is on windows machines…but android is also been used… but instead of these tech companies showcasing how their tech is used, autism sites show how tech can be used.
Apple have used this story because it is very touching — it is shameful advertising…Apple are not changing the world of autism…technology is.
As i said before — the video is great… the story of Dillan’s achievements is great… — tagging Apple on the end, and implying it was because of the ipad that all this could happen is not great.
I’ve been teaching classes with special needs for 6 years… each student requires different needs… and technology has helped… android tablets have been used a lot, but also touch screen desktops, projectors, etc — so why is Apple now decided to share a video on how ipad helps autism??
Here come the Samsung-using cynics. Those guys are ridiculous. Why buy Samsung products and live in comments sections of Apple videos. Perhaps a teenage phase. Or basic jealousy.
Inspiring and moving -shows why Apple have the edge in technology for society
So is it Autism Awareness Month or Autism Awarness Day….?
It’s both. April 2nd is the start of Autism Awareness Month.
I love this part about Apple! This is such a touching commercial in the way an iPad not only is useful to people, but also changes their life. I really don’t see any other company making videos about like this.
Other companies tech has been used for a very long time in helping autism… but they just don’t showcase it… instead autism sites and help groups will…
Apple havent made ipad specific for autism…nor have they added anything to the ipad specific for autism… you can still find many of the same apps on other devices, text to speech has been on PC since i was in school — stephen hawkings uses tech that follows his eye movements to type (developed way before Apple made the ipad)… but none of these companies showcase it…
This video could easily replace the spoken word ipad with surface, and have the microsoft logo at the end — instead of being able Apple and autism, it would have been microsoft and autism…
it’s just a shame so many think apple have done the leg work and made this all possible — the truth is, they havent…they just made a video.
If I were in the ads department I would be having Apple churn out something like this every month. There are a lot of reasons why the right device is important and there are many forms, some that tend to be forgotten, that importance manifests itself as…this is so important.
Tim Cook often says that Apple is a company that does things because it is right to do so, not necessarily what is profitable.
We see the company doing CareKIt and ResearchKit brilliantly.
Apples hardware is vastly more expensive in relation to their software yet it is their software that benefits people the most.
Tim Cook must see that, and address it.
WOW! this ad made me cry.
Seeing this has actually made me think Apple is not doing enough with people with disabilities. Heck they should take one part of those billions they stashed and make life of people like Dillan easier. Instead of using their indoor mapping technology to sell things in stores they should start developing apps for blind people themselves. Also for autistic people! Resources and knowledge of private developers is limited and Apple could do wonders only if they wanted!
Are you kidding? That’s what they do already! I have helped blind customers before, as well as deaf, non-speaking customers all using Apple’s accessibility technology. Some of these were training sessions, some of them were even bar appointmements. I helped a woman cope with how to use her Mac in one on one sessions as she slowly lost her vision. Apple already develops “apps” for blind people themselves – it’s built into the OS! This commercial is showing simply what other developers have done to help others using Apple technologies and hardware. If you’re going to throw around negativity, you should get some facts first.
The software on Apple hardware has often been groundbreaking and very accessible.
It is the cost of Apple hardware that has now become the barrier for doing what is right. It cannot be right for any autistic child to be deprived from expressing themselves yet hardware costs are making it happen.
The price of Apples hardware could not be argued against if they have only small quarterly profits, comfortable but not the ground shaking, unfathomable ones they have been having over the last ten quarters.
Tim Cook should look at this in the same way as the environment, diversity, and supplier responsibility.
Apple’s excellent Refurbished Store should be developed further, and promoted much more.
Nice videos but I’m not sure what the importance of the iPad or even Apple are in all this. Similar technologies have existed in Windows and even pre-Windows machines since the 1980s.
I’m actually disappointed that Apple are trying to claim any credit for the technology that is available here. These technologies have been available and have evolved over the years without Apple being on the scene. As an educator of students with special needs, many of them being on the autism spectrum, I believe that there is much more that Apple can do. Look at Ruben Puentedura’s SAMR model and you’ll see just how low level the applications on show are. I would argue that Kinectimals does more for children with autism than what is demonstrated here.
This is an area where Apple (and Samsung & LG to their credit) are way ahead of Microsoft. I’m a lifelong Apple user who has switched to the Surface Pro 4, because it’s form factor and real OS make it a superb productivity machine. HOWEVER, Windows (even 10) is a complete UX disaster from every angle. Inconsistent, one minute you’re using large touch friendly tiles (childish and silly really, makes info management difficult), to 1980s style Windowing environment with tiny text you cannot see. No auto adapting to monitor resolution. Windows keyboard controls are way less ergonomically sensible than Apple’s (you have to hold the Control key down on the left, not the easier to reach Option key as in on Mac keyboards to operate a special function) and the various control panels designed to make adjustments are randomly laid out and fiddly.
Anyone with a disability must find Windows a pain! If it wasn’t for the fact I love the touch screen and kickstand (and it’s fast), I would throw my Surface Pro out of the window and go back to a MacBook Air. (iPad/iOS is just not ready to replace the desktop experience alas, despite other benefits.)
Great ads, this is what Apple do best.
(Oh, I mention Samsung and LG because I own their phones and they have some nifty accessibility features that go beyond what Google/Android offer by default.)
Very good commercials. I miss the Designed by Apple commercials.
6th annual #AutismAcceptanceDay and #AutismAcceptanceMonth.Started in 2011 by Paula Durbin-Westby. Thank you for your steps in promoting acceptance of Autistic people. https://www.facebook.com/events/215637048774719/