April is Autism Acceptance Month, and Apple plans to mark the occasion in several ways, including a dedicated section in the App Store and retail field trips.

According to Steven Aquino, a journalist who covers accessibility topics, Apple will offer field trips to retail stores that will host music events designed to include children with disabilities.

Kids will be able to participate in the events using the Skoogmusic Skoog 2.0 Tactile Musical Interface, one of the many accessibility-oriented accessories Apple sells in its online store. Skoog is a tactile cube that lets children with disabilities control sound through touch.


Along with special Apple Store events, Apple has created an Autism Acceptance App Store section that includes dozens of important accessibility apps organized into sections like Apps for Every Day, Apps for Learning, Books, Podcasts, and iTunes U courses.

autismacceptanceappstore
Some of the apps included are Proloquo2Go, :prose, Keeble Accessible Keyboard, Assistive Express, TouchChat HD, RocketKeys, and more.

Accessibility has always been hugely important to Apple, and the company has aimed to make its devices accessible for everyone, with in-depth accessibility settings to meet a range of needs. Back in October, Apple launched a new Accessibility website that highlights accessibility features across all of its products.

Top Rated Comments

that be me Avatar
85 months ago
As an Apple fan with autism, I wonder if they'll have any events for adults. I think this is a great idea overall.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WarHeadz Avatar
85 months ago
I love that Apple is so socially active. Some people say they should just stick to business, but I disagree.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
brendu Avatar
85 months ago
Interesting they call it autism acceptance when I've always heard of it as autism awareness month. As a special education teacher I like "autism acceptance" as much as awareness. Good for Apple for spreading the word.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
harriska2 Avatar
85 months ago
There is an ignore option! Click on the user name then click on the ignore link. It works!

Apple has definitely helped my 21 year old son with autism. When we first got it in 2000, we didn't realize how beneficial it would become. Reading books and texts on the ipad is quicker with word lookups. You can have it read anything to you. He uses it to take pictures of the whiteboard, experiments, and record lectures. It ties to his $100 used iphone 5s with icloud so that he can maintain his calendar of homwork due, dental appointments and contact info. He emails and facetimes me. He emails his instructors with questions, something he never used to do. He has a macbook for heftier assigments but he claims the ipad is "an extension of my arm." His communication skills used to be non existent - even neglecting to ask to go out for dinner or telling us he was leaving. Now his communication is very regular because his devices work together and they are easy for him to use and learn. He uses a $10 iwireless plan and it works just fine. I have to say the apple devices have been worth every penny, especially the sturdy ipads that he has dropped on tile foors multiple times.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
brendu Avatar
85 months ago
Oh please. You think the hardware is special or that its designed for these people. Wrong! There is zero difference between an iPad, Android Tablet, or Windows Surface. It just happened that the most software is available on Apple's stuff. But it's not exclusive. While the iPad is helping people....there is nothing special about the iPad that makes it anymore useful than competing platforms. There are PLENTY of classrooms and homes using software for non-Apple devices that is helping people just as much. The other tech companies just don't showcase that sort of thing as much as Apple. Apple wants to shove it's so called progressive values down your throat so you get that warm and fuzzy feeling when you spend $500 on a watch and $900 on a phone. Your crazy defense is proof of that. You are brainwashed into thinking the iPad is the only magical device that can help people. Well....you are wrong. And Apple makes these devices with accessibility options (very few of them) simply to increase it's sales. But hey, keep defending Apple and pushing it's progressive image....it helps Tim fill his Yacht with gas and Dr. Dre buy off the cops for all the woman he beats and drugs he probably buys.
Apple has accessibility features others don't have or only recently introduced. You make a ton of assumptions too. I never said only Apple makes devices that help people. If you really think Apple is such a horrible company for having progressive values, then go buy something else. I'm not politically liberal but im perfectly capable of recognizing the work that has been done to make it easier for people to live their lives. And yes, Apple has the absolute best mainstream hardware and software for accessibility needs. Also, would supporting google or miscosoft be any better for me? How would it be any different, lining their executives pockets with my money?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
page3 Avatar
85 months ago
As an aside, here in the UK Apple run a load of summer "code clubs". I'm sure they do the same (probably more) in the US. Anyway, last year we took our 8 year old (autistic) son to one. He'd never been to anything like it before, and we'd never thought of attempting to take him to something like this. He'd been experimenting with Xcode for a few months as he'd outgrown Swift Playgrounds. He was really keen, but socially anxious.

Apple were brilliant. I contacted the store in advance - one of the smallest in the UK. They sent photos and tshirt in advance so he could acclimatise. Over the three days nothing was too much trouble. He was lent noise-cancelling headphones and when a trigger caused a meltdown they allowed us to go "backstage" where it was quiet and he could calm down. We were made to feel welcome rather than a burden.

A year later I'm still grateful to the staff at the Southampton Apple Store.

Apple "gets" autism and I applaud their efforts.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

BMW Logo iPhone 15 Pro

Warning: BMW Wireless Charging May Break iPhone 15's Apple Pay Chip

Sunday October 1, 2023 6:14 am PDT by
If you have an iPhone 15 and drive a BMW, it might be best to avoid charging the device with the vehicle's wireless charging pad for now. Over the past week, some BMW owners have complained that their iPhone 15's NFC chip no longer works after charging the device with their vehicle's wireless charging pad, according to comments shared on the MacRumors Forums and X, formerly known as Twitter. ...
Multi Display CarPlay 1

All-New Apple CarPlay Launching Later This Year With These 5 New Features

Friday September 29, 2023 11:29 am PDT by
At WWDC 2022 last year, Apple previewed the next generation of CarPlay, promising deeper integration with vehicle functions like A/C and FM radio, support for multiple displays across the dashboard, personalization options, and more. Apple said the first vehicles with support for the next-generation CarPlay experience would be announced in late 2023, but it has still not shared any additional...
Apple Watch Edition Gold 2015

Original Apple Watch is Now Obsolete, Including $17,000 Gold Model

Monday October 2, 2023 9:15 am PDT by
All first-generation Apple Watch models released in 2015 were added to Apple's obsolete products list on September 30, according to an internal memo obtained by MacRumors. As a result, these outdated "Series 0" watches are no longer eligible for repairs or other service at Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Provider locations. The list of obsolete models includes the first-generation...
iPhone 15 Pro lineup

Apple to Address iPhone 15 Pro Overheating Issue With iOS 17 Update

Saturday September 30, 2023 9:28 am PDT by
Apple plans to release an iOS 17 update to address a bug that may contribute to the reported iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max overheating issue, according to a statement the company shared today with MacRumors and Forbes reporter David Phelan. Apple also says some recent updates to third-party apps have overloaded the system and contributed to the overheating issue. The report notes that...
Apple Logo Spotlight

Mac Trade-In Changes May Indicate New Model to Launch This Month

Tuesday October 3, 2023 6:30 am PDT by
Apple may be proceeding with plans to release a new Mac model this month, according to potentially related information obtained by MacRumors. Details pertaining to imminent changes to Mac trade-ins provided to MacRumors by a verified source suggest that Apple will likely begin accepting new models for trade-in this month. Similar changes in June coincided with WWDC, when Apple began accepting...
iphone se 4 modified flag edges

iPhone SE 4 Details: Action Button, USB-C Port, Face ID, and More

Wednesday September 27, 2023 1:34 pm PDT by
Significant changes are expected to arrive with Apple's fourth-generation iPhone SE, in terms of both design and hardware, MacRumors has learned. The iPhone SE 4, known internally under the codename Ghost, is expected to receive a new design derived almost entirely from the base model iPhone 14. According to our sources, the iPhone SE 4 will use a modified version of the iPhone 14 chassis...