Robots are opening new channels of communication for students on the autism spectrum or those with other disabilities. Educators at New York City's special education District 75 say the NAO robot-a bright-eyed, two-foot-tall humanoid developed by Aldebaran Robotics-is now considered a virtual classmate by some students.
"Anyone who works with children with autism knows the difficulties in regulating emotions. Within an hour, a child can go from 'sleepy' to 'boiling' and not have strategies to get to the 'green' area."
"the charter schools seem to mine the local district of low-cost special education students while leaving the traditional schools with students who have the most severe disabilities. He points to data showing the district's charter schools tends to serve high proportions of low-cost special needs students - those with speech and hearing disabilities, for instance - while serving low proportions of high-cost special needs students, such as those with autism or emotional problems."