Ernesto, 5 years old, NC

Wish submitted by:

Ernesto is diagnosed with Autism. Ernesto communicates mainly without words but has begun to use some words with the help of speech therapy. He is energetic and loves playing with his grandmother's guinea pigs. Like his brother, Ernesto has seen a lot of traumatic events and emotions around him. He loves playing with anything and is very active.

Ernesto is wishing for a durable, kid-friendly tablet to support his learning, speech practice, and calm-time activities. As a young, nonverbal child on the autism spectrum, he's been making exciting progress with communication, especially with the alphabet, and recently got so excited while practicing his ABCs that he accidentally broke his mother's iPad. A tablet built to withstand his energetic hands would let him keep building on that progress by using educational apps to practice letters, sounds, and early learning skills, while also providing a familiar, calming activity when he needs to regulate. For Ernesto, this wouldn't just be a device. It would be a tool that supports his communication, celebrates his growing independence, and provides a safe way for him to keep learning and thriving.