ABSTRACT
This chapter gives some simple tips to follow in buying a computer and getting started with it. It considers some of the software and hardware and suggests some considerations in purchasing computer equipment and getting started with it in people's own home. The chapter refers the qualities of information and communication technology (ICT) and, depending on which are most relevant to the child, have suggested which elements of a sales package to concentrate on. The software on the machine is probably more important in determining its successful and regular use in the home than considerations of modem, RAM, cache and all of the other paraphernalia that is prominent in PC sales and advertising. More specialist software for one or two pupils with autism may be better loaded on to one machine, but choose a machine that one has regular and easy access to.
