Edible Apple

A typical Steve Jobs email story typically goes like this.

A curious/worried Mac user emails Steve Jobs regarding a rumor about some product or service he or she is worried about. Steve Jobs the responds with a 1-word answer that confirms the fears of the sender. Next, the Apple blogosphere goes crazy.

But this is a different kind of Steve Jobs email story. Hell, this only involves Jobs tangentially, but you know how the Apple faithful eat up stories of their trusty leader.

In any event, Jobs recently received an email from a mother in Melbourne, Australia praising the iPad for helping her daughter who suffers from albinism.

While we typically associate albinism with the lack of pigmentation, the condition also affects her vision. And such is the case with Holly Bligh, a 9 year old Australian girl who previously struggled in school on account of her inability to visualize school materials as well as her classmates.

The iPad, however, has changed all that. With its large screen and ability to zoom in really close on objects, Bligh is now able to keep up. Bligh’s previous solution was to carry around a heavy magnifying glass to accomplish what the iPad can accomplish in a simple swipe.

“Holly’s enthusiasm to read has grown so much, and it’s definitely increased her independence,” Ms Bligh explained.

Enthusiastic herself, Ms Bligh sent off an email to Steve Jobs thanking him for the iPad, explaining that it had literally changed her daughter Holly’s life.

Ms Bligh’s letter read in part, “All the other kids think it’s awesome that she gets an iPad! Sometimes in the past Holly has found her extra equipment embarrassing … But the iPad has a coolness factor!”

Upon receiving said email, Jobs wrote back

Thanks for sharing your experience with me. Do you mind if I read your email to a group of our top 100 leaders at Apple?

Thanks,

Steve

Jobs also asked for a high-res photo of Holly and her iPad – which you can see above.

This, of course, isn’t the first time we’ve reported on the iPad having a fundamental impact on how people with disabilities go about their day to day lives.

Back in May we reported how the iPad has helped a woman suffering from Macular Degeneration see the faces of her kids for the first time in years. The aforementioned disorder affects a person’s ability to see the center of their field of vision, often limiting them to visuals on the periphery. As is the case with Holly, the ability of the iPad to zoom in real close enables those with Macular Degeneration to zoom in real close and see information in a more complete way.

via Herald Sun