Steve Jobs Inspired by 9-Year-Old's iPad Story - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Steve Jobs Inspired by 9-Year-Old's iPad Story

by

739187 ipadFiona Bligh never thought she would get a response when she sent an email to Apple CEO Steve Jobs. But, the story of her daughter Holly's unique experience with her iPad inspired Steve so much that not only did he write back to Fiona, but Steve asked if he could share her story as well.

Fiona's daughter has albinism. It affects pigment in her skin, hair color and also her vision. The Australian Herald Sun wrote about nine-year-old Holly, noting that her iPad has replaced the large magnifying glass she needed to read. She can quickly enlarge text and is now much more enthusiastic about reading, and can read for twice as long without getting tired.

In her email to the Apple CEO, Fiona shared that "all the other kids think it's awesome that she gets an iPad!" Steve 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?

He signed the email "Thanks, Steve".

Top Rated Comments

BiteMyApple Avatar
199 months ago
Magical or not, it's nice that new technologies like the iPad help those with various impairments get educated.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
soco Avatar
199 months ago
I love the name Fiona :) Beautiful name.

Also interesting to see a Steve response longer than 3 words ;) I have a story too, Steve. Steve?
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
199 months ago
"The iPad is nice but it's just a giant iPod."
"Tablets are still toys, you can't do anything serious."
"Apple's iPad is too simple. Not enough buttons and flashing lights."

And yet it still manages to change lives. Amazing.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
199 months ago
As somebody whom is visually impaired, ever since I've gotten my first macbook pro, I've really been a fan of how they handle accessibility. Even on the iPhone. I can see well enough to get around the iPhone without turning on any specific features, but I can actually see people I know whom are totally blind using one.

Also, in the end, for those whom need screen readers or programs that zoom to make everything bigger, Macs end up being cheaper than many equivalent PC options and work better, from my experience.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
199 months ago
Also interesting to see a Steve response longer than 3 words ;)

That's how you know this is a complete fake! :p
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NAG Avatar
199 months ago
I guess this is proof that this org chart (http://fireballed.org/linked/2011/06/29/org-charts/) is real.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 27 Next to iPhone

Here's When iOS 27 Rolls Out Today in Every Time Zone [Update: It's Out]

Sunday September 13, 2026 3:00 am PDT by
Update 10:04 a.m.: iOS 27 is rolling out now, though it may take a bit for all users to see it, so keep checking! Apple is about to release iOS 27, which will finally deliver more advanced Siri AI capabilities as well as a variety of other refinements, improvements, and new features to iPhones. It's Apple's biggest software update of the year, and Apple announced at Wednesday's iPhone event...
iOS 27 Icon iPhone

iOS 27 Available Now With These 8 New Features

Monday September 14, 2026 9:00 am PDT by
Update — 10 a.m. Pacific Time: Apple has released iOS 27. During its iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo event last week, Apple announced that iOS 27 will be released widely on Monday, September 14. iOS 27 should be available around 10 a.m. Pacific Time / 1 p.m. Eastern Time today via the Settings app, under General → Software Update. Below, we have highlighted eight new features and...
Apple iCloud Plus expansion hero

iCloud+ Now Includes Apple TV, Apple Arcade, and Curated Apple Music Stations in Over 100 Countries

Tuesday September 15, 2026 1:43 am PDT by
Apple today announced a new subscription initiative that turns paid iCloud+ subscriptions into a broader services bundle in more than 100 countries. In select countries, Apple says every paid iCloud+ plan, including the cheapest 50GB tier, now includes Apple TV and Apple Arcade "at no additional cost," while family sharing extends the storage, TV and Arcade access to up to five people....