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They may look like ordinary devices, but some people say gadgets like the iPhone and Nintendo DS have extraordinary effects on people with developmental disabilities.

"This gives such great hope for educators, for parents, for advocates," says one New Yorker.

That's why Staten Island residents Barbara D'Amora and Diana Peruggia organized a special technology summit. Both mothers have a child with special needs and are working to raise awareness and resources for families in the special needs community.

"I wanted parents and providers and teachers to know that technology is changing lives and that for the developmentally disabled population, they deserve dignity, they deserve equality of life, and this is the way to go," says D’Amora.

Hundreds of people attended the technology summit at the Jewish Community Center on Staten Island and learned how to use simple tools and applications that can help people with special needs.

"Technology can speak for them or they need more structure, so the technology can give them step-by-step guidance or reminders right there—portable and accepted and easily accessible," says speaker Gloria M. Satriale, J.D.

While some say they're concerned about costs and learning how to use the applications, others say these women are moving in the right direction.

"Certainly, everybody has economic constraints, but I think in truly understanding these new applications it's a little bit thinking outside the box," says Satriale.

Both have been pushing the envelope for more than a decade founding the GRACE Foundation, which stands for “Getting Resources for Autistic Children's Equality,” and they have another summit in the works.

"If they could take away just one piece of information that will impact a person with a developmentally disabilities life and help them to be independent, that's all that I as a parent of a disabled child would like," says Peruggia.

"It's very encouraging, watching the videos and seeing the things the kids have done. It's just amazing," says parent Diane Benasillo.

For making sure people with developmental disabilities have state of the art resources available to them, Barbara D'Amora and Diane Peruggia are the latest New Yorkers of the Week.