iPad apps touch special needs kids
In the past, business, scientific or research applications drove the design of computers and mobile hardware and software. Just recall the PC, the Palm Pilot and the BlackBerry. But with Apple adding the touch screen to smartphones and the iPad, the computer now is also a tactile and kinesthetic experience.
Even though we have a long way to go to live up to the promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act, assistive technologies such as screen readers, text enlargement software or voice control of computers are now part of standard operating systems. Add to that three learning modalities — visual, auditory and kinesthetic — and we have a comprehensive teaching tool. In addition, special education teachers will find an array of apps that can reach almost every student no matter what the disability and learning modality.
You can locate a list of apps geared for special education on the Scribd website and on Apps for Children with Special Needs .
Here is a short list of some of the most notable:
Smart technologies like the iPad are not the last word for special education teachers. But the unprecedented number of inexpensive applications dedicated to teaching our neediest students deserve consideration if we want to provide a meaningful 21st-century educational experience for them.
Even though we have a long way to go to live up to the promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act, assistive technologies such as screen readers, text enlargement software or voice control of computers are now part of standard operating systems. Add to that three learning modalities — visual, auditory and kinesthetic — and we have a comprehensive teaching tool. In addition, special education teachers will find an array of apps that can reach almost every student no matter what the disability and learning modality.
You can locate a list of apps geared for special education on the Scribd website and on Apps for Children with Special Needs .
Here is a short list of some of the most notable:
Language apps for the visually challenged
- The Dragon suite of voice recognition applications from Nuance Communications instantly converts the spoken word to text and email messages. It’s up to five times faster than typing on the keyboard and offers students with vision and dexterity issues a way to “write” on the computer. This application is free for iPad users.
- I WriteWords is a handwriting app that is very effective for helping younger children learn to write letters and numbers by tracing them on the touch screen. The app costs $2.99. You can test a free version at IWriteWords Lite.
- Proloquo2Go from AssistiveWare is for children and adults with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, developmental disabilities, apraxia, ALS, stroke or traumatic brain injury. This alternative communication tool is more expensive, but it offers speech recognition tools that are only found in software that costs a lot more.
Counting and computation apps
- One computation app that remains popular with teachers and parents is Coin Math from Recession Apps. This app helps children learn financial literacy by teaching them the values of U.S. coins. Children simulate purchases using combinations of coins to complete the transactions.
- Math Bingo from ABCya.com is another app to help children improve their basic computation skills. It is a fun exercise as children try to fill in squares by solving arithmetic questions. This app is highly rated by teachers and parents.
- Another highly rated math app is Algebra Touch from Regular Berry. It uses touch-screen technology to help students learn algebra as they slide values from one side of the equation to the other right on the screen. Because of the touch screen, algebraic theory and practices become concrete and embedded in the motor memory.
Motor skill apps
- Dexteria from Binary Labs helps offers a set of therapeutic hand exercises that improve fine motor skills and handwriting readiness in children and adults. It increases the motor coordination and control of hands and fingers as a warm-up before writing exercises.
- Binary Labs also makes available an app called Letter Reflex-Overcoming Letter Reversals to help students stop letter reversals. The app received the 2012 Editor’s Choice Award from Children’s Technology Review.
Autism apps
- Autism Apps from Touch Autism is a comprehensive list of helpful tools for the iPad that can help teach students who have autism spectrum disorder or Down syndrome. In this app, you can find video demonstrations and reviews of the various tools discussed in this column.
Behavior modification apps
- iRewards from Grembe, Inc. is a motivational tool to help reinforce positive behaviors. This app could work with all children but will be especially effective with students who exhibit ADHD, autism and anxiety disorders.
Smart technologies like the iPad are not the last word for special education teachers. But the unprecedented number of inexpensive applications dedicated to teaching our neediest students deserve consideration if we want to provide a meaningful 21st-century educational experience for them.
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