The Best iPad Apps for Special Needs Kids
By Williams, Mari-Jane; Washington Post,Publication Date: April 18, 2012
Article offers recommendations from a speech-language pathologist of iPad applications for use in educating children with special needs. Although the apps discussed are the most expensive versions, they are less costly than traditional communication systems. The apps are recommended in 7 categories: (1) Speech apps, including Dragon Dictation for speech to text conversion, ArtikPix-Ful I, which uses flashcards for practicing articulation, and Articulation Station Pro for children with speech delays; (2) Language apps, including VAST Autism 1-Core for students with autism or apraxia and First Phrases HD for toddlers or children with speech delays; (3) Reading apps, including the phonics based game Bob Books #1-Reading Magic HD; Rainbow Sentences, which helps students learn grammar by color coding the parts of sentences; and Rhyming Words with rhyming activities; (4) Writing and spelling apps, including Cimo Spelling, a game using high frequency and sight words; FirstWords Deluxe, which teachers toddlers letter and word recognition; and iWrite Words, which reinforces correct letter formation and spelling; (5) apps for Organization and Note-taking, including Abilipad, which allows users to customize the keyboard and includes a text to speech function; Audionote Notepad and Voice Recorder, which synchronizes typed notes with recorded audio for students with fine motor disorders; and Notability-Take Notes and Annotate PDF with Dropbox, which combines handwriting, typing, and voice recording for note taking; (6) Communication apps, including Custom Boards for creating custom communication boards selected from over 11 thousands symbols; My First AAC for toddlers and preschoolers; Proloquo2Go, which includes symbols and text to speech; and TouchChat, for students with speaking disorders; and (7) Listening skills apps, including See, Touch, Learn Pro, a picture-learning system for children with autism; LanguageBuilderDeluxe and StoryBuilder, which use audio clips to develop listening skills.
Assistive Products Discussed: DRAGON DICTATION
ARTIKPIX - FULL
ARTIKPIX
STORY BUILDER
IWRITEWORDS
IWRITEWORDS LITE
ARTICULATION STATION PRO
VAST AUTISM 1-CORE
RAINBOW SENTENCES
BOB BOOKS #1 - READING MAGIC
BOB BOOKS #2 - READING MAGIC
FIRSTWORDS: DELUXE
CIMO SPELLING (SIGHT WORDS)
ABILIPAD
NOTABILITY
AUDIONOTE - NOTEPAD AND VOICE RECORDER
CUSTOM BOARDS - PREMIUM
TOUCHCHAT - AAC
TOUCHCHAT - LITE
TOUCHCHAT AAC WITH WORDPOWER
Published by: Washington Post Company (Website:http://www.washpostco.com)
Link to text: http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2012/04/18/gIQA1FwiQT_story.html
