The iPad has gotten a lot of people excited. There are many different ways an iPad can be used as a tool for educators and students (of all abilities) to use in the classroom, as well as fun and learning at home, too! A great way to combine iPad education and fun with physical therapy is to have kids who normally use wheelchairs to stand up in a standing frame while playing iPad like Max. Often kids who use wheelchairs like to do activities in their stander that able-bodied kids may do while sitting down, so iPad time is a great opportunity to get some weight bearing in their standing frame. Let’s take a look at a few applications that are fun and stimulating for kids with special needs (they are all FREE unless noted):
Magic Piano App is fun for kids of all abilities and ages! Photo Credit D. Watson
Sights
I Love Fireworks
I-Beams Lite
Sounds
I-Horn
Vocal Zoo
Magic Piano by Smule (Just .99)
Art
Doodle Kids
Clicky Sticky (Just.99)
Just for Fun!
Up! By Disney (pop Ballons!)
Fart Piano (self-explanatory and guaranteed giggles!)
Communication & Speech
Dragon Dictation (more for older kids, and adults)
iCommunicate ($49.99)
ArtikPix ($29.99)
Proloquo2Go (expensive at $189.99 but great as for assistive communication device)
Master List of iPad Apps for Special Education
Here is a great list of apps compiled by a school speech language pathologist, Eric Sailers. Many of the apps are for iPhones or iPods too.
iPhone, iPad and iPod touch Apps for (Special) Education
Thank you to Adaptions 4 Kidz, King of the Wild Things, Speech Language Pathology Sharing and the USA Tech Guide blogs for sharing their favorite iPad Apps with us! Be sure to check out their great websites for more ideas on fun activities for your kids!
Have you had a chance to play with an iPad yet? What apps have you tried? What would you recommend for learning, function, or fun?
I just read this post about an app for the iPhone called iComm. It allows kids with disabilities to use the iPhone to communicate through touching pictures and automated voice responses. Very cool…check it out!
http://www.childrc.com/blog/2010/05/new-iphone-app-helps-special-needs-kids-talk/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ChildResourceCenter+%28ChildRC.com++Blog%29
Melody Kitty is featured in the “What’s Hot” book section of the app store and has a cute song that my grandson, who has down syndrome, loves listening to. Here’s her link:
http://ax.itunes.apple.com/us/app/melody-kitty/id389093294?mt=8
You should check out the Off We Go – Going on a Plane and Going to the Dentist Apps. They are great apps to help prepare your child for these activities and were created by a Mum for her own son who has special needs. You can find out more about them including viewing a preview video of them here:
http://www.offwego.ie/blog/articles/147-off-we-go-apps-now-available-on-itunes-app-store.html
Thanks for getting that information out into the world! I am a speech language pathologist and assistive technology specialist and have developed an app of my own. Its called Talking Flashcards. You can create a custom deck or search 1 million cards on Quizlet.com, import and the app will speak each card. Check out the website for a demo. Hope it can help our kids!
For a list of even more apps yo use with your special child checkout http://candogoods.wordpress.com/2010/11/16/all-aboard-the-apple-train-apps-to-use-with-your-chil/
I just released “Zanny, Born to Run”, an interactive, fun iPad app book for children with special needs–it was featured in “New & Noteworthy” section this week. It’s the first in a series of picture books for children on the spectrum, to help boost their self-esteem and understand their symptoms better by seeing characters who struggle with the same symptoms they may have. Each book covers a different symptom of ASD.
There is also an attached “feelings game” , where kids can match the right facial expression to the feeling the character is experiencing.
My own son has PDD-NOS and ADHD, so I have a good app tester and inspiration living with me :)
You can reach Zanny in iTunes here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/zanny-born-to-run/id409817073?mt=8
Great article (but you should probably edit it to reflect the real price of the iCommunicate app, which is $49.99 and not $4.99)
:-)
Thanks for the correction on the price. I did edit it to reflect $49.99.
I have been using my son’s iPad quite frequently to become familiar with the applications before purchasing one for myself. We decided to purchase the iPad for him due to his eyesight issues caused by Stickler’s Syndrome and because it is lighter than the laptop he was carrying. I am mainly purchasing an iPad because I work at DISH Network and they already have the ability to LIVE stream content everywhere. DISH Network’s subscription gives you the ability to watch content on smart phones and iPad wherever you go not just at home like Comcast proposes to do later this year. I invite you to learn more at http://www.dish.com/TVeverywhere.
Hi, I implemented an iPad app for my 2ys-old son. This app simplifies image search process and I also added text-to-speech function. It is free, too. http://www.kidsearchs.com
I have a boy who has autism , he will become 8 years after few days. I heard about some apps for ipad which can help my son to cmmunicate with others. and also for learning easily.
but i need an apps. which has 2 languages arabic & english.
I just bought my son an iPad due to the overwhelming response in parents and therapists for iPad apps – I can’t wait for him to try some of these!
Looking for speaking app that can be used to put various spoken words into folders, grouped so that user can select the group of words specific for the person being spoken to. any feedback. My daughter just got her Ipad and it works great, just wondering if there are apps that can offer the use of grouping words or comments.
Thanks,
Joe
Joe,
I read your comment and thought I should mention that Proloquo2Go has this feature. I am not sure how much you know about this app, but it is great for what seems like your daughter’s needs.
HI Can anyone tell me if you need internet connection to use apps once they are downloaded? I am thinking of a situation where a family goes camping and takes along the iPad for their child with special needs.
Doreen,
Some apps do and some dont. It really depends on the app itself. Most will tell you when you read the description on iTunes. If it doesn’t, take a look at the website that is attached. One thing I have notice while doing some research for a project I am working one, is that there are usually about 4-5 apps that do the same general thing. Now this is tricky because each has one or two things that vary, one of them may be having to use the app while connected. Either way it never hurts to read up a little about it before you purchase it. I am building a website that will encompass issues like this if you are interested.
You should also check out eReadingToGo! It is based on a reading program originally designed for kids with Down syndrome called eReadingPro. It’s amazing!
You can get it from iTunes here:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ereadingtogo/id431643803?mt=8
Introduce the scientific method to preschoolers with our app and
lesson plan. Preschoolers instinctively observe and ask questions. They also think outside the box because they are unaware of what’s normal or obvious. Have you given a preschooler a toy and watched them use it in numerous ways it was never meant to be used? They are naturally creative and innovative. This is why we think this is the perfect time to introduce preschoolers to the scientific method. It encourages creativity and critical thinking.
http://www.dylanmonkey.com/lessonplan.htm
I would like more information as to how to abtain a I Pad for special needs children. My daughter is non verbal and this would be a good avenue for her. What is the cost and where do I purchase the item? I do not have a Apple PC so how would I download the programs? Thanks
Barbara-you can find more information on the iPad by visiting the Apple website http://www.apple.com/ipad/ The apps discussed above can only be downloaded if you have an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. Hope this helps.
Please permit me to introduce you to a new children’s educational game for the iPad and iPhone:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/counting-beads/id441820190?mt=8&ls=1#
Counting Beads is a totally fun way for children to learn numbers and letters of the alphabet. The numbers (or letters) appear as colored beads that you connect by dragging each bead into its next higher numbered bead. As you connect the beads in numbered order, you create a chain that follows the lead bead as you drag. This teaches the numbers visually. You can also move the bead chain by holding the device face-up parallel to the floor and tilting it slightly to let gravity roll the leading bead downhill. Even older folks can have fun with this amusing simple game.
A brief demo video of this app is available on UTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GwIbIZOQu0
Quick Artic is a free IPhone application for Speech Language Pathologists which contains 566 images tagged with titles and categorized by “phonemes”. This easy to use application features a scoring utility which keeps track of the correct and incorrect answers. Quick Artic automatically calculates the score.
http://www.virtualspeechcenter.com/Resources/Slp_Iphone_App.aspx
You really need to checkout the Gabby application written by enabledsoftware. The link to the site is http://www.enabledsoftware.net.
The app that my sister is using is the Ghostwriter Notes which my mom bought at http:/majorspot.com
My sister is autistic so she is using the app in writing and sketching. My family can the development in her creativity.
Noted a few major oversights here:
First of all, TalkTablet by Gus Communication Devices has more functionality and built-in pictures than Proloquo2Go, PLUS it costs half as much! http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/talktablet-hd/id501190106?mt=8
Second, Gary James, a dad of boys with autism, has set up a site where parents, teachers, therapists, and other caregivers can watch video reviews of all these apps for the iPad and see how they work, first hand. His reviews are detailed, thoughtful, and comprehensive, which means saving money to buy only those apps which will be the best match for the child involved. http://a4cwsn.com/apps/apps-a-z/
how do i apply for a iPad for my son who has asd?
musarat – Thank you for your question. Unfortunately we do not have info for you on how to apply for an iPad for your son that is something that you would have to discuss with the organization that you are looking to get it through. Doing a web search on this topic might also help.
Coop Phonics is free this whole weekend. I created this app for children with special needs to be able to play. I hope this can be a great learning tool for you and your child.
-Play Together -Learn Together -Bond Together :D
http://www.coopplay.com/coop-phonics-free-weekend.html
Our younger patients really responded well to recently published app Words on Wheels – An App for Special Needs Children with Autism and Other Speech Delays
http://ehg.cerebr.info/link/click/1200/
There is a app called “art of glow” my brother loves it!
I’m looking for an app that can be used by an algebra student with CP. She is using number tiles but we would like to have something similar that she could take a screenshot and email her teacher her homework. Her writing is really illegible for doing math, especially with more complex equations. Any ideas? denny.l@lacklandisd.net
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