Can An App Spot Kids With Autism?

 Researchers say they are one step closer to using a smartphone app to identify children with autism. Read More >

App Designed To Boost Independence For Bus Riders With Disabilities

A city bus service is testing an app that allows caregivers to add photos of drop-off locations, reminders when a destination is near and walking routes to and from stops, among other tools. Read More;

How An App Is Helping Screen More Kids For Developmental Delays

Amid signs that children with developmental delays in two expansive rural counties were falling through the cracks, experts are using an innovative app to boost screening rates and help kids. Read More >

Microsoft Backing Inclusive Technology

The company is funding a speech recognition app to help people with communication challenges and a chatbot that prepares those with disabilities for job interviews, among other projects. Read More >

Mental Health APP

SuperBetter is a game focusing on increasing resilience and the ability to remain strong, optimistic, and motivated when presented with challenging obstacles in life. A study by the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia found that when people played SuperBetter for 30 days, their mood improved, symptoms of anxiety and depression decreased, and self-belief to achieve goals increased. The app will help you to adopt new habits, improve your skills, strengthen relationships, complete meaningful projects, and achieve lifelong dreams. SuperBetter also has the potential to help you beat depression and anxiety, cope with chronic illness, and recover from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).       -Happy Apping

App seeks to help curb cyberbullying of students

Researchers at the University of Colorado have developed an app that can alert school leaders and parents to the possibility that students are being bullied online. The BullyAlert app currently only works with Instagram, but developers say they are working to add other platforms and hope it will help schools curb cyberbullying.  The Denver Post (tiered subscription model)

New App Helps Parents Track Child's Developmental Milestones

The Milestone Tracker app, available in iOS and Android mobile phones, was developed by CDC’s Learn the Signs. Act Early. program to help parents, early care and education providers, and health care providers track developmental milestones in young children. Through this app and its many other parent-friendly tools, the program aims to improve the early identification of children with developmental delays and disabilities, including autism, so children and families can get the support and services they need as early as possible.

Seeing AI: EYE Like It!

Microsoft just came out with a new app for iOS products: the Seeing AI application.  This app debuted in July and already has created quite the buzz among people who are visually impaired or blind.  The app was designed in part by software engineer Saqib Shaikh who is blind.  Because of his impairment, Saqib knew the challenges people face every day with blindness.  The app is great because it uses the camera on an iPhone or iPad to describe the world.  There are several channels to use in just one app.  The best part of the app is that it is completely FREE!  Continue Reading...

AT for Reading: More Web Reading Options

A good Web reader omits extra things you don't really want or need to read to help you focus on the main article. In this issue's installment of "Dr. Dave's AT Lab," Dr. Dave reviews two more apps for reading articles on the Web and discusses how well they work to remove distractions.  https://dyslexiaida.org/at-for-reading-more-web-reading-options/

Five Text-to-Speech Apps Make Communication Easier for Individuals with Special Needs

Text-to-speech” is a technology that allows an individual to type out a message and have it spoken by a device, and/or have spoken messages translated into text messages. The following apps allow text to speech functions to go right on a smartphone or tablet, helping those with difficulty hearing or speaking to communicate easily without expensive specialized equipment. Have you used an app that’s not on this list? Tell us about it in the comments. Predictable Website: https://therapy-box.co.uk/assistive-technology/apps/pa-english Manufacturer’s description: “Multi-award winning app for people with speech disabilities who need a sleek, simple and smart way to communicate! Predictable speaks out the messages you type…
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My Study Life App

School life is complicated. To help you stay on top of your schedule and often conflicting deadlines, My Study Life is more than just a day planner and school calendar — the app even sends reminders to your mobile device whenever you have upcoming deadlines. As one of the few ad-free agenda apps on the market, My Study Life’s colorful interface gives you all the info you need regarding your day at a glance.

Try Before You Buy from PACER Center

There are many apps available that benefit learners with disabilities.  For the apps you may want to try, it is fairly easy to justify a price range of free - $1.99.  But what about that $19.99 learning app or the $299.99 communication app?

Did you know that lending library members can now check out apps?  We have the ability to push individual apps out to your device giving you the opportunity to try before you buy!  Explore our available apps and email stclibrary@pacer.org for more information or to request an app we do not have in our inventory.

Dr. Cheesman’s App Chat: Best Sight-Word Apps

Sight words (also known as high-frequency, instant, or red words) are words the reader recognizes immediately without relying on decoding skills. The goal of a sight-word app is to teach and/or provide individually paced practice so these words can be read automatically, thus freeing up memory resources for the task of getting meaning from text.  This article provides the key criteria of effective apps and the six best apps that meet them.  Read More

Claro Scan Pen Reader

This iPhone/iPad app allows you to take a picture and read.  The process is streamlined, simplifying the ability to take photos of worksheets, employment forms, pill bottles, etc. & having them read back to you.  No need to buy a physical scanning pen – this inexpensive app can put the capability in your phone.  With the use of earbuds, students can also have their tests read to them.  https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/claro-scanpen-reader-capture/id994933713?mt=8

 

Apps for Kids with Dyslexia and Learning Disabilities

The right app can help a child with dyslexia or other reading-based learning disabilities practice literacy and learning skills, while having fun. This collection of apps supports kids who struggle with phonics, pronunciation, spelling, vocabulary, comprehension, handwriting, word processing, and composition. We've also included text-to-speech apps, audiobook apps, and apps that help children with organization and goal-setting.   http://www.readingrockets.org/literacyapps/dyslexia-and-learning-disabilities

 

Dexteria Fine Motor APP

This iPhone/iPad app allows you to take a picture and read.  The process is streamlined, simplifying the ability to take photos of worksheets, employment forms, pill bottles, etc. & having them read back to you.  No need to buy a physical scanning pen – this inexpensive app can put the capability in your phone.  With the use of earbuds, students can also have their tests read to them.

 

How to Find Quality Apps for Children

Choose wisely! This list (from Lisa Guernsey and Michael Levine, co-authors of the book Tap. Click. Read) is not exhaustive, but gives parents and educators a good idea of what to look for when considering an app and evaluating its educational value. Use app review sites and advice from literacy experts — including your local media mentor or librarian — to find materials that match children's needs.  http://www.readingrockets.org/article/how-find-quality-apps-children

Undergraduate develops autism screening app

Kun Woo Cho, an undergraduate at the State University of New York at Buffalo, collaborated with other researchers on a prototype app that screens for early signs of autism by tracking the eye movement of a child while he or she looks at pictures of social settings. The app is compatible with desktop or mobile devices, takes less than a minute and had nearly a 94% accuracy rate, Cho and her fellow researchers reported at the IEEE Wireless Health conference.   United Press International

Math Jungle Kindergarten App

Kindergarten math is the focus of this fun and engaging game. The play based approach keeps children eager to practice. Your child will help a monkey collect bananas in a jungle by solving math problems. The game includes motivation for your child to improve their math skills.

Parents Guide to Phone Apps Potential Predator Apps & Potential Bullying Apps

Summary: Provides an overview of some of the most popular apps used by children, including those that present potential risks. Many of the app descriptions include links to articles or other resources that describe the app in greater detail. Internetmatters.org includes many other resources for parents to keep children safe online.   English Guide . . .   Spanish