iPad Apps for Children

IPads are a fantastic technology resource to have in the classroom! 

Apps for limited movement/easy reward with sound:

• Awesome Xylophone
• Cause and Effect Sensory Light Box
• Cause and Effect Sensory Sound Box
• Paint Sparkles
• Magic Zither
• Piano Pals
• Magic Piano
• Touch Band
• Little Fox Music Box
• Pocket Pond
• Fireworks Arcade
• Bubblish
• Old McDonald by Duck Duck Moose
• Peek-A-Zoo HD by Duck Duck Moose
• Itsy Bitsy HD by Duck Duck Moose
• Fish HD by Duck Duck Moose
• Peekaboo Barn
• Peekaboo Wild
• Peekaboo Forest
• Music Color
• Sound touch
• Baby Rattle 123
• Rattle
• Draw Stars!
• I Love Fireworks
• Baby Rattler Plus My First Colors
• Fisher Price Giggle Gang
• Fisher Price Where’s Puppy’s Nose?
• Fisher Price Shapes & Colors Music Show
• Fisher Price Let’s Count Animals
• Fisher Price Animal Sounds
• Volt Lite
• Baby’s Magical Hands

Apps for limited movement/easy reward without sound:

• Art of Glow
• Tesla Toy
• Fluidity
• My Scene by First App
• Baby Screen
• Laser Light Show
• Kaleidoscope

Apps for playtime:

• EZ Bake Oven
• Any of the Toca Boca apps
• Trucks HD by Duck Duck Moose
• Musical Me by Duck Duck Moose
• Elmo’s Monster Maker
• Swapsies
• Play Home Lite
• Curious George at the Zoo
• Lego Duplo

Apps for low vision:

• Infant visual stimulation
• Baby Screen
• Music Color
• Sound Touch
• Bloom HD
• I love Fireworks
• Little Bears Sees Tap-N-See Zoo
• Laser Light Show
• Baby Rattler Plus My First Colors
• Volt Lite
• Color ID (uses camera to speak the name of colors)
• Bigger and Brighter

Apps for learning and writing letters:

• Writing Wizard
• Letter School
• Touch and Write
• Handwriting Without Tears
• I Write Words
• Elmo’s ABC’s
• Pocket Phonics
• Kids ABC Letters

Apps for pre-writing skills:

• Lazoo Let’s Color
• Lazoo Squiggles
• Letter School
• Let’s Make Shapes!
• Dot to Dot Numbers and Letters
• Doodle Dots
• Hand writing without tears: Wet-Dry-Try
• iWritewords
• Ready to Print
• Kandy Fish (color matching, patterning finishing, and tracing)
• Any free drawing apps such as Drawing Pad, Crayola Paint & Create, Kids Doodle
• Trace Blast
• Write my name by Injini

Sensory Apps:

• Avoiders:
• Annoying Sounds
• Balloon Pop
• deciBel
• Sounds Annoying
• Too Loud
• Seeking:
• Art of Glow
• Fireworks
• Fruit Ninja
• White Noise
• White Noise Recorder

Apps for visual perception:

• Numerous puzzle apps to search for with wide range of difficulty
• Numerous memory match games available
• Kidz Hunt HD
• Rush Hour
• Little Things
• Found It
• Thomas & Friends Engine Activities (puzzles and memory match)
• Kids Love Puzzles
• Hello Kitty Jigsaw
• Hello Kitty Match
• Tangrams
• Labyrinthe
• My First Tangrams Lite
• Tangrams HD
• Tetris
• Monkey Pre-school lunch box
• Visual Attention Therapy

Apps for fine-motor:

• Dexteria
• Dexteria Jr.
• Color and draw for kids
• Colorific
• Shelby’s Quest

Apps for Body awareness:

• Recognise

Visual Timers/Schedules:

• Time Timer
• Children’s Countdown—visual countdown timer for preschoolers
• The Clock app included on the Ipad has a timer with a visual feature as well as a stopwatch
• Activity Timer Trial
• Nudge (simple reminder app)
• First then board
• Picture Card Maker
• My choice board
• iPrompts ($49.99 schedule board)
• Off We Go (social story) 

Speech Development/AAC:

• Quick Talk AAC
• Say Hi AAC
• Articulation Coach (word sound cards)
• Articulation Station (learn to speak and pronounce)
• WordToob (Learn words and new skills vis video modeling)

My favorite kids books:

• Monster at the End of This Book
• Another Monster at the End of This Book
• Jack and the Beanstalk by Mindshapes
• Toy Story
• Lots of interactive free books available through Tab Tale

Other Apps:

• SnapType (take a picture of worksheet and use iPad to type in answers) 

Apps about more apps:

• Autism Apps
• Smart Apps for Kids (website)
• KinderTown
• Moms with Apps

 HUGE Thank-you to my wonderful clinical educators for letting me build upon their ideas for this extensive list! 

Resource: http://www.aota.org/practice/children-youth/cy-apps.aspx

Classroom Modifications

Classroom Modifications can be used to enhance the learning environment for all students.  Many times, these modifications consist of low-tech assistive technology.  

While this classroom looks fun and interactive, it is very visually stimulating. This much visual input could possibly be too much for some learners. 

The diagnosis of Autism is used as an example throughout this blog to incorporate research promoting evidence based practice.

The concept of an “inclusive” classroom is supported by evidence in that students with autism are more successful when matched with typically developing students (Clark & Chandler, 2013). According to the IDEA Act of 2004, children with autism spectrum disorder “are entitled to a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment.” The reaction to sensory stimulation in the environment can affect the child’s ability to participate in the classroom. According to Koening et al. (2009), the classroom has the potential to be a “major vehicle” for change in children with ASD and should fit their individualized needs for a least restrictive learning environment. The role of occupational therapy in the school or classroom setting should include evaluation of the environment for sensory stimuli that may interfere with participation and modify it as needed (Clark and Chandler, 2013). 

Tips and tricks:

·         Organization:

o   Organize the classroom by dividing it according to subjects areas, such as music, work or snack areas.

o   Arrange the furniture so that it is not placed haphazardly throughout the room and is consistently in the same location.

o   Reduce the amount of visual clutter in the classroom. If there are open shelves, eliminate distractions by covering the shelf unit with a solid-colored cloth.

o   Provide a social story to facilitate successful classroom interactions.

·         Lighting:

o   Use curtains and blinds on windows to control the level of illumination at different times of the day and to avoid glare.

o   Use non-reflective surfaces to eliminate glare from overhead lighting.

o   Use individual lighting (such as a desk lamp) to help distracted students focus on a specific task.

·         Vision:

o   Use visual and tactile signs along the child’s route to provide cues for orientation and mobility purposes.

o   Use contrasting colors for all activities. Highlight important information and color code relevant information.

o   Avoid using a patterned background for work surfaces.

o   Enhance toys that are not visually stimulating with colored tape to provide more contrast.

o   Make an individual visual schedule for students who need increased structure.

·         Sensory:

o   Have students who need to calm down or focus use the swings and monkey bars when at recess or during sensory breaks.

o   Carry heavy objects to incorporate proprioception (heavy work) into the day (chair push-ups are a great non-distracting stationary way to incorporate heavy work into the classroom).

o   Provide fidget toys if the student can use them safely and appropriately.

o   Put something in mouth to bite, crunch, suck, chew, or blow when needing to focus.

o   Continually assess lighting, temperature, smells, and sounds in the classroom.

o   Incorporate exercise into the day and promote recess attendance.

P.S. Did you know that old phone books can be used as a footrest for students who can’t reach the floor? Make them fun and visually appealing with colored duct-tape!

For more tips and tricks visit:

• ·          http://www.perkinselearning.org/activity-bank/tips-modifying-learning-environment-children-visual-impairments-and-additional
• ·         http://tcsps.sharpschool.net/UserFiles/Servers/Server_981069/File/Migrated%20Documents/20_classrm_modifications_for_students_with_autism.pdf
• ·         http://ese.dadeschools.net/tbi/2classroom.html
• ·         https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/treatments-approaches/educational-strategies/common-modifications-and-accommodations

What is a social story?

• ·         http://www.educateautism.com/social-stories.html

References:

Clark, G. F. & Chandler, B. E. (2013). Chapter 25: Best Practices in Supporting Children with Autism.

Best practices for occupational therapy in schools (pp.276-277). Bethesda, MD: The American

Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.

Individuals With Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) of 2004, Pub. L. 108-446, 20

U.S.C. § 1400 et seq.

Kinnealey, M., Pfeiffer, B., Miller, J., Roan, C., Shoener, R., & Ellner, M. L. (2012). Effect of classroom

modification on attention and engagement of students with autism or dyspraxia. American

Journal of Occupational Therapy, 66, 511–519. http://dx.doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2012.004010

Koening, K., Bleiweiss, J., Brennan, S., Cohen, S., & Siegel, D. (2009). A model for inclusive public

education for students with autism spectrum disorders. Teaching Exceptional Children. Retrieved 

from: http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/scmsAdmin/media/users/al170/TECArticle.pdf

P.S. I got a puppy this weekend! Meet Cash, the future therapy dog! 

Assistive Technology CommUNITY Resources

See below for links to AWESOME resources for assistive technology in Nebraska and Iowa.

Iowa:

1.      Iowa Program for Assistive Technology (IPAT)

·         http://iowaat.org/

Blurb: “The Iowa Program for Assistive Technology (IPAT) helps Iowans find out about and get the assistive technology (AT) they need as part of their daily lives to learn, work, play, and participate in community life safely and independently. IPAT serves Iowans of all ages with all types of disabilities, including persons who are aging.”

2.      Iowa COMPASS

·         http://search.iowacompass.org/Search.aspx

Blurb: “Iowa COMPASS offers information and referral, a used equipment listing service (Used Equipment Referral Service) and legal advocacy and representation (Assistive Technology Legal Project) for Iowans with disabilities and their families, friends and service providers.”

3.      Easter Seals Iowa Assistive Technology Center

·         http://www.easterseals.com/ia/our-programs/assistive-technology-center/?referrer=https://www.google.com/

Blurb: The Easter Seals Iowa Assistive Technology Center provides “opportunities for individuals to learn about, sample and use assistive technology”. Their resources include an equipment loan program, a demonstration center and a lending library.

4.      Iowa Department of Education

·         https://www.educateiowa.gov/pk-12/special-education/special-education-programs-services/assistive-technology#AEA_AT_Contacts

Blurb: The Iowa Department of Education provides information on federal regulations regarding assistive technology in the schools. There are many links to answer questions regarding AT contacts, state rules, quality indicators, and funding sources.

Nebraska:

1.      Assistive Technology Partnership  (ATP)

·         http://www.atp.ne.gov/index.html

Blurb: “The ATP, through collaboration, provides all Nebraskans access and opportunities to better, live, learn and work.” Their website contains links to information regarding funding, housing, employment, education, and equipment.”

2.      Assistive Technology in Education

·         http://www.atp.ne.gov/techassistdoc.html

Blurb: The link above provides information on federal regulations regarding assistive technology in the schools. There are many links to answer questions regarding AT contacts, state rules, quality indicators, and funding sources.

3.      Assistive Technology for All (AT4ALL)

·         https://www.at4all.com/

Blurb: “Find equipment for all ages available for loan, demonstration, free or for sale. Browse, stay informed with announcements and check out the latest in "View New Items" and “Featured Equipment”. --Short-term, equipment and device loans are offered at no cost. Some items are available for giveaway. You can even sell your own equipment that you no longer need, search for sale items, or list items you want! --AT4ALL is brought to you by Nebraska Assistive Technology Partnership (ATP).”

****Note: There are MANY more examples of assistive technology, the ones mentioned in this blog are devices that I am becoming familiar with through my rotation.

All images in this blog were collected from Google images.