When used properly as a teaching tool, technology has the power to engage students and elevate their learning.
High-quality, effective teachers know this–and they also know that students of all abilities can use technology to assist with learning.
A plethora of technology tools, including apps for tablets and mobile devices, can meet the varying needs of students with disabilities and other special needs.
The apps in this list can be used by students with dyslexia, students with autism, those who need social assistance, and more.
[Editor’s note: While these apps may meet certain instructional needs, eSchool News has not used or reviewed the apps in this list.]
(Next page: 7 apps for students with special needs)
1. Model Me Going Places: This visual tools helps students learn to navigate challenging locations in the school and community. Each location contains a photo slideshow of children modeling appropriate behavior.
2. The Social Express II: The Social Express is engaging, educational curriculum for children and young adults with social learning challenges. The curriculum is designed to teach users how to think about and manage social situations, helping them to develop meaningful social relationships and succeed in life.
3. Positive Penguins: This app is a resilience-building app for children. The app has a 5-minute guided meditation for children to learn to sit, relax and let go of the thoughts as they come into their heads. It also offers a strategy for children to understand that an event or situation happened that created an emotion in them–this emotion is not right or wrong, but rather it is information. Once they understand this and can examine the thoughts or stories they are telling themselves, they can pinpoint solutions to solve the problematic thoughts.
4. See. Touch. Learn.: This visual instruction app for students with autism and special needs allows parents and educators to replace flash cards with the 4,400 pictures and 2,200 exercises developed by professionals. Users can create custom lessons using the starter library, or purchase any of 50 individual libraries.
5. Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame: This resource app helps children learn skills such as problem solving, self-control, planning, and task persistence. Users laugh and learn as they help a Sesame Street monster friend calm down and solve everyday challenges.
6. Articulation Station: Created by a certified Speech-Language Pathologist, Articulation Station helps children learn to speak and pronounce their sounds more clearly. High-quality images represent target words to be practiced with the assistance of a Speech-Language Pathologist, teacher or parent.
7. Worry Box: Students with anxiety can use the worry cognitive diary to help determine how to cope with the worry. If it’s controllable, they can list the steps you can take to manage the worry. If it’s not controllable, they can select from a list of coping statements to help think about it differently.
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