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Leveling the playing field with apps
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An opportunity to level the playing field for diverse learners has arrived. With the use of mobile devices and a set of apps, barriers to learning can be removed and will set the stage for access to learning for ALL learners.
Curated by
Kathleen McClaskey
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In this unique and engaging all-in-one resource, learn to use readily available iPad features to make your curriculum more accessible to learners with special needs.
Kathleen McClaskey's insight:
Learn how to get the most from your iPad by using its built-in accessibility features in conjunction with Universal Design for Learning guidelines. In this book, you’ll find: > Step-by-step instructions, tips, and practice activities > Discussion and reviews of more than 150 applications > Access to more than 20 video tutorials, through QR codes located throughout the book
An Apple Distinguished Educator and an expert in digital accessibility features for K-12 and higher education settings, Luis Pérez provides a real sense of what students with disabilities need to learn and to navigate their world more independently. 
Kathleen McClaskey's curator insight,
February 7, 2014 11:28 AM
Don't miss this book written by Luis Perez on mobile learning and special needs!
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Kathleen McClaskey's insight:
Smart KIds for Special Needs share the top 10 Apps to help children and adults with executive function challenges. Do you know someone who needs help in organizing? These 10 apps may do the trick!
1. Nudge - Reminders 2. Plan it, Do it, Check it Off 3.Toodledo - To Do List 4. Evernote 5. WritePad for iPad 6. 30/30 7. My Homework Student Planner 8. Idea Sketch 9. Functional Planning System 10. Towers of HanOINK!
Jonathan Jarc's curator insight,
January 27, 2014 5:03 PM
While this topic focuses on literacy, I believe many issues of illiteracy center on this very idea of executive functioning and metacognitive abilities. 
Carol Leynse Harpold's curator insight,
January 29, 2014 8:12 PM
Katherine McCloskey scooped this resource of apps for organization. My favorities on this list include the 30/30, Toodledo apps. I also would include apps like Notability, Awesome Note and Alarmed! More for your OT mTool Kit!
Carol 
Teresa Pearl's curator insight,
February 11, 2014 7:12 PM
We had a few PD's on executive functioning and kids this year. This is a great site with suggestions for apps and descriptions or students with executive functioning issues.
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68 Apps for students with learning disabilities -- and some software too! From our presentation at the LDAQ "Toolbox for Success" parent conference.
Kathleen McClaskey's insight:
This inclusive list of apps from inov8 Educational Consulting includes apps that target areas of need for learners in elementary school, high school and college. These apps are broken out into 7 categories:
> Reading and writing support and remediation > Language remediation > Productivity > Alternative literacy formats > Numeracy > Fine motor skills > Executive functioning
Pauline Farrell's curator insight,
February 2, 2014 2:34 AM
and fin ally - to meet the needs of my learner demographic...
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Get The Reading Train: A Common Core Early Literacy Tutor for Reading, Phonics, Spelling, Science, Animals, Math, Music, Numbers, Shapes and Colors. on the App Store. See screenshots and ratings, and read customer reviews.
Kathleen McClaskey's insight:
So glad to share this new app to help kids learn to read by a local NH teacher, Libby Curran
"Books kids LOVE to read.
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Using iPads to support students with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Kathleen McClaskey's insight:
"Students with Autistic Spectrum Disorder have a wide variety of strengths and abilities that make their communication and learning skills complex, diverse and sometimes challenging. Many of their difficulties can be broken into the areas of Communication, Social Skills and Behaviour. We know that students with Autism are strong visual learners, which makes the iPad a perfect instructional tool to support communication, social skills development and positive behaviour."
The Spectronics team has done an outstanding job in compiling resources, apps and information on ways to support autistic learners in the areas of Communication, Social Skills and Behaviour.
Many thanks to Spectronics and the amazing work that they do to support all learners!
Carol Leynse Harpold's curator insight,
November 7, 2013 6:22 PM
Spectronics is a great resource for all things AT. Check out their recent resource for communication for ASD. Carol
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Speech Therapy Apps - articulation, language and auditory processing disorder apps.
Kathleen McClaskey's insight:
Locate over 20 apps for Speech Therapy at the Virtual Speech Center!
Do not miss the FREE App, Quick Artic. Quick Artic is a free IPhone application for Speech Language Pathologists which contains 566 images tagged with titles and categorized by “phonemes”. The application includes ten most common phonemes in all positions of words. It can be used in speech language therapy or for quick articulation screening. This easy to use application features a scoring utility which keeps track of the correct and incorrect answ
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Texthelp provides literacy software solutions for individuals, K-12 students, higher education students, and publishers.
Kathleen McClaskey's insight:
Truly a tool for all learners!
"Texthelp is pleased to announce the launch of Read&Write for GoogleTM, which provides unprecedented support within Google Docs, PDFs, ePubs, and more in Google Drive on PCs, Macs or Chromebooks." Features include: - Read Aloud with dual color highlighting - Talking and Picture Dictionaries, Translator, Fact Finder, and Study Skills Highlighters - Vocabulary List Builder to create new documents with highlighted words, definitions, and images - Annotation tools (PDFS and ePubs) - Navigational tools (ePubs)
Monica S Mcfeeters's curator insight,
September 24, 2013 4:56 PM
This might come in handy if you are in one of many schools around the country that doesn't have a reading specialist available to work with students.
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Apps can help students and adults who have learning disabilities like dysgraphia or dyslexia with their written expression. These are LD-friendly.
Kathleen McClaskey's insight:
Darla Hatton and her daughter, Kaila (who is dyslexic) personally researched and/or tested these 25 mobile apps in December 2012 on the iPhone and iPad. They note: "New editions may change the nature of an app, making it less LD-friendly. “New” may not mean “better” for you.. They can make the writing process a bit easier and even fun! Not every app will be a “perfect fit” for everyone who has LD, but with a little testing, you can figure out which one works best for your child or teen’s individual needs."
Jonathan Jarc's curator insight,
August 19, 2013 7:29 PM
Solid advice for those who struggle with disabilties that affect reading and writing. 
DeDe Ross's curator insight,
October 4, 2013 6:28 PM
For Title I schools, iPad apps offer an engagingly new way for struggling readers to practice skills.
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Get Thinking Blocks Addition on the App Store. See screenshots and ratings, and read customer reviews.
Kathleen McClaskey's curator insight,
July 22, 2013 6:21 PM
Check out this new app that helps learners understand how to solve word problems in addition and subtraction. This app is free with other Thinking Blocks apps for ratios, multiplication, and fractions for a limited time. Please provide a rating if you use them! 
Alyssa Formisano's curator insight,
October 18, 2014 3:21 PM
This is a great app for kids to use to help them practice addition and subtraction!
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Power Up: Common Sense Media's guide to nearly 100 great apps for kids ages 2-17 who have special needs and learning differences.
Kathleen McClaskey's insight:
Common Sense Media has put together "Power Up!", an apps guide for learners with special needs and learning differences. They have arranged the apps into six categories that can be browsed by difficulty level.
> Communication > Social Interaction > Organization > Reading > Mathematics > Motor Skills
Just one more great resource to help you Level the Playing Field with Apps!
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Get Video Scheduler on the App Store. See screenshots and ratings, and read customer reviews.
Kathleen McClaskey's insight:
Comments from THE Journal about this app that is considered one of the top 10 apps for special education:
"This app is a cross between an activity schedule and a video model. Like most activity schedule applications, it allows users to create checklists identifying the individual tasks required to accomplish a goal or objective. What sets Video Scheduler apart, however, is the option to include a still photo or video segment that demonstrates how each step in the task is completed. There is a wealth of research supporting the use of both activity schedules and video models with students on the autism spectrum and other students who may struggle with time and task management. Video Scheduler empowers students to work independently with little or no prompting from teachers or job coaches"
Carol Leynse Harpold's curator insight,
July 3, 2013 10:47 AM
This is a great app providing video scheduling for students with a preferred visual mode of learning or accessing information. Check out this review scooped by Kathleen McClaskey.
Carol 
HJackson's curator insight,
March 5, 2016 1:06 AM
This is a great app providing video scheduling for students with a preferred visual mode of learning or accessing information. Check out this review scooped by Kathleen McClaskey.
Carol
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There are more than 750 000 apps in the iTunes AppStore, with many doing similar things, so it is very exciting to find an app that does something really different. WriteReader is one of those app...
Kathleen McClaskey's insight:
WriteReader is designed to help children learn to write while they are also learning to read.
Following its development and testing, researchers concluded that WriteReader can: • Improve early learning of reading and writing skills • Motivates children to write • Promote cooperation between children and adults • Encourages kids to be creative and imaginative in sentence creation • Develops interest in the written language
The app is aimed at children aged from 3 to 10 years, although I believe it would be suitable for older children who have special needs.
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Students with learning disabilities often have trouble with study skills like organization and remembering what needs to happen and when. These mobile apps can help.
Kathleen McClaskey's insight:
Students with learning disabilities often have trouble with study skills like getting and staying organized—a crucial executive function skill—and remembering what needs to happen and when. Darla Hatton and her teenage daughter have researched and/or tested these 13 apps, and found them especially helpful. They know that every person has slightly different needs, but it’s worth taking the time to find out which apps work for your child.
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Kathleen McClaskey's insight:
Thank you Diana for sharing this app that can make a difference for thousands of learners!
Diana Petschauer's curator insight,
July 24, 2013 10:12 AM
'Children can do the following:
This is excellent for practicing and improving reading while tracking progress! Try it for free from the app store:https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/reading-champion/id645814938?mt=8
Also available from TextHelp is a phenomal app for writing using word prediction called iReadWrite: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ireadwrite/id600843386?mt=8 
Jamie Ruppert's curator insight,
January 30, 2014 1:55 PM
This would be a great app to have loaded on the ipads at the library.
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The American Speech-Language, Hearing Association (ASHA) uses a well-known definition put forth by David Sackett and colleagues to define evidence based practices.
Kathleen McClaskey's insight:
According to The National Professional Development Center (NPDC) many interventions for autism exist, only some have been shown to be effective through scientific research. Interventions that researchers have shown to be effective are called evidence-based practices. Currently, the Center has identified 24 evidence-based practices.
Here is a comprehensive list of iPad apps that support evidence based practice for both speech language pathology and autism spectrum disorders. The table is meant for informational purposes only to illustrate how apps support evidence based practice and to use as you determine appropriate.
Kaylee Shepherd's comment,
February 12, 2014 9:34 AM
5. Education teachers and therapists are using ipads to help kids with diseases learn. Every student will have different preferences and individual needs. It is the educational teacher's job to find the best "fit" for each student.
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Apps to improve organizational skills for students with learning disabilities - but we wanted to add 9 MORE for students with learning disabilities.
Kathleen McClaskey's insight:
Here is a set of apps recommended to improve organizational skills. Excellent annotations are included with each app.
1. Photomind 2. Visual Schedule Planner 3. Doozy 4. Quickvoice Recorder 5. Audio Memos 6. PaperHelper 7. Notability 8. Inkflow 9. Sticky Notes
Carol Leynse Harpold's curator insight,
December 22, 2013 4:10 PM
Here is a re-scoop from Kathleen McClaskey's Scoop it!. The scoop is an updated list of organizational apps for LD students from inov8 website . Read on for their helpful post.
Carol
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Kathleen McClaskey's insight:
This site developed by Moms of Dyslexics provides a set of apps that can support dyslexics and struggling readers. As a Mom of an adult dyslexic, I want to thank these Moms who have created this site for families that have a child with dyslexia.
Here are the apps they have reviewed on this site: > Sound Literacy-$24.99 Sound Literacy can be used in conjunction with any curriculum that emphasizes phonemic awareness, phonological processing, systematic phonetic instruction, or word building with ‘meaningful word parts’.
> Dyslexia Quest- $1.99: The Yeti Master will take your child on an adventure while testing working memory, processing speed, visual memory, phonological awareness, auditory memory, and sequencing skills.
> Montessori Crosswords-$2.99: Highly rated and based on Montessori learning methods, this app will aid in the development of reading and spelling skills through phonemic awareness.
> Spell Trekking-Free: Your child will learn to spell while trekking through space on the S.S. Spell Trek.
> Letter Quiz-Free and Full Version-$1.99: Consists of four games to help your child learn letter recognition and writing practice.
> Dyslexic Like Me-$1.99: The purpose of Dyslexic Like Me is to teach the child what dyslexia is and about successful people who also have dyslexia.
> See Read Say-$1.99: The visual nature of a dyslexic can make learning sight words difficult.
> Phonics Genius-Free: Phonetic awareness is essential to reading and this app takes it to a new level. The app contains thousands of words grouped into 225 phonic categories.
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Friendship Circle provides a complete listing of Special Needs Apps.
Kathleen McClaskey's insight:
"With over a thousand apps now available to help individuals with special needs it has become increasingly difficult to find and choose the right special needs app. The Friendship Circle App Review gives you the ability to find the perfect special needs app for your child."
275 Apple and Android Apps can be searched in the following categories: > Communication > Social Skills > Behavior > Educational > Scheduling > Speech & Language > Life Skills
Naomi W's curator insight,
March 5, 2014 11:03 PM
An amazing list with 1000s of specialised apps. With 7 categories: Communication; Social Skills; Life Skills; Behaviour; Educational; Scheduling; Speech & Language.
However, it does not have any reviews.
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Crack The Books is a state of the art, interactive textbook series for upper elementary students.
Kathleen McClaskey's insight:
I normally do not promote textbooks but these iTextbooks can "level the playing field" for millions of learners. Crack The Books™ textbooks are the first interactive Textbooks that can be adjusted for reading level. Designed for the 2nd to 6th grade science and social studies curriculum, iTextbooks allow for reading level adjustment from 1st grade to 8th grade, making it possible for all learners in a classroom to access the same curriculum content regardless of their reading abilities.
Here are some other features that can make a difference for every learner in your class.
> Visual supports for comprehension > Hundreds of high resolution images > Videos and custom animations > Interactive globes, charts and activities > Interactive vocabulary definitions and glossaries > Universal design elements > Integrated voice over features
Carol Leynse Harpold's curator insight,
September 26, 2013 7:28 PM
Interesting universal design for learning textbook series. Have you used these? Carol 
Cindy Medeiros's curator insight,
October 5, 2014 2:21 PM
These science textbooks are interactive and the reading levels can be modified to suit the reader.
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"Reading comprehension is a matter of decoding, reading speed, and critical thinking about the text, all of which can improve with tiered practice. So below, in an order of general complexity, are 15 apps for improved reading comprehension, ranging from word and sentence fluency, to recall, to critical thinking skills, to reading speed." Via John Evans
Kathleen McClaskey's insight:
This is an important list to share as we start the school year.
Maria Persson's curator insight,
September 5, 2013 6:13 PM
Always great to have more than one choice since there isn't one perfect app!
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Reading is the area in which students with dyslexia struggle the most. Luckily, there are mobile apps that can help with functions like text-to-speech and translation.
Kathleen McClaskey's insight:
This is the time of year to check out the apps that level the playing field for learners with dyslexia and reading challenges. If your child is struggling to read, many of these apps can remove that barrier to reading. Also remember that Speak Selection is built into the IOS of iPads, iPhones and IPods. It is an excellent text-to-speech tool that can be used when reading on the go.
Darla and Kaila Hatton tried out these list of apps. Here is what they had to say:
"Reading is the area in which students with dyslexia struggle the most. Fortunately, there are many mobile apps that can help. While we’ve reviewed all of the following ones, and they work well for my daughter who has dyslexia, we also know that “one size (or app) does not fit all.” You may need to do additional research before finding the app that provides the best “fit” for your child."
Beth Panitz, Ed.D.'s curator insight,
August 7, 2013 4:28 PM
An easy-to-read table of apps. Includes links and descriptions.
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"I must admit that apps for autistic learners are really scarce and hard to find. A few months ago I posted here a list some powerful apps for autism and today while I was looking for new apps that might have been created since the publication of that list I came across this wonderful wheel. Via John Evans
anne-marie mason's curator insight,
July 15, 2013 7:41 PM
Another great wheel to share with colleagues in Spec Ed. 
Tahnee Cunico's curator insight,
February 10, 2014 6:28 PM
Great wheel of apps for students with autism
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The best educational iPad apps, handpicked by experts.
Kathleen McClaskey's insight:
AppoLearning has reviewed 5 iPad apps that help your child how to read. Check them out:
> Duck Duck Moose Reading > Reading Raven HD > Phonics Tic-Tac-Toe > Kids Vocab - MindSnacks > Brush of Truth
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Gradually Releasing Responsibility Using iPads in Early Reading
Kathleen McClaskey's insight:
The authors of this article not only provide recommendations of Early Literacy apps but also include a system in using these apps to build early literacy skills. These apps include: iWrite Words, Little Matchups ABC, Abc Pocket Phonics, Word Connex, iCard Sort, Fry Sight Words, Toontastic, Poplet, and Doodle Buddy.
Here is their step-by-step system they believe teachers need to use to get the most out of iPad apps:
• Step 1: Teach the concept without the iPad. Low-tech is the best starting point, say Northrop and Killeen – introduce the literacy concept through direct word-study instruction before letting students near the app. • Step 2: Explain and model the app. It’s important to be explicit about what the app is going to help students practice and show students how it works, using a think-aloud process to walk them through the steps. A list of guiding questions is helpful. • Step 3: Have students do guided practice with the app. The teacher checks in as students start working with their iPads in a specific word or skill. “Because hidden misconceptions and difficulties can arise, the guidance and feedback provided by the teacher are crucial,” say Northrop and Killeen. • Step 4: Have students do independent practice with the app. This might happen during literacy center work or independent work time.
Carol Leynse Harpold's curator insight,
June 8, 2013 12:12 PM
This article from the Reading Teacher provides a few simple ideas for using iPads in early reading. Carol
Jonathan Jarc's curator insight,
June 11, 2013 6:33 PM
Great advice on apps AND a systematic approach for how one goes about integrating the iPad into ealry literacy instruction. 
Anita Vance's curator insight,
January 19, 2014 10:43 AM
A guided approach for using apps. It is nice to see support for a low-tech first approach. Understanding before application enhances the learning process for any age.
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The 8 Great Word Pattern apps are a series of 11 apps that have been developed to help students work and master word patterns. These individualized apps provide practice building words from their sounds.