I had the honor this past month of hosting a webinar for SimpleK12.com . I love their webinars as they are short (30 minutes) and are packed full of valuable information for educators! The webinar I hosted was The 10 Apps for Children with Autism. I have to admit, it was really hard to narrow down a list to just 10! The iPad has been a HUGE innovation for learners with varying abilities, but has really improved access and skill acquisition for learners on the Autism spectrum. Leveraging apps with intention, for a specific use is critical. Any tool should be leveraged with the purpose of improving the quality of life or access to learning for any individual. That being said, this list is a breakdown of apps that we have used in our school district with our learners who are on the Autism spectrum that have improved many outcomes.
Here is the list- in no particular order:
Proloquo2Go/TouchChat
Area of focus: AAC/Communication/Literacy
Rationale: Robust communication app to be leveraged in acquisition of language or language retrieval.
Features: Core word standard vocabulary, customizable pages, adaptive grid layouts.
Clips
Area of focus: All
Rationale: Use Clips for explicit teaching or video modeling or for student demonstration of understanding.
Features: Easy to use interface, text to speech support, add stickers and emojis for a fun experience.
Pictello
Area of focus: Social Stories, Storytelling
Rationale: Leverage as a tool to make social stories,or student created stories
Features: Simple interface, embedded text to speech, low tech PDF as a backup.
Book Creator
Area of focus: All
Rationale:Make lessons, social stories, or use as a tool to create student works.
Features: Platform independent, collaborative, add video, text to speech support, shared community contains books to use with learners.
ChoiceWorks
Area of focus: Scheduling/Organization
Rationale: Visual cueing can be a highly effective tool to help persons with Autism stay organized or on task. Visual cues may also help with reducing anxiety around transitions and unexpected changes in routine.
Features: Customizable grid, add sequences, customizable icons.
Autism DTT Pro
Area of focus: Discrete Trial Training
Rationale: Leverage as a modality of discrete trial training in the acquisition of pre academic skills.
Features: Multiple programs, customize array, delay, prompt fading, report data available.
The Social Express II
Area of focus: Social Thinking/Social pragmatics.
Rationale: Leverage as a therapeutic tool to teach social thinking skills to individuals who struggle to understand social thinking concepts in a game-based, choice driven manner.
Features: The app requires a subscription. Once subscribed. practitioners can assign content to learners, monitor progress, observe and assess. Live animation gives this app a realistic feel. The characters are engaging and tasks appropriate for learners who struggle to understand social thinking concepts.
Cause and Effect Sensory Light Box
Area of focus: Self-regulation, sensory regulation
Rationale: Leverage sensory apps for learners who require visual or auditory sensory input as a calming/regulation tool.
Features: Various lights, sounds, duration for a customized experience. Easy to use interface and cause and effect allow for ease of use.
The Zones of Regulation/Exploring Emotions
Area of focus: Emotional Regulation
Rationale:Leverage these apps as companions to The Zones of Regulation self-regulation and emotional control curriculum to track behavior and teach skills.
Features: Game based opportunities to practice identifying the zones, visual supports, easy to use interface.
Autism Tracker Pro
Area of focus: Behavior data tracking
Rationale: Observing and tracking behavior requires data and a tool to do that. Autism Tracker Pro allows parents and practitioners to track data on one device with one app.
Features: Add multiple students, multiple behaviors (i.e. mood, behavior, food, health), customizable interface, export data.
Click here to access the full webinar with detailed discussion of each app and specific features.
Do you have a favorite app that you use with your child with Autism? Leave a comment below!
