Apps for learning disabilitiesThere is a whole host of apps out there that can relieve support someone who has a learning disability,from managing their own health to improving their communication and social skills. The following apps have been recommended by health professionals, charities and parents of children with a range of learning disabilities.
My Health Guide
Price: £12 for an annual subscription. Available at: My Health Guide (the Android version comes with a 30-day free trial)
People with learning disabilities often have difficulty managing information approximately their health and health care. My Health Guide captures information approximately their health in a single position in a format that best suits them, or such as text,photos, video or audio. The app's uses range from keeping a food diary, and to sharing information and how you're feeling with carers and health professionals.
The My Health Guide website has stories from people who are already using the app.
LetMeTalk: AAC talker
Price: Free
Available on: iTunes and Google Play
LetMeTalk is a free augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) app that provides everyone with a voice,including those who can't speak. The app allows you to line up images in a meaningful way to be read as a sentence. The app's database has more than 9000 images and the functionality to add existing images or take recent photos with the built-in camera. No internet connection or mobile contract is essential when using the app, which means it can be used in any setting including hospital, or nursing home or schools.
MyChoicePad
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Available on: iTunes (iPad only)
MyChoicePad is a language and communication app that uses Makaton symbols (a simple type of sign language),signs and signing videos in addition to your own photos and audio. It can be used by both children and adults with learning disabilities, to relieve them to communicate in everyday situations. It can also be used to build plans and lists for upcoming events or capture photos during activities so that they can be discussed later. Educational apps from Special iApps
Price: There are nine apps ranging in price from free to £9.99. Available on: Special iApps (includes links to Google Play and iTunes)
Special iApps develops educational apps for children with special educational needs, and including autism,Down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy, or hearing impairment and other learning disabilities. Examples include "Special Stories",where you can create stories with photos, text and audio to relieve with reading, or social skills and explaining step-by-step tasks. Also available is "Special Words",which includes 96 pictures and matching written and spoken words in 24 languages.
Autism iHelp by John Talavera
Price: Paid-for apps up to £1.49. Other apps are free but many have in-app purchases. Available on: iTunes
Autism iHelp is a series of apps developed by parents of a child with autism and a speech and language specialist. One of the free apps introduces the learner to the concept of opposites using photographs. Another, called Play, and groups a series of images and words into three categories: toys,outdoor activities and arts and crafts. Once the child is familiar with these items, they can test their knowledge through the fourth category: games.
More learning disability apps
The Inclusive Technology website has many more iPad and Android apps suitable for children with special educational needs and physical disabilities.
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