When you have a learning disabled student there is a whole other level of study, learning and social education. Today’s App Tuesday provides parents of the learning disabled some tools to make their job easier and help keep their student on the path toward higher education.
Inov8 Educational Consulting has compiled a list of apps with screenshots and links for parents to use. Here are just a few of the types of apps for learning disabled students they showcased:
Mind Mapping Apps
Apps for mind mapping are generally developed for a mass market and not specifically for educational use or for students with special needs. With so many apps on the market, we developed some basic criteria that we used to target the needs of a student with learning disabilities, and these apps meet the that criteria:
•Simple to use for middle and high school students
•Uncluttered interface
•Ability to manipulate “nodes” or ideas on the screen easily for those with fine motor difficulties
•Ability to use graphics instead of text, if needed
•Multiple options to use varying colors and shapes to differentiate ideas and to provide increased meaning and structure for the student.
•Ability to export the map into different formats, so that the student can manipulate the map afterwards for the writing process.
Apps to improve organizational skills
Learning disabled students struggle with organizational skills. These apps should help them improve those skills which in turn improves their study skills as well.
And here’s a follow up post with 9 more apps:
Apps to create social stories
Social stories can be used for behavioural support, for describing and teaching social interactions, to ease transitions, and to teach new adaptive skills (among many other uses!). According to Inov8, “we wanted to share some of the apps that we’re using, since there are so many more possibilities now than even last year. Now we’re even using tools that were not originally designed for creating social stories. These content creation apps have allowed us to customize and individualize stories to our student or child’s needs-one of the many benefits of new transformative technologies!”
Apps that develop independence and autonomy
One of the key benefits of assistive technology is helping individuals to become more independent in their lives. In the case of the learning disabled student, the use of specific apps is supporting students to develop the skills essential to becoming self-determined. Whether these apps are used in the classroom, at home, or on the job, these students are using apps to develop independent work habits, feel comfortable socially, and to make autonomous decisions. They are also increasingly confident in their own abilities.
Apps for college/university students
Students with learning disabilities represent the largest group of students with disabilities in higher education settings. The number of students with learning disabilities in post-secondary education has increased over the past ten years. Some stats: one US study from the University of Washington concluded that 6% of the population in higher education has a disability. Of this number, 45% of individuals report a learning disability. Organizational strategies for students with LDs in college or university is key to success. With a course load, research papers, collaborative assignments and a social life to juggle, college life can often be overwhelming. Effective note-taking, organization and research skills are extremely important. These 10 apps that will help in the area of productivity and organization.
In addition to the apps recommended by Inov8, the National Center for Learning Disabilities offers these recommendations:
Apps for Students with LD: Organization and Study
Apps to Help Students with Dysgraphia and Writing Difficulties