App List for Kids With Hearing Loss

App Advice recently shared a concise app list focused on helping children and adults with hearing loss.  Definitely not a comprehensive list but a good start!  Here are a few that I like to use, specifically targeted to younger kids.  Let's grow this list with your input!  Be sure you suggest your favorite apps in the comments below :)



Old MacDonald  by The Royal Institute for  Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC)

This app is the first in a planned series of apps (Songs for Listening and language) from the RIDBC developed to encourage listening and language skills in children with hearing impairment.  The RIDBC also has a signing app (RIDBC Auslan Tutor-Key Signs for iPad).

Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy (iStorytime)  by zuuka incorporated

Is the first (and only, to my knowledge) children's eBook app that includes a "sign to me" function that will display the language of the book in ASL next to the pictures.  It is pretty cool and I hope they come up with more just like it soon!

Interactive Touch Books

A great web resource with a free companion app that allows ANYONE to create and publish interactive children's books that can be read on the iPad.  Included in the Interactive Touch Books Bookstore are stories from Rosemary Sanford with embedded ASL videos that sign along with each story.  Check out her titles on Technology in (Spl) Education (a great blog post outlining her path to developing signing stories and details on her stories)  Note:  The Interactive Touch Books app is free from the App Store,  Once you have the App, you can purchase books form the Interactive Touch Books Bookstore

What apps are you using with your hearing impaired child?

Software & Online Games for Children with Visual Impairment

Not everyone has a mobile tablet (iPad, Android tablet) and for some kids with special needs, especially those with visual impairment, tablet activities may not be the best choice for all occasions.  Personal computers are readily available in many classrooms and homes and there are lots of great software programs out there for kids with special needs!  I often hear parents and professionals say "Why would I spend $200.00 on a software program when I can get an App for $2.99?".  This is true, many of these software programs require a bit of an investment.  however, more often than not, the programs available will grow with your child and can be used across his or her development.  Furthermore, the development of these products involves extensive educational research and product support and in my opinion, that often justifies the cost!  Lastly, for kids who use switches, personal computers offer a much wider variety of educational programs and games than mobile devices.  Here are a few resources to find software and online activities/games that can be used on laptops or personal computers for children with a variety of special needs, including visual impairment: (PS:  Some of these are free!! :)

Software

7-128 Software for Blind & Visually Impaired Kids
This company makes simple, low cost games that you can download directly form the site or obtain on a CD.  The games were developed to be accessible to children with special needs at a variety of ages and stages.  The company uses an accessibility rating system that is helpful when choosing the right program(s) for your child.  There is also some free stuff on the site, definitely worth checkin out!

Inclusive Technology
This company offers a variety of accessible software for entertainment and education and also has some great Apps for iPad and Android tablets.  Many of their software programs and apps are also switch accessible.

Intellitools Products
A great source for educational programs like the Intellitools Classroom Suite.  This company also offers an activity exchange area where users can share the activities they have created for Intellitools programs.  One of the things that makes Classroom Suite a great tool is your ability to create custom activities for your child's needs.  They also have a braille learning program, IntelliBraille.
Free trials are available for download on the company's site.

Laureate Products
These programs focus on language and communication development.

Softtouch Products
Switch accessible programs for cause-effect learners and academic subjects (reading, match).

There is also a great list of Switch Accessible Software at Marblesoft

Online Activities

Starfall
Focus on literacy with activities for kids at all stages of reading development.

HelpKidzLearn
Free online games from cause and effect to problem solving.  Most games are switch accessible and all visually simple with high contrast.

Symbol World
Online newspapers for kids and adults using symbols to enhance literacy.  Free to access and the site offers accessibility settings like high contrast and large print.  Unfortunately, no voice output yet. :( But they're working on it.  Read more about it here.

News-2-You
Another symbol-based newspaper with a variety of reading levels (even appropriate for really young children).  This one is subscription based and comes with companion activities in each issue.  Also has voice output :)


Kneebouncers
Fun learning games for tots and preschool kids.

Looking for resources for older children and teens?
For some great resources for teens and adults, visit Wonder Baby's list!

What software and online activities do you enjoy?

New App for Language: What's in the Bag?

I was browsing the App Store for some tools to work on questions with some of my older kids on the Autism Spectrum.  I came across "What's in the Bag?" and downloaded it because of its incredibly detailed App store description of all of the ways in which I could use the App to work on a variety of language goals (very nice marketing strategy). I normally DO NOT buy Apps that don't have a Lite version because I find that I'm most often disappointed rather than surprised.  I'm afraid this is one of those times.  :(. But, despite my disappointment, I think this App has some good potential.  
In essence, What's in the Bag? is the game of 20 questions  in visual form.  The basic idea is that a "hider" player chooses one of the 120 pictures included in the app and then "hides" it behind a digital brown paper bag.  The other player(s) ask questions of the hider to try and guess what is behind the bag.  There are seven question marks on the screen that offer cues for different questions the players could ask to gain information about the hidden item.  When the questions are completed and a guess is given, or someone gives up, you pinch the iPad paper bag image to reveal the hidden picture.


Things I Love About What's in the Bag?:
It is visually simple and easy to navigate, making it an appropriate App for school-aged children working on communication goals.
It provides a nice variety of clear clipart in a few basic vocabulary categories.
It encourages group play rather than individual play on a motivating platform (the iPad)

My Wishlist for What's in the Bag?:
It has no sound and no animation!  How boring for these kids. :(. Most kids are really looking for that visual and auditory feedback to help them along with the task and to reward them for their participation along the way.  Sure, I will give this as the facilitator, but they don't want to hear from only me. :)
I would  love to be able to integrate pictures from my camera roll into this App as items that can be hidden.  This would allow for inclusion of a lot more word categories and potential descriptors that the "guessers" can use.
I would love to be able to record voice (or have the app embed voice) over the question clues (I.e., the question marks on the screen to give ideas to guessers).This would help kids who cannot read, or who do not comprehend what they read without  auditory support, use this App feature more successfully.

I have plans to give this one a try with a few of my kids this week.  Stay tubed for the moment of truth! :)

 and support SNEAK outside the box!