There are so many great websites and blogs out there to guide parents and professionals in their quest for the BEST apps to support children with special needs. But finding a great educational app is only the first step! What happens next?
First, allow me to climb onto my best practice soap box for a moment...
My Opinion (and it is just that)
An iPad in the hands of a child is useless without the guided support of a knowledgable play partner! Don’t get me wrong, all children need free time to “explore”, whether with Mr. Potato Head, everyday objects around the home, or on YouTube. But, if we want to scaffold learning, moving our kids toward their developmental goals, we have to be present in the interaction (at least part of the time, if not most of the time!). Apps are great, but they can’t do all of the work for us. :)
What does this mean, generally speaking?
1) As special needs professionals, we need to assure that in addition to app recommendations, we are supporting our families with appropriate home programming strategies around these apps, just as we would with more traditional home practice materials.
2) As parents, we need to assure that we are involved with our children during iPad play, providing the modeling, support, and interaction learned from our therapeutic and educational teams to promote the development of vital social and academic skills within our kids. Ok, climbing off of the soap box now...
What next?
I love apps, and I love how eager my families are to use them with their kids at home! To bridge my love of apps with a need for valuable parent coaching resources, I have decided to embark on a journey. Over the next few months, I plan to post several “how to’s” to support parents in using popular special needs apps at home. But I need your help!
How you can help SNEAK’s project:
1) If you are a parent/therapist/educator that would like guidance on a specific app, post in the comments below.
If you are an app developer that would like to find out how your app can be used to target specific skills for children with special needs, post in the comments below.
If you are a blogger/AT professional who has valuable resources to guide the use of specific special needs apps, post in the comments below.
Thank you for contributing and keep checking SNEAK for app “how to’s”! :)
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!
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!
I was recently invited to be a guest speaker on two teleconferences for parents seeking support for their children with visual impairments. These impairments included cortical visual impairment (CVI) and LCA, a genetic condition which leads to blindness. I really enjoyed participating in these calls and gaining some perspective on the information these families are seeking for their kids. They all had such wonderful questions and I admired their innovation and bravery. Although the focus of this talk was definitely geared more toward mobile technology, we also discussed some great computer and web resources to enhance play and learning for these kids. I thought this information might be helpful for other families supporting children with cortical visual impairment and other forms of low vision and blindness. I thought it might be helpful to other parents to have some of this info as well. In a series of posts this week, I will share some further tips and resources on technology for visually impaired kids. Click on the links below for information related to each technology category .:) I will try to post these quickly this week so if a link doesn't work today, please try again tomorrow!
I had a great collaboration meeting and co-treat with an OT on my team yesterday afternoon and I had to take a moment to reflect and share. :) We have both recently started seeing a bright young boy with Autism who is nonverbal, struggles with engaging, and needs a lot of sensory regulation support. My colleague mentioned that this little guy's mom wanted very much for him to share in family activities, especially game night-and that mom was really struggling on how to make board games something he had fun with and could participate in. As a therapist, I have spent much time using board games with school-aged children on the Autism Spectrum to target many skills: turn-taking, following directions, sequencing, basic concepts, etc... But had I thought about the fun? Could we not only get this little guy to participate but to actually have FUN in doing so? I thought we could, but where could we start?
I started thinking about why kids play these games in the first place. To win! :) Children at that age have a natural competitiveness to them, they start to develop a love for strategy and rules, and they take joy in the endeavor of finishing a game (hopefully with results in their favor :) My colleague and I started wondering, did children with Autism at our little guy's stage of development have this competitive drive? We knew that social interaction was a big hurdle for our little guy, as it is for many children on the Autism spectrum, and we knew that participating in a board game meant using social skills and frame of mind that didn't come easily to him, if at all at this stage. We thought, “we might be able to get him ‘through’ the game by making some adaptations, and we definitely wanted to take a look at what those needed to be. But we also wondered if we could use HIS "currency" to build in real enjoyment that would keep him engaged when he was able (from a sensory perspective) and bring him back to the game of his own will, should he choose to take a break. What was his "currency"? It wasn't always high-fives, or smiles and "good jobs!", and it also wasn't the thrill of the competition. We had to figure out a way to meet this little guy where he was in the process, and then support him along the way. In researching, brain-storming, and a whole lot of trial and error (still underway!), we found a few ways to adapt game-play for this little guy that kept him engaged, and more importantly, willing to re-engage (and, therefore, learn new skills over time)!
Here are a few tips and resources to help bring board games to the table for children with Autism:
1. Choose the Appropriate Level of Difficulty:Just as with other skills, play develops in children across a continuum. Introducing skills sequentially, with this in mind, helps us meet our kids where they are in terms of the skill set needed to successfully participate in a board game. UNC has a great article describing nonverbal skills, cognition, and play development in children. The age range provided on the outside of most board game boxes might be of little help to you as you try to determine where to start. Autism Games, a great site that focuses on bringing a variety of play skills to children with Autism, has a few simple, helpful guidelines for choosing games at various levels of difficulty. I find that nearly ALL board games can be modified “up” or “down” to meet kids where they are. Keep a few things in mind when choosing or modifying games:
What physical skills are needed? The social aspect of game-play is hard enough for our kids on the Autism Spectrum, so keeping the mechanics of the game manageable lets kids focus their mental energy and attention on the social and the fun! (See Tip #10 for ways to adapt the mechanics of a board game for those who need it.)
What cognitive skills are needed? Most games are aimed at “teaching us something”, or helping us practice basic concepts like colors, numbers, and shapes in a fun way. Make sure you consider the cognitive skills required for a game (as it is) and make adjustments as needed. It is OK to challenge, but working on too many challenging tasks at once can really set the stage for disaster, and no one likes to play a game they aren’t good at! (See Tip #5 an #7 for some ideas on adjusting the cognitive demands of games)
2. Balance the New and the Familiar: With children on the Autism Spectrum, new things=challenges. And as discussed above, introducing too many challenges at once can completely overwhelm you and the child. Help games look, feel, sound, and act familiar, especially if it is the first time you and your child have sat down to play this game. You can also build your own games around concepts that are already familiar to your child, and that he enjoys. For example, a child who is good at identifying colors and enjoys interacting with colors might be more wiling to engage in a game about colors (e.g., Candyland, Twister) than a game about numbers (e.g., Chutes & Ladders, Hi Ho Cheerio). Keep in mind that children on the Autism Spectrum also embrace predictable routines (how great, since board games are all about structure and routine!). This is part of the scope of balance “familiar” with “new”. Keep your game-play predicable for the most part, adding new things gradually (See Tip #8 for more information on Predictability).
3. Make it Visual: We know that out kids on the Autism Spectrum learn best when information is presented in a visual manner, and board games are no exception. You might look at a game and think, “aren’t all board games inherently visual?”. And you would be right- in part. But think about all of the aspects of playing a game that AREN’t visual (i.e., taking turns, knowing what to do on your turn, which direction to move, which game piece to use, when the game will end, how you know if you win, etc...). These kids struggle with the unspoken, unseen “rules” of social interaction and the same holds true for game-play. Break down the demands of the game in this manner and make those aspects more simplistic and VISUAL so that your child knows his role and what to expect. Go over the visuals, make sure they make sense, and don’t forget that you will still need to provide gentle reminders. :) Some visuals might include integrating picture communication symbols onto the board itself, modifying dice or spinners, using the child’s picture on a game piece for easier recognition, using a within-task schedule to assist with the steps in the game and/or the sequence of turns between players, and providing a communication board with some basic game related language (See Tip #6 for more on how to integrate visuals).
4. Use the Right Kind of Talk: Talking is a large part of any game. Remember to use talk in a way that facilitates further understanding of the expectations in the game. Autism Games has some great guidelines for adult talk during game-play. You might even find that less talking is more successful, keeping in mind that communication (understanding and expressing) may be one of those “challenges” to balance.
5. Focus on Fun: Remember that although you want your child to learn the game, and attend to the game, etc... that the ultimate goal for the child is to have fun. He doesn't really know (or care) that you would like him to learn how to count or identify colors as part of this game-play experience, nor does he need to in order for you to facilitate that learning experience. Be sensitive to the demands (previously mentioned) of board games and remember that you will need to be flexible if you are going to teach him to be flexible. This might mean allowing your child to take “breaks” as needed, and waiting for him to re-engage on his own terms (with some tempting fun signals from your direction!). You may even have to introduce “fun” that is more familiar to your child than that already built into the game (See Tip #9 for more on reinforcement and fun).
6. Practice Before Play: We all prefer going into situations knowing what to expect. Try to think about the last time you sat down to play a game or complete a task that you didn’t know how to do (panic! anxiety! confusion!) Usually, when adults sit down to a game, they discuss the rules, possibly even reading the step-by-step instructions of how to set up the game, how to play, etc...Now think about how you will introduce a game to your child. Will you set it up, have him sit down, and get to playing? How can you assure that he enters the game knowing what he needs to do? Using social stories and video modeling can be very helpful in narrowing the learning curve. You might also consider introducing concepts and materials form the game prior to actually sitting down to play. This allows your child to become familiar with the concepts, materials, and actions of the game in smaller, more manageable “practice sessions” before adding the social pressure of playing the game itself. For example, you could use the spinner form a game of Chutes and Ladders to practice matching numbers to quantity, counting the number of cars, blocks, Cheerios (pick whatever your child likes and insert it here :) that is represented on the spinner. Taking turns in this way also introduces the concept of turn-taking, a skills that he will need to use when you sit down to play the game together. If you are using visual supports for the game (and you should be :), make sure you go over these supports in more familiar contexts to assure that your child knows that the pictures mean. Autism Games has great resources for video modeling in game play.
7. Bend the Rules When You Need To: When it comes it to playing board games with children on the Autism Spectrum, rules were definitely meant to be broken. Bending the rules of a game can help that game suit the cognitive, sensory, and motor needs of your child. If playing the whole length of the game board takes longer than your child is able to sit for, play half of the board. If counting a different number of spaces each time is too demanding, set a number for the game and have everyone move that amount of spaces. If your child needs more of his idea of “fun” to keep going in a game, consider integrating sensory and other preferred activities into the game itself. For example, modify game boards to include symbols for reinforcing activities (e.g., candy, slide, bubbles, trampoline) every few spaces. This provides motivation to continue to continue the game! Set reasonable expectations and realize that they may not involve finishing the game the way it was meant. You can always build to more more extended, literal play in the future-small changes gradually will lead to more successful play experiences :)
8. Predictability Leads to Teaching Moments: Predictable routines draw a child on the Autism Spectrum into an interaction. He might be thinking “hey, i get what you’re doing!”-and if he gets it, he is more likely to participate. Building on Tip #2, use predictability as a “familiar” element to build a safe play environment in which your child knows he is capable. Then you can mix it up a bit by adding a new element here and there and set the stage for your child to learn from this violation of expectations. Autism Games has some great strategies to help “stretch” your child’s mind in this way without pushing so far that fun turns to game over.
9. Choose Your Reinforcement Wisely: Verbal praise and other social rewards are great when they are great, but they aren’t always needed or welcomed. Choose the way you reinforce you child wisely when playing these new games. Excess verbal praise could derail attention, be overwhelming from a sensory perspective, or add confusion. The actions of the game should serve as motivation for the child to keep participating and may be enough without “atta boys” and “good jobs” flying around.
10. Take Inventory: Similar to Tip #1, make sure that your child has the mechanical skills needed to engage in the game you bring to the table. Consider visual, hearing, sensory, and fine motor needs. If you find that certain game tasks might be difficult for your child from a mechanical perspective, consider modifying them.
You can use electronic or switch-adapted spinners and dice instead of those that come with the game if the act of spinning or rolling is a difficulty.
You can reduce the visual complexity of the game board by folding it in half or covering some of the spaces to create larger spaces.
Card holders can be used to hold cards upright for kids who have difficulty.
Velcro can be added to game boards and game pieces to help them stay upright.
Grip enhancers like foam or rubber can be added to game tools for easier handling
Here is a great video example of many of these tips in Action (From Autistically Inclined
A BLURB on Technology:
As with other skills, mobile and computer technology can be a great tools in helping children on the Autism spectrum participate in and enjoy board games and other social games. I consider technology a stepping stone to real thing in this regard. Utilizing technology for parts of a game or to play a full game could be a great way to motivate kids on the Autism Spectrum to engage in the game and practice interactive play skills. However, I consider these strategies a practice stage for eventually playing these games the more traditional way, helping children engage more readily with partners versus screens, and building the much needed skills for successful interaction with peers in a variety of play environments. With that said, I have found some promising Apps that I see as beneficial tools in the realm of interactive play. More about that in a future post! :)
Sifteo Interactive Game Cubes were one of the coolest tools I saw at ATIA 2012 this past weekend! Check out this quick demo the rep from EnableMart gave me of this awesome new learning modality!
These high-tech "manipulatives" interact with desktop software on your computer to display and play fun and educational games! You can create your own games using the Sifteo Creativity Kit, or play a variety of games from the Sifteo Game Studios, suited for a variety of ages and interests! I had a blast playing with the cubes and saw so much potential for use with kids with special needs. The cubes have a high color display, are extremely lightweight and easy to push along th table or grasp, and easily connect and interact with each other to give feedback to the player. What a fun way to incorporate manipulatives into simple counting, math, colors, or matching game! The rep assured me that they re pretty durable too. Can't wait to see where this technology goes! Check out Sifteo Interactive Game Cubes on Amazon!
Check out the switch adapted Fijit from ! Super fun and cool cause-effect toy, but even better, it isn't plush! Easy to clean, more cootie-proof, and great, bright colors for kids with sensory involvement (e.eg, CVI). Fijit toys are also available on Amazon in non-switch form so you could use your DIY switch adapting skills to adapt these toys with Ablenet adapters or other materials.
iPad hogs the spotlight these days, but considering the switch accessibility features of Android devices, and the up and coming market of Android tablets that strongly compete with iPad, I plan on spending a bit more time focusing on this alternate technology. To start, here are a list of 20 great Apps for Android that posses certain characteristics that I find helpful for kids with cortical visual impairment and other forms of low vision. This is by no means a complete list, but it's a great start, especially if you're looking for Apps for kids in the early developmental stages. I picked these Apps for their visual properties and ease of use, making them great Apps to try with kids with CVI and LV. However, many if not ALL of these Apps are great for kids with a variety of special needs.
When you link to Amazon's Android App Store through SNEAK, you support our blog and get cool Apps with no extra cost to you!
1. Knee Bouncers Big Little Games: Vol. 1 (5 games in 1) has bright, contrasting colors, is visually simplistic but engaging, and requires simple interaction for cause-effect and engagement. Games included are: 1) Choo-Choo: Your baby or toddlers will love this bubble blowing train.; 2). The Alphabet game: Introduce your baby or toddler to the letters of the alphabet in this fun interactive game.; 3). Pop-A-lot: It's a bubble bursting bonanza. ; 4) It's Colorific: Your baby or toddler will begin to learn all the basic colors with this big, bright and colorful game.; and 5) The Big Top: A three ring circus comes to life as your baby or toddler taps the screen.
2. My Baby Drum is designed for the development of your baby’s senses. This app provides various children's songs and authentic drumming. Add drum sounds to children's songs to make exciting musical performance. When touched, the program activates animations and vibration to stimulate children's curiosity. Bright drums in a rainbow of colors on a white background make them easier to see with large surface area for each drum allowing for easier interaction.
3. KidsXylophone encourages interaction through music and a bright, simple, visual display. Play your own songs or play along with favorites, this App encourages cause-effect, imitation of sound and rhythm, and visual attention.
4. Little Piano is a high-contrast, black and white toy piano that encourages exploration and touch screen interaction.
5. BalloonMaker is a simple but engaging App with a bright, high-contrast display. This fun App encourages interaction through sound and movement. It's simple visual display and easy activiAtion make it great for kids with CVI and other challenges.
6. Balloonimals is a favorite for iPad users now on Android! This great, cause-effect game lets children use different touch screen gestures to blow up balloons, create a balloon figure, interact with the figure, and then pop it! Great selection of balloons to choose from and easy gestures for interaction. High contrast with bright balloons on simple white background, great animation, and sounds!
7. Pop Goes the Bubble Every kid loves bubbles but these are easier to see and therefore, easier to track! The app has 4 game modes, each offering different skills to target. You can expand on language skills by talking to your child while they play, improve tracking and hand-eye coordination, and foster independence as this App is a great one to let your child play alone or with support.
8. Sound Touch was designed to help expand vocabulary knowledge through sound and picture associations. Thiss visually simple, easy to use App will encourage sound imitation, visual attention, touch screen interaction, and case-effect.
9. My First Race for Babies is a colorful App that resembles a toycar on a race track. Drive the car with the touch of a finger! This App helps children with sensory and motor involvement interact with pretend play schemes more easily!
10., 11., & 12. Kids Doodle - Movie Kids Drawing, Neon Draw, & Picasso-Kids Paint Magic are three great drawing Apps with high-contrast, neon on black displays. Kids Doodle records doodles to playback as a movie! These Apps are great for early touch screen skills, exploratory play, and for use as a learning tool like an interactive whiteboard (but black).
13. Peek-a-Boo Barn is an old favorite for iPad users, now on Android. Visually simple pictures and interaction allow users with vosual limitations learn animal names and sounds, cause-effect and early toich screen skills in a fun, motivating way!
14. Mazeball is not as simple as some of the others but it offers a great, high-contrast black, white and red display where you lead a red ball through a black and white maze. There are different levels of difficulty within the App that you can adjust. Mazeball is great for tracking for higher level kids and for practicing more advanced touch screen skills
15., 16., & 17. Itsy Bitsy Spider, Wheels on the Bus, and Five Little Monkeys are creative expansion of these favorite children's songs. These Apps are very interactive to build language and cause effect. Highly engaging movement, colors, and simple visual display make them more accessible to kids with visual limitations. These Apps encourage imitation of sounds and song, as well as visual attention skills.
18. Lightbox (Premium) turns your Android device into a Lightbox!
Need to Kid Proof Your Android Debice? Here are two apps that do just that!
19. Kids Place with Child Lock Childproof any app just by adding the ones kids use on your device to Kids Place. The custom launcher will display only parent-authorized apps. Use the Child Lock feature to protect your data and the Toddler Lock setting to enforce locking for apps launched from Kids Place. Other settings let you disable wireless signals as well as block or allow incoming calls while the Kids Place app is running.
20. KinderTube is a kid-friendly video app that embeds links to over 100 per-screened You Tube videos for kids, so you don't have to worry about them seeing inappropriate content if left to explore unsupervised.
This is a clever product and when I saw it, I immediately thought of the many wheelchair lap trays I have outfitted with tons of Velcro strips to get toys and tech to stay put! I think this smart little lap desk/carrying case is a great alternative for some kids who need their materials anchored for access! The Trabasack (sometimes referred to as a "buggy tray") comes in four versions: Trabasack Curve, Trabasack Curve Connect, Trabasack Mini , and Trabasack Mini Connect . "Connect" versions are covered with a material that feels and acts like the soft side of Velcro. To anchor toys, games, tech, or anything else, you would simply put the hook side of a Velcro tab on the item. You may need more Velcro on the item depending on its size and weight. The Trabasack also acts as a carrying case so yo can ensure it is always with the child, toting anything he needs to work and play! The Trabasack has great potential as a communication board as well, with handy storage for all your PCS right inside your Trabasack, Thanks to Viviane on Thinking Outside the Light-box for mentioning this cool new tool! if you buy your Trabasack through this link, you can support our blog at the same time, with no extra cost to you! Thanks for your support and I welcome your input on this product!
Great News! Inclusive Technology, the folks who brought us one of the best free, switch activity websites on the web, Help Kidz Learn, is now offering 5 Apps for download in the Apple App Store! Even Better News! 4 of the 5 have switch access! You heard me, there are finally some cause-effect, play-based apps with switch accessibility on the iPad! I haven’t had a chance to check these out yet but I wanted to share them because I couldn’t’ contain my excitement! I will give each a closer look and follow-up in a later post, but for now, here are the fab 5 for your reviewing pleasure. Let us know what you think!
Purchase these Apps in the App Store through the links below to Support SNEAK OTB at the same time :)
Gube is a great new App that “filters” YouTube to provide a more kid-friendly, G-rated search and viewing platform. The App pre-screens videos and includes only those that are appropriate for the eyes and ears of babes! The library of the App contains thousands of videos chosen by the developers (parents) with new videos added regularly. Users can also submit video recommendations for consideration by the developers of Gube. Gube categorizes its catalog of videos by age, allowing you (as the caregiver/ professional) to display only those videos that fall within selected age groups (you can toggle these age groups in the settings of the App). The interface of the App looks and acts much like YouTube, with “Favorites”, “Recents” and “Featured” tabs, and also a search option (although it only searches those videos within the App, remember, not the entire Youtube database). Use of Gube with ahome button cover like the BubCap, orLasered Pics Home Button Guard and a durable case like the Big Frame or Otter Box lets allows kids to have a more independent, unsupervised viewing experience on You Tube without parents getting too nervous. J
One feature that I would like to see included in this App is the ability for users to prescreen videos on YouTube themselves, and then upload these as links within the Gube App. This would allow therapists, teachers, and caregivers to load specific videos for lessons, themes, and activities within a safe viewing environment, giving Gube more applicability as a teaching tool and not just a source of entertainment. I would also love to seeswitch accessibility with this App as it is a simple, but wonderful platform to help motivate kids to learn how to useswitches! And how empowering to be able to play their own videos using their switches! How are you all using YouTube and other video platforms to enhance play and learning for your kids?
As promised in an earlier post (Awesome Holiday Gifts for Special Kids), here is my list of the simplest but most versatile, traditional toys for targeting cognitive, physical and communication skills while playing with kids who have special needs. Many of these toys can be adapted to suit the level of support needed by your child. They don't come with all of the bells and whistles of a computerized toy or iPad, but I think they have their place as essentials in every child's toy box. :) As a speech therapist, I NEVER leave home without them! These toys can be purchased at most toy stores (and even dollar stores), or you can buy them online here from Amazon. :) (Visit the SNEAK aStore for great toy ideas for special kids)
1. Bubbles
Bubbles entertain children of all ages! They are a great way to practice fine motor skills like putting in and taking out, isolating a finger to pop, and pinching or grasping the bubble wand; gross motor skills like stomping, jumping, swatting, and waving arms; and oral skills like rounding lips to blow. You can also create many communication opportunities with bubbles by talking about what you see, do, and experience. What do your bubbles look like? Where are they going? How do they feel on your fingers? Talking about the play experience models language for children in a context that is concrete and fun. Use words like up, down, blow, in, out, stomp, pop, high, low, wet, dry, fun, yucky, and more! Bubbles can be adapted to support children with motor limitations by using bubble machines, bubble blowers, or bubble wands that only require gross movements to work.
2. Blocks
Blocks are a great way for special kids to practice constructive play.Simple, flat blocks versus those that needd to interlock in a certain way (e.g., Legos, bristle blocks) are the best because of their flexible use. Create towers, houses, farms, schools and buildings with your blocks. Talk about what you are building, how it looks, and what you do in it. Combine blocks with other toys to expand play experiences, such as crashing them with cars or using toy figures to pretend inside of the structures you have created. Children can expand their imagination by using blocks to create symbolic things. Talking about your play experience models language and actions for your child, giving them the words they need to understand and express the things they are doing while they play. Use words like on, off, fall, build, up, high, down, low, oh no!, tall, big, little, etc... Blocks can be adapted for children with physical challenges by adjusting the size and consistency of the block (soft or hard) depending on the child's needs and adding magnets or velcro to the blocks to help them stack more securely so that less precision is needed in building. Check out these magnetic blocks!
3. Balls
Ball play is an early way to take turns with play mates. It is also a great way to build gross and fine motor skills and learn language. Use different balls and talk about their differences to practice new words like big, little, soft, hard, and colors. Combine balls with other toys to expand play, such as knocking blocks or pins down like a bowling game, throwing balls into clothes hampers or boxes for basketball, rolling under tables and over couches. Using balls in different ways helps expand the language that you can model about the experience. Balls can be adapted to suit different physical needs by using different sizes and shapes. You can also use lighter or heavier balls depending on the needs of the child. Some balls even come with holes to make them easier to grasp and throw (like the Oball). Using balloons as balls is a nice way to help children with motor challenges get the time they need to catch a ball(because the balloons float).
4. Books
Choose books specifically for the learning level of your child. Books are a great tool to learn new words, practice answering questions, and explore new people, places, items, and actions. Books with simple, repetitive language are great for teaching early literacy skills and for setting a stage for communication. Don't be confined by the words written on the page, you can always change a book to suit the interests and learning level of your child with just a little imagination. Let loose and use silly voices, sounds, and songs to help engage your child. Encourage interaction with the book by pointing to pictures, pretending with the pictures, and acting out the actions in the story. Books can be adapted for children with physical challenges in a variety of ways, including adding binder clips or velcro between pages to make them easier to turn and securing books to a table top easel so that they are easier to see and flip through.
5. Mr. Potato Head
Mr. Potato Head is another great, versatile, constructive and pretend play toy! Practice body part names and concepts like putting in and taking out. Talk about spatial concepts like the eyes are over the nose, the ears are on the side, and the shoes are on the bottom. Use larger sets of Potato Head pieces to compare the differences between eyes, shoes, and ears, such as their shape, size, and color. To make Mr. potato easier to grab and hold, attach a handle on his back with a shower curtain ring or wooden knob by using hot glue. You can also use velcro on the head and pieces (soft side on the head, bumpy on all of the pieces) to help the pieces stay in place. Once you build your Potato Head pieces, combine him with other toys to expand pretend play. Have him crash your block tower, make him a meal with play utensils and food, or take him for a ride on a toy car!
6. Crayons & Paper
Other than the obvious use of coloring with the crayons on the paper, I like to use this simple toy to expand the play of other toys. If you are playing with a train, draw a train track for it to chug on! If you are playing with a rubber duck, how about drawing a pond for him to swim in! Using drawn environments with physical toys helps kids meld the lines of real and abstract and really gets their brains making connections!
7. Play Doh
Play Doh can be used with children of young ages as long as you supervise! This toy is a favorite of ALL kids and a great tool for enhancing many developmental skills (not to mention, a cool sensory experience). The play and language modeling possibilities are limited only by imagination! Use play doh as a tool to create a platform for pretending!
8. Toy Figures
Toy figures like animals, action figures, and people are also very open-ended toys for practicing pretend play. They can be combined with other toys and settings in the home to create wonderful play scenes and opportunities for learning and communication.
9. Common Objects Box
Dishes, toy food, a brush, keys, a hat-you name it! Kids learn language and other developmental skills by watching daily routines and imitating them. A clear plastic bin or drawstring laundry bag with a variety of common household objects and small toys inside is a great tool for open-ended play, pretending, and learning life skills.
10. Wooden Puzzles
Puzzles can be tricky for kids with special needs but I LOVE them for setting the stage for interaction. Use wooden puzzles with large knobs that display pictures that interest your child. Pretend with the puzzle pieces, hide them in pockets, containers, or around the house, and use silly voices and sounds to help engage your child in puzzle play. You can adapt puzzles with small pegs for handles by adding rubber pencil erasers (the kind you put on top of your pencil when the eraser runs out) with hot glue to each peg. This makes a nice surface for kids with motor challenges to grip pieces.
There are so many great websites and blogs out there to guide parents and professionals in their quest for the BEST apps to support children with special needs. But finding a great educational app is only the first step! What happens next? 
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. "Connect" versions are covered with a material that feels and acts like the soft side of Velcro. To anchor toys, games, tech, or anything else, you would simply put the hook side of a Velcro tab on the item. You may need more Velcro on the item depending on its size and weight. The Trabasack also acts as a carrying case so yo can ensure it is always with the child, toting anything he needs to work and play! The Trabasack has great potential as a communication board as well, with handy storage for all your PCS right inside your Trabasack, Thanks to Viviane on 
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