Learning is an important part of life. Yet, some students have trouble learning in the accepted standardized school setting. When students aren’t offered ways to learn that work for them, learning can become frustrating and take much longer than necessary. Learning, instead of being a fun way to make kids wonder about the world, turns into a tedious and painful chore. The good news is that for many students with learning disabilities, technology now allows many more choices in how they learn and complete their studies. Below are six apps that address different learning disabilities.
1. MyHomework
This app is great for any student, but especially those who can have trouble keeping track of assignments. MyHomework helps students and parents organize class schedules, projects, homework, and more. Students can use this app on almost any device from phone to computer. The best part is that it’s free! Some schools even purchase it for students to make keeping track of work easier than ever.
2. ModMath
When it comes to apps for people with disabilities, apps usually work best when created by someone with a disability. ModMath is an app made by a parent and child team. The child struggles with dysgraphia, a learning disability that makes writing difficult and can affect math ability. ModMath helps people with dysgraphia write out and solve math problems on digital graph paper. You can then email your work or even upload it to Dropbox. The app can handle math all the way through algebra with more improvements and higher math sure to come.
3. Voice Dream
For people with dyslexia, writing and reading can be very difficult. Voice Dream has two apps, one built for reading and one for writing. This app is similar to the popular Dyslexia Toolbox, but costs less and doesn’t require fees to use the voiceover reading ability. With the reading tool, you can highlight text to be read to you. The writing app reads back what you wrote so you can easily catch grammar, spelling, and other writing mistakes.
4. Stop, Breathe, Think for Kids
One part of learning disabilities that can be looked over in kids is anxiety. Whether a child has an anxiety disorder or their disability causes them to be anxious, this is a great app for them. Stop, Breathe, Think is an app for adults that helps you evaluate your mood and find coping strategies to fit you. The app worked so well they created one specifically for kids with child therapist approved coping mechanisms.
5. Puppet Pals HD
Puppet Pals HD is a creative app that allows kids to build their own storylines, record voices, and create a small show with digital puppets. Not only is this app great for expanding the creativity of students, but it also helps kids with speech delays or other speech issues. The student can record their voice at their own pace and then play it back. They will get to enjoy watching the show they made while also listening for mispronunciations.
6. My Talk Tools Mobile
This app is perfect for students with autism, sensory processing disorders, or other communication disabilities. It uses a combination of words, pictures, and sounds to let students communicate their needs, concerns, and wants. You can even customize the options by using your own pictures. My Talk Tools Mobile gives kids the accessibility they need to express themselves.
In public education, students with learning disabilities can fall behind or even off the grid completely. However, technology is improving accessibility for many people with disabilities. These are just a few of the many apps out there designed to address the imbalances in today’s educational world. Learning should be a joy for every student. These apps allow kids with learning disabilities to get closer to that reality.