Posts Tagged ‘apps’

I Can Communicate!

A woman holding up two signs, one with a happy emoji and one with a sad emoji. A child points at the happy face

Today, we’re going talk about an AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) app for Android, but first, let’s talk a bit about AAC, because it’s not the most commonly used piece of assistive technology out there, and there’s lots of people who have never seen these devices before. AAC stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication and it refers to any communication device, system, strategies, or tools that replace or support speech. AAC can support a range of speech disorders that could be related to an acquired disorder, developmental disabilities, or a wide range of other speech impediments.

myHomework

a student writing notes, with a laptop in front of him

For many students, properly planning, organizing, and completing their homework is one of the bigger obstacles they’ll face in school. This is especially true for students who struggle with attention-based challenges such as ADHD or other executive functioning disorders. Of course, every student is typically given a paper agenda/calendar at the beginning of the school year, but what if the student struggles with print-based disabilities, or they simply lose or don’t use their paper agenda? As we’ll see from the app that we are going to be looking at today, there are many advantages to planning digitally, and these advantages extend to all users regardless of their learning ability.

Ulysses Writing App

a student typing on a laptop

Ulysses is a markup-based mobile word processor that’s designed to be distraction free, easy to use, but still packed with powerful writing features. Essentially, the app is designed to be used via keyboard only, so writers can stay in the flow and not have stop to worry about formatting. Headings, bold, italics, and other formatting is marked with characters instead of being toggled by buttons as with most text editors (hence the term “markup-based”). This has some great potential for individuals who are prone to distraction, as it encourages writers to focus on writing rather than formatting.

How to: Use Mathway (a problem-solving app)

A student at a desk, making notes using a pen. A calculator is on the desk.

Mathway is a problem-solving app designed to not only solve math equations but to also explain the steps required to arrive at the correct answer. This can be especially helpful for students who are learning at home, for those who do not have access to a tutor, or even for adults who simply wish to check their math. Whatever the case may be, math apps such as the one we’re looking at today are invaluable tools for those who struggle with math, as they allow learners to double check their answers as well as their methodology.

Easy Converter Express

student typing at a laptop

When it comes to serving individuals who require assistive technology (AT), the ability to provide alternative formats to standard text is critical. And while there are already a lot of ways to tackle this issue, especially when using mobile devices which can also function as mobile scanners, PC based options are a bit less common.

Dolphin Easy Reader

student using headphones while taking notes and looking at a laptop

For users with reading challenges or visual impairments, the process of learning to read can be particularly daunting. Thankfully, there are many apps available that have been designed for struggling readers, and many of them are even available for free.

Socratic: A Companion App for Learning

a student using headphones while working on her laptop and writing in a notebook

With the advent of the internet, our ability to independently learn and research has grown immeasurably. It’s almost hard to imagine today that students once had to rely solely on textbooks, books, or encyclopedias for research. And while that method might have worked fine for the majority of students, what about individuals with disabilities related to reading, learning, vision, or even mobility? These days we have the technology to ensure that these different learning styles can be appropriately addressed, and with a world-wide shift towards universally designed education and products, learning and studying has never more accessible.

Glean Notes

A classroom setting. In the foreground, a student is using a laptop

Notetaking is a critical classroom skill, but it’s also something that’s often overlooked or taken for granted. The idea of “taking notes” seems simple enough on the surface, but what does this process really entail? How do we know what information is relevant and what isn’t? This can often be difficult to determine, especially while being in the moment of capturing information. And for students that struggle with attention, writing, vision, hearing, or even mobility, taking legible and relevant notes in class is especially challenging.

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