Apps for Students with Disabilities

In order to create a learning opportunity that is intended to best serve students in the least restrictive environment, one must first understand their needs. There are many things to consider such as age-appropriateness, grade-level standards, and individual strengths and challenges the child may face. With so many applications to choose from, how does one sort through and find what is best? According to the Division of Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children, "tech apps have the potential to help young children with disabilities more easily participate in general education curriculum and improve their overall quality of life. However, the market is flooded with applications claiming to be educational” (More & Travers, 2012, p. 15). As students in graduate school receiving our MLIS, we have combined application rubrics that we feel best represent the needs of some students and are presenting them in a way that will not only allow you to find appropriate apps to meet your learners' needs, but also evaluating them on the rubric so you can quickly decide if an app is right for you. “Computers can be used effectively to help students compensate for their challenges and enhance their skills in such areas as reading, writing, and mathematics” (Ok, Kim, Kang, Bryant, 2015, p.244). Now we just need to be sure to help you find the ones that are right for you and your learners.

References

More, C. M., & Travers, J. C. (2012). What’s App With That? Selecting Educational Apps for Young Children With Disabilities. Young Exceptional Children, 16(2), 15–32. https://doi.org/10.1177/1096250612464763

Ok, M. W., Kim, M. K., Kang, E. Y., & Bryant, B. R. (2015). How to Find Good Apps. Intervention in School and Clinic, 51(4), 244–252. https://doi.org/10.1177/1053451215589179