Infographics are like pictures with research and statistics imbedded for quick understanding of a subject. Here is a great infographic from Online College.org on Autism and Learning that shares information and strategies to help individuals with Autism.
Mobile technology and apps are just one of the many tools that can provide strategies to individuals with Autism. Low tech tools, environmental tools, social interaction, sensory strategies, direct instruction and high technology desktop software all provide supports to individuals with Autism.
Here are just a few apps and resources that can support the cited strategies of visual aids, structure and communication from the infographic.
Visual aids or visual communication apps:
Time Timer HD – (iOS 4.99), (Android 1.99). Provides a clock timer that counts down the time from start to finish. Aids anticipation of the end of an activity visually. Customization of the features is available.
VisTimer – (Free; full version 1.99) – Visual timer with customization of sounds, colors, text colors. Free version has limited time options. Good alternative to more expensive visual timers.
Kiddie Countdown Timer – (iOS free; 1.99 remove ads) – Visual times with image of stop sign, Yeild and Go, familiar to young learners. Great app but with upgrade to iOS 6 some errors occurred. Well worth trialing for young learners.
Stop Go! – ( iOS Free) – Stop sign timer. Settings allow options for set up of the stop sign and sounds. Each light can be set as a specific time on the stop sign.
Waitstrip – ( iOS .99) – Provides a horizontal count down of time to “wait” using dots that fill with passing time.
Also see apps for structure below which provide step by step visual instruction.
Apps for Structure:
First /Then Visual Schedule- (iOS 9.99), (Android 9.99 )Provides ability to create your own customized schedule by days, events with context specific images of people, places, objects or events. Text and audio out put is available.
iSee quence – (iOS 2.99) A simpler visual schedule app providing customized sequence of scheduled tasks, places and event using real photos. Allows creation of multiple users. Can also be used for social stories.
Visual Impact – (iOS Free; Pro 49.99) Provide customizeable step by step visual and spoken instructions of tasks and schedules. Import pictures of tasks to create step by step instructions with audio support. Free version provide demo of the Pro capabilities.
iPrompts – (iOS 39.99 ) , (Android 9.99) – Visual schedule app with photo and video capabilities. Create visual schedules with capabilities of task instructions within a schedule.
Visual Routine – (iOS 4.99) – Provides visual schedule and choices using text, audio and photos for scheduled tasks with in the app. Check off is provided for items completed.
Autism App – (Free) Provides categorized lists of app reviews including visual communication/schedule apps available suited for individuals with Autism. Very helpful app.
Communication Apps
Scene & Heard – (iOS 49.99) – This communication app also can provide visual communication for everyday tasks using its context based tools to create scenes of tasks for the user. Easy to use with photos and customized hot spots created within the app. Many scenes can be created.
Answer Yes/No – ( iOS 1.99) – Create simple boards with one and two choice cell with this easy to use app. Good for simple communicative choices.
SoundingBoard – (iOS Free) – Offered by Ablenet, this is a simple to use communication board that can be customized with existing symbol library or personalized photos. Switch accessible using Ablenet’s Blue2 iPad switch and blue tooth or wired switches.
Proloquo2Go – (iOS 189.00) Highly customizeable AAC app for iPod and iPad. Provides symbol or picture based communication or text based communication environments with word prediction. Instructions and webinars from developers website tutorial aid in creating customized AAC environments.
GoTalk Now – (iOS Free, 79.99 ) – Offers 3 styles of communication: standard, express and scenes providing basic symbol cell selection, creating sentences and context based communication opportunities in the scene mode.
JabTalk – (Android Free) – Free AAC app for Android. Use pictures, text and record audio to support comunication user. Also provides sentence building in this free app.
Other resources for structure, visual communication and communication apps:
Jessica Chase’s extensive list Social Skills and Autism Disorder Spectrum List for everything Autism and current posts – http://consonantlyspeaking.com/posts/2012/05/social-skills-and-autism-spectrum-disorders-app-list
Jane Farrell offers wonderful information at the Spectronics Website including a listing specifically for AAC apps: Jane Farrell’s extensive Spectronics AAC app list. A bit overwhelming by all the choices but allows you extensive information based on Jane’s AAC expertise.
Autism App – (Free) From Touch Autism website curates apps under more than 30 categories related to Autism. I find this a very helpful resource.
More for your mobile Tool Kit!
Carol
OT's with Apps & Technology 