Category Archives: App Reviews

Time Timer Apps – Gone Free

Posted on April 18, 2020 by Carol Leynse Harpold, MS, AdEd, OTR/L, ATP, CATIS

Are you in need of a tool to structure your student’s time?  Many special education classrooms, staff and students are familiar with the TimeTimer clock and app used to visually display time. The developers of the TimeTimer app and TimeTimer devices … Continue reading →

Posted in Accessories, Activities of Daily Living, Adaptive Devices, Android, App Reviews, Apps for Special Needs, Assistive Technology, Developmental Delay, Early Childhood, Elementary School, Executive Function, Focused attention, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Visual Communication, Visual Supports | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

“On-Demand” Apps for Reading

Posted on June 30, 2019 by Carol Leynse Harpold, MS, AdEd, OTR/L, ATP, CATIS

Many individuals with reading challenges are faced with difficulty reading the information in their environment. Whether text in a technical manual at work, written directions and a handout provided in a class or meeting that may be difficult to read. … Continue reading →

Posted in Accessibility, Adults with LD, Android, App Reviews, Apps for Special Needs, Assistive Technology, Intellectual Disability, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Learning Disability, OCR, Reading, Text to Speech, Vocation | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Assistive Technology in Special Education 3rd Edition” Book by Joan L. Green, SLP

Posted on June 23, 2019 by Carol Leynse Harpold, MS, AdEd, OTR/L, ATP, CATIS

        A big “thanks” to Joan L. Green for her diligence in updating her book, “Assistive Technology in Special Education 3rd Edition” © 2018 and to her donor who offered 1500 copies of her book to professionals working … Continue reading →

Posted in Android, App Reviews, Apps for Special Needs, Assistive Technology, AT for Handwriting, Augmentative Communication, Communicaton, Emergent Literacy, Executive Function, Focused attention, Google Docs, iOS, iPad, iPhone, Language Arts, Learning Disability, Note Taking, Scanning, Special education, Special Needs, Spell Checking, Spelling, Text to Speech, Windows, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Seeing AI App – Update Offers New Recognition Tools

Posted on December 31, 2017 by Carol Leynse Harpold, MS, AdEd, OTR/L, ATP, CATIS

The Seeing AI iOS app (free) developed by Microsoft brought a variety of object recognition tools to mobile devices. The first version offered text and object recognition via text to speech. Although not perfect, the Seeing AI app provides remarkable accuracy … Continue reading →

Posted in Accessibility, Activities of Daily Living, App Reviews, Apps for OT's, Apps for Special Needs, Artificial Intelligence, Assistive Technology, Dyslexia, iOS, iPad, Object Recognition | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

SayIt! App

Posted on June 17, 2017 by Carol Leynse Harpold, MS, AdEd, OTR/L, ATP, CATIS

                                         SayIt App!                                               Looking for a quick text based AAC app that can speak out loud? SayIt! … Continue reading →

Posted in App Reviews, Apps for OT's, Assistive Technology, Augmentative Communication, Customizable app, iOS, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Physical Disability Tool, Rehabilitation, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Reminder, Alarm and Voice Reminders, Remind Me App

Posted on March 19, 2017 by Carol Leynse Harpold, MS, AdEd, OTR/L, ATP, CATIS

Research on use of visual schedules and checklists has been found to improve independence in completing work tasks and self-care skills for individuals with autism and cognitive disabilities (Koyama, Wang 2011). Use of visual schedules on PDA have also shown significant benefits … Continue reading →

Posted in App Reviews, Apps for Special Needs, Assistive Technology, Autism, Cognitive Impairment, Customizable app, Executive Function, iOS, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Organization, Visual Communication, Visual Supports | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Accessing Print on the Fly with Mobile Devices and Apps with OCR and Text to Speech

Posted on February 19, 2017 by Carol Leynse Harpold, MS, AdEd, OTR/L, ATP, CATIS

Apps with text to speech are nothing new. Many apps with text to speech are available for mobile devices to access print on the fly for individuals with visual, learning or cognitive disabilities as may be required in a academic , home setting or in the community. … Continue reading →

Posted in Android, App Reviews, Apps for Special Needs, Assistive Technology, Dyslexia, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Learning Disability, Low Vision/ Blindness, Reading, Text to Speech, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Back to School Apps – What’s in Your OT eTool Kit?

Posted on August 21, 2016 by Carol Leynse Harpold, MS, AdEd, OTR/L, ATP, CATIS

Wow, summer is almost over and it is back to school time! Are you thinking about the tools you need as you head back to school? As I head back to school, expecting a caseload of young learners, I consider … Continue reading →

Posted in Android, App Reviews, Apps for OT's, Apps for Special Needs, Assistive Technology, Elementary School, iPad, iPhone, Occupational Therapy, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Converting Hard Copy Text to Digital Format

Posted on July 3, 2016 by Carol Leynse Harpold, MS, AdEd, OTR/L, ATP, CATIS

I can’t tell you how often I talk with clients about methods of converting hard copy text/papers to digital format for purposes of accessing information using text to speech, completing forms or for organizational reasons. Whatever the reason there are … Continue reading →

Posted in Accessibility, Accessories, Android, App Reviews, Apps for OT's, Apps for Special Needs, Assistive Technology, Cause and Effect apps, iPad, iPhone, OCR, Organization, Reading, Scanning, Text to Speech | 4 Comments

AWARE App – Creating Location Services Indoors

Posted on July 3, 2016 by Carol Leynse Harpold, MS, AdEd, OTR/L, ATP, CATIS

We are all familiar with GPS systems and most likely use it regularly to assist with locating businesses, homes and other attractions by address or GPS guides us to an address  or location, an essential tool for those of us who travel to and … Continue reading →

Posted in Accessibility, Activities of Daily Living, Android, App Reviews, Apps for OT's, Assistive Technology, Environmental Control, Intellectual Disability, Low Vision/ Blindness, Maps, Mobile Device Use, Occupational Therapy, Special Needs, Uncategorized, Wearable technology | Tagged , , | Leave a comment