OT's with Apps & Technology

Call Scotland.org.uk , hosted by the University of Edinburgh, provides information on communication and assistive technology for individuals with special needs. Among their publications is a new active graphic entitled Android Apps for Learners with Dyslexia. This document provides numerous categories  of Android apps that support reading and writing (and more) for individuals with dyslexia.  It is great to find an updated list of Android apps for individuals with reading and writing challenges!

Here is an image of the app wheel offered by Call Scotland:

This PDF document is downloadable from the Call Scotland website. The document has active links to the apps listed.  Check it out and see what supports are available for your students with Android devices!

More for your OT mTool Kit!

Carol

https://annotatepdf.appspot.com/#/edit/1Ssrwktc95eQPrGdxLdyNFDczZYBPudLwr0cewQtfzW5wuFVt61AEOSWI-dUg_vRbDVhhI6ZWHpJJVkfr

Comparing CoWriter and inku apps

A recent post on a new iPad app, inku  prompted a question from a reader on how inku app compares with CoWriter US app (19.99 for iPad – not CoWriter Universal).  A great question,  considering cost and needed features of an app when working with struggling writers.

Here are some of the similarities and differences:

Similarities:

• Both apps allow saving documents
• Both apps have some topic dictionaries available
• Both apps provides choices of levels of the user vocabulary (from basic to advanced)
• Neither apps provide folders to save documents by topic or subject
• Both app provide option to change text to speech rate
• Both apps provide ability to change size of text
• Both apps provide predictive phrases
• Both apps allow text to speech prior to insertion (slide finger over predicted word in Co:Writer app; press speak button in inku)

Differences:

CoWriter US app:

• Provides options to read by letter, word or sentence
• Allows choice of font type
• Provides topic dictionaries and ability to create a topic dictionary
• If using basic iOS keyboard allows use of voice recognition tool within the app
• Use of voice recognition tool does not always sync with word prediction list
• Word prediction only offered above onscreen keyboard

inku – tool for dyslexia:

• Provides additional formatting options (spaces between lines, color of text, alignment of text, bullets or number list options)
• Offers three levels of spelling help: Need a lot of help, Need some help, Pretty good
• Provides general topic dictionaries that can be turned on/off: Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, History, Math, Physics and Sociology
• Keyboard hot keys or abbreviation expansion is offered in the app settings
• Writing environment (called the Message Window) can be customized : font type, font size,  font color,  background color, opacity
• In line word prediction and above keyboard prediction offered
• Voice recognition tool (iSpeech engine) provided in the inline word prediction tools
• Inline word prediction offers text to speech of each offered predicted word

What’s the bottom line?

Working with the two apps there are pros and cons of each.

• First, inku is less expensive and worked very reliably on my iPad with iOS 9. CoWriter US also worked reliably but is twice the cost if you are considering purchasing one of the two apps. I like the word prediction topic dictionary options in CoWriter and the fact you can customize a topic list. Turning on inku app specific dictionaries also offered topic words I was attempting to spell.
• When generally typing with word prediction, CoWriter appeared to offer contextual vocabulary  (better recency, offering words previously typed in the predictive list) more readily than inku.
• The inku app provides  inline word prediction, which for some users I find important for visual scanning of the word prediction list. CoWriter only offers word prediction above the keyboard which can be harder to monitor and visually scan.
• inku app provides text to speech  and voice recognition tool offered with the inline predictive list. The voice recognition tool in inku app synchronized wonderfully with the word prediction list. The voice recognition processing was slow however (this could be dependent on my Wi-Fi system however). Use of the standard iOS keyboard voice recognition tool can be used with CoWriter however, it did not sync as well with the  word prediction which could cause confusion and on occasion caused additional spelling problems.
• inku’s inline text to speech offered with the word prediction more intuitive than Co:Writer’s text to speech. inku’s speaker image is easily recognized for producing TTS where as Co:Writer’s TTS is not readily apparent (thank you to Carolyn Rasta for making me aware of this feature!)  for listening and reviewing the word audibly prior to selection. I find using TTS prior to selection important for individuals with significant spelling and language challenges.

Final Thoughts

Cowriter is a great app and great for younger writers and if you have this app already you might not need a new one. inku app may be considered if you are looking for an app for writers who want to adjunct their written production with voice recognition. inku’s  integrated voice recognition tool, (although slow) provided another solid option to generate vocabulary writers can voice but not spell (no more dumbing down!).  I really prefer the feature of having predicted words spoken aloud  (TTS) within the word prediction list as offered by inku.

You may already have other word prediction apps that combine some of these features. Check out this updated OT’s with Apps Word Prediction Feature Match (10-2015) that provides a comparison of iOS word prediction app features.

What’s your favorite iOS,  Android or Google Chrome word prediction app? So many choices!

Thanks to Diane N – a great app curator for her question. Hope this helps Diane!

Edited on 12/12/2015 adding correction regarding text to speech as shared by Carolyn Rasta. Thank you Carolyn for catching and sharing!

Carol

Sesame Street and Autism App

Sesame Street, with the support of American Greetings, has created the Sesame Street and Autism App,  providing awareness of autism to families and others with videos, stories and resources on autism within this app. Available for free for iPad, the contents of this app is also available on Sesame Street’s website resources:  Sesame Street and Autism.

Sesame Street debut’s a new character, Julia, a young child with autism to the Sesame Street gang. Elmo and other characters introduce Julia, a special needs child, in their storybook, daily routine cards and videos describing some of the characteristics  and strategies to that support interacting with children with autism.

Geared to young children, this app provides awareness and basic strategies and tools to support individuals with autism. Videos of families and children with autism provide real life stories about their lives and special characteristics from a family perspective.

The app may be most helpful to extended family members or friends of an individual with autism to help them understand their unique characteristics and interventions. To review the contents, go to Sesame Street.org/ which provides the exact app contents online.

Check it out and share with others.

More for your OT mTool Kit!

Carol

Write About This App

OT intervention with written production is a frequent goal when working in the school system. It is a primary method of expression for students with greater emphasis in the Common Core Standards  for students grades K-12. Supporting students with the ability to handwrite and produce written work required of their curriculum needs to be a part of our focus when supporting students with special needs. When working with primary aged students during free writing situations, using writing prompts or pictures is one method to motivate them to generate ideas and put their thoughts into words whether handwriting,  word processing or through oral expression.

One of my favorite ways to  motivate students to generate ideas to write and or draw about is to use story starters. For students requiring additional support, visual prompts  aid  can provide them with something concrete to write about. One app I like to use is Write About This App (free / 3.99; iPhone/iPad) geared to primary writers. The app provides picture writing prompts in a variety of topics or categories with clear picture that are age appropriate for concrete thinkers in the primary grades. With an intuitive layout, this app provides a variety of  tools for customizing pictures, recording prompts, recording ideas, writing and publishing their ideas.  Here are a few screen shots of Write About This App:

The category button provides a variety of topics, each with dozens of pictures to chose to generate ideas for writing.  In the paid version, the option to take and use your own pictures further customizes the options to motivate a writer and offer personal experience prompts. Voice recording prompts and recording features in the app provides options to differentiate to the needs of individual students. Using a 3rd party keyboard on the iPad,  such as the Keeble app, can provide additional support such as word prediction,  text to speech or customized keyboard layouts to a writer within the app.

Although a word processing and creation app, I often find myself using Write About This app a quick resource to primary aged pictures when working on handwriting on a one to one basis.

The Write About This app free version provides picture prompts but no camera access to take pictures from within the app. Other customization features are not available but provides a trial of the app.

Check out Write About This app as another tool for your OT mTool Kit!

What is your favorite writing prompt app for primary aged writers?

Carol

inku app for Dyslexics

Therapy Box has created a number of wonderful apps for individuals with disabilities. One of their newest app developments is inku app (9.99; for iPhone/iPad), a writing tool for dyslexics. Features include word and phrase prediction and spell checking that will support individuals with dyslexia. Thematic dictionaries (history, physics, bio, engineering, etc.) are available along with the ability to choose the vocabulary size, language and type of prediction support (next word, predict phrases). As a basic word processor with writing supports the app is intuitive to use.

The list of key features of inku:

– self learning intelligent word prediction available in UK English, US English, German, Spanish and French
– speech-to-text that recognizes the word you would like to write
– thematic options for the US English dictionary: math, physics, chemistry, history, biology, engineering, sociology
– spell check – inku suggest words even if you have misspelled them
– speech recognition
– plenty of customization options
– listen to your word before you select it
– Bluetooth keyboard compatibility
– word processing options
– set up for dyslexia level
– custom pronunciation
– Dropbox syncing
– save your notes inside the app
– iOS voice integration
– phrase prediction
– export or share your documents via email, Facebook or Twitter

My first quick trial found inku app intuitive to use. Tools such as the word prediction and text to speech were readily available and easily integrated when writing within the app. Documents can be saved (although no folder system available). The app syncs with Dropbox but did not appear to have an option to sync with Google Drive from initial overview. Inku app appears to provide good writing support for individuals with dyslexia, however its cost is a bit steep given other apps that might deliver some similar features.

Check out the video and information on Therapy Box if you are looking for more information.

More for your OT mTool Kit.

Carol

Toca Boo App

Trick or Treat?

No trick just a treat from Toca Boca offering Toca Boo app for free!

Toca Boo app (free; iPhone/iPad) provides a holiday fun with surprises in the app.  Projected for 4 year olds and older, this interactive app supplies  hunt and scare play for all ages.

You can’t beat a free Toca Boca app!

More from OT’s with Apps!

Carol

Back to School Sale!

What a great back to school deal – 50% off for Keeble, Keedogo and Keedogo Plus apps from AssistiveWare.

Keeble  and Keedogo apps are some of my favorite apps, providing word prediction, spelling and access support in your keyboard when used with other writing apps. Use these keyboard apps as a scaffold when composing with  standard classroom writing apps and you have spelling, word prediction, enlarged, colored , upper and lower case keyboard options  and more for struggling writers.  At half price, I believe this is a bargain!

Not familiar with Keeble and Keedogo apps? Check out previous reviews on these third party keyboard apps made possible in iOS 8:

Keeble App reviewed on OT’s with Apps

Keedogo Apps reviewed on OT’s with Apps

More for you OT mTool Kit!

Carol