Students with special needs can sometimes face challenging problems that disrupt their learning process which is why, as teachers and parents, we need to make sure we are equipped with the right pedagogical tools and strategies to help this group of learners thrive and shine.
In today’s post I am sharing with you this collection of helpful resources that you can use to this very purpose: help kids and students with special needs overcome learning challenges and remove obstacles that might stand in their learning path.
This collection is a work in progress and I will be adding more resources and updating it regularly.
iPad Apps for Special Education
Currently, the list contains three main categories: Dyslexia apps, Autism apps, and apps for students who are blind or with low vision. If you have other suggestions to add to this list, share with us on social media.
1. Apps to help with dyslexia
These dyslexia apps offers different services including scanning tests to identify reading challenges for kids, interactive reading materials designed specifically for students with dyslexia and struggling readers, activities and games to help children with dyslexia develop key literacy skills, fun quizzes and exercises, and many more.
- Lexico: A Dyslexia Reading Aid: A distraction-free reading app designed to support readers with dyslexia and learning challenge
- Dyslexia Test: A quick screening tool to identify reading difficulties and suggest personalized learning plans.
- ABC Magic Phonics 5: A fun phonics app that helps kids connect letter sounds to words.
- Reading for All Learners: A phonics-based reading app with decodable books for beginning and struggling readers.
- Learning Ally Audiobooks: A human-read audiobook app designed for students with reading difficulties like dyslexia.
- Word Wizard for Kids: A talking spelling and phonics app that helps kids build words, read, and spell independently.
- Play ABC Alfie Atkins: A playful app that helps kids learn letters, sounds, and spelling through creative activities.
- Dyslexia Screening Test App: A quick and detailed screening tool to identify signs of dyslexia in kids and adults.
- DocLexi: Learn to Read and Spell: A fun, game-based app that helps kids improve reading, spelling, and early literacy skills.
2. Apps to help with autism
These apps can help kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental challenges (e.g., Apraxia, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, etc) develop a number of key skills that cover areas related to communication, decision making, problem solving, emotional management, social interaction, language learning, logical and abstract thinking, creativity, hand-eye coordination, self-confidence, color and shape recognition, attentiveness and alertness, and many more.
- Speech Blubs: Language Therapy: A speech therapy app using video modeling and fun activities to boost kids’ language skills.
- Miogym: Speech Therapy: A fun speech and language app with interactive exercises, puzzles, and games for young kids.
- LAMP Words For Life : A powerful AAC app that helps nonverbal users communicate using motor-based learning.
- Proloquo2Go AAC: A customizable AAC app that helps nonverbal users communicate using symbols, text, and voice.
- Kids Autism Games – AutiSpark: A learning app with games and activities designed to support kids with autism in building essential skills.
- Wonster Words Learning Games: A fun phonics and spelling game that helps kids build reading skills through puzzles and play.
- Leeloo AAC – Autism Speech App: A simple communication app designed to help nonverbal kids express their needs using visual cards and voice output.
- Keiki Learning games for Kids: An early learning app with interactive games, puzzles, and activities designed to teach toddlers letters, numbers, shapes, and more through play.
- Otsimo | Special Education AAC: An award-winning app offering personalized learning games and social stories designed for children with autism and special needs.
- Card Talk: A simple and free communication app using visual cards to support nonverbal children and language learners in expressing their needs and emotions.
- Avaz AAC: A powerful and customizable communication app designed to help nonverbal individuals express themselves using pictures, text, and voice output.
3. Apps for The Visually Impaired
Here are some of the popular apps to use with kids and students (and anyone else for that matter) who are blind or with low vision.
The apps will not only enable them to navigate the world in a much more accessible way but will also provide them with extra pair of eyes to use to improve their learning.
- TapTapSee: A simple camera app designed for blind and visually impaired users to identify objects by taking a photo and hearing the description read aloud.
- BlindSquare: A navigation app designed for blind and visually impaired users, helping them explore and navigate both outdoor and indoor spaces independently using spoken information.
- Be My Eyes: A free app that connects blind and low-vision users with volunteers or AI assistants for visual help through live video or image description.
- Seeing AI: A free talking camera app from Microsoft that helps blind and low-vision users read text, recognize people, identify objects, and explore their surroundings using AI.
- myopia.app: A free eye protection app designed by scientists and optometrists to prevent myopia. Tracks screen time, viewing distance, and light exposure for you and your family.
- Sullivan+: It reads text, describes scenes, recognizes faces, detects colors, checks light brightness, and works as a magnifier.
- Envision AI: An app for blind and low vision users. It reads text, describes scenes, detects objects, recognizes faces, and scans barcodes using your phone’s camera.
- Braille Academy: Play & Learn: Helps users learn and practice Braille through interactive games, quizzes, and challenges. It covers letters, numbers, symbols, and contractions. The app works offline and offers certificates for progress.
Final thoughts
Supporting students with special needs requires thoughtful tools that meet their unique learning styles and challenges. The apps featured in this post offer a range of helpful features from speech therapy and communication aids to reading support and visual assistance. I believe integrating these tools into learning environments can make a real difference in promoting accessibility, independence, and confidence for all learners.
