Apps for Kids with Special Needs and Learning Disabilities (2)

Math

Reading & Writing Challenges Overview

Reading and writing skills are necessary for school, work, and life, but many kids struggle to master them. For kids with a learning difference or poor coordination in their hands, learning to read and write can be particularly difficult. Some kids also have mild vision problems that affect how their eyes move across a page or how well they can see small print. Nearly 62 million Americans are dyslexic; that's one in five (The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia, 2012). Here, we provide a list of common signs of reading and writing challenges and offer tips on how to help kids who have them. We also have tips for choosing apps to improve reading and writing skills and a list of related resources.

Common challenges

Reading or spelling words that other kids their age can recognize and spell
Learning numbers, the alphabet, days of the week, colors, and shapes
Making their eyes follow the line of words on a page
Remembering what they've just read

Common signs

Being reluctant to read and write, and reading slowly and with much effort
Confusing letter names and sounds
Having messy, unreadable, or very large handwriting
Writing letters backward or upside down when in the third or fourth grade
Confusing basic words such as "was" and "want" or "left" and "felt"

Ways to help

Give directions verbally as well as in writing.
Break down directions into small steps; give only one or two instructions at a time.
Encourage kids to spell by speaking each sound aloud.
Focus on the child's strengths, not weaknesses.
Try not to expect reading or writing beyond a kid's abilities.

What to look for in an app

Opportunities to practice letter or word recognition and expand vocabulary
Tools that read words aloud and highlight words as they're read
Settings that allow for gradual increase in length or complexity of words/passages
Keyboards that read each letter, word, or sentence aloud as a kid types
Automatic spell-checking that tells kids when they misspell a word
Predictive text, which gives kids options to select from a few word choices.

Learn more

LD Online: authoritative guidance for parents and teachers on ADD/ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, and other reading and writing challenges
Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity: current research, advocacy, and information about dyslexia
"Is Your Child in Grade 3-5 Showing Signs of Dyslexia?": quiz from Understood.org helps identify signs of dyslexia in elementary-aged kids
The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia: documentary that explores the hidden gifts of dyslexics; official selection award at many film festivals, including Sundance

Our sources

Experts consulted

Melinda Techler, speech language pathologist and reading specialist
Amy Martini, reading recovery teacher, Ravenswood City School District, East Palo Alto, Calif.
Gayl Bowser, independent assistive technology consultant

Power Tip

Use fun websites like Comic Life to help motivate kids to create stories. Then use a different writing tool -- like ClaroSpeak or Dragon Dictation -- to help them record their words and ideas.

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Inspiration Maps VPP

Graphic organizers are the perfect tool for kids who can benefit from visual cues. This app is a must-have for older kids who struggle with executive-functioning skills. Simply choose from the built-in templates or create your own.

iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad

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SoundNote

This app syncs audio with notes taken during the recording and is great for older kids with ADHD or executive-functioning issues. They can go back to their notes and listen to a lesson again and add drawings for visual reminders.

iPad

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Speak it! Text to Speech

Listening to text helps kids who struggle with reading get information from printed materials. Kids can copy text from emails, documents, web pages, and PDF files and paste it into Speak It! One particularly nice feature is that the text is spoken in a high quality voice.

iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad

Voice Dream Reader - Text to Speech Poster Image

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Voice Dream Reader - Text to Speech

This easy-to-use, accessible reading tool has advanced text-to-speech and a highly configurable screen layout. You can tailor it to suit every reading style from completely auditory to completely visual, benefiting kids with dyslexia and cognitive disabilities.

iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad

WYNN (WYNN Wizard and WYNN Reader) Poster Image

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WYNN (WYNN Wizard and WYNN Reader)

This downloadable program supports kids who have reading and comprehension difficulties. They can learn to interpret printed text as understandable information using the toolkit. It's a good app for kids with dyslexia and cognitive disabilities.

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Power Tip

Use fun websites like Comic Life to help motivate kids to create stories. Then use a different writing tool -- like ClaroSpeak or Dragon Dictation -- to help them record their words and ideas.

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This guide was made possible through the support of SCE and Understood.

Common challenges

Common signs

Ways to help