Apps for Kids with Special Needs and Learning Disabilities

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

Once kids learn new skills with tools like FirstWords: Deluxe, extend learning into home or school. Find the same words in the home or classroom, and match the letters.

Bob Books #1 - Reading Magic Poster Image

Get it now

Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.

Get it now on

Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.

Bob Books #1 - Reading Magic

This great interactive book has kids drag letters to the right place below a picture as the letters and words are sounded out. Kids will delight as the black-and-white screen changes to color and drawings animate. Adults can customize settings to suit kids' phonics knowledge and reading level.

iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad

Get it now

Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.

Get it now on

Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.

First Words Deluxe

Each screen gives kids an object and a word to spell. They have to drag and drop letters into the right slots. When the word is complete, a voice spells and says the word, and the next word appears. Lots of options let adults tailor the experience to match kids' skills and preferences.

iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad

Get it now

Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.

Get it now on

Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.

Fun With Directions HD

This easy-to-use, interactive app can help kids understand a variety of directional concepts. Three levels meet a variety of needs for kids with cognitive or intellectual disabilities.

iPad

Get it now

Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.

Get it now on

Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.

Go Go Games

Kids learn to notice differences and to focus on details. Three different games show a set of objects and ask kids to match two that look the same -- an essential skill for kids with reading challenges. Kids practice noticing colors, patterns, and sizes of objects to make a match.

iPad

Get it now

Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.

Get it now on

Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.

Go Read

Android users with Bookshare can now access their books right from their device. With several customization features, this app helps kids access a wide variety of texts.

Android

Power Tip

Once kids learn new skills with tools like FirstWords: Deluxe, extend learning into home or school. Find the same words in the home or classroom, and match the letters.

Explore other guides

Best Books for Kids & Teens

Best Kindle, Tablet and iPad Apps for Kids

Educational Games, Apps & Websites for School

Best Movies for Families

Essential TV

Essential Creativity Guide

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are provided by expert reviewers and are not influenced by content creators or by our funders. When you use our buy links to make a purchase, Common Sense Media earns a small affiliate fee from Amazon or iTunes. As a nonprofit organization, we use these funds to continue providing independent, ad-free services for educators, families, and kids while the price you pay remains the same. We appreciate your support.

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

Common challenges

Common signs

Ways to help