Find some assistive technology apps

Assistive TECHNOLOGY Apps By Mike Daugherty

The digitally rich world in which we live today is filled with software and smartphone applications that enable people with disabilities to learn, communicate and perform activities that would otherwise be challenging. Software like this is referred to as assistive technology. Here are nine assistive technology applications for individuals with dyslexia, communication disorders, visual impairments, and other learning disabilities.

GHOTIT — A comprehensive suite of applications designed to help those with dyslexia, dysgraphia and other learning disabilities. ghotit.com

PROLOQUO2GO — This app helps nonverbal children communicate by touching symbols or text on the screen to produce a sentence that is read aloud. There is a text-only version available, as well. apps.apple.com/ us/app/proloquo2goaac/id308368164

ARTICULATION STATION — This easy-to-use app helps with speaking and pronunciation with a targeted approach to the majority of language sounds. apps.apple.com/us/ app/id467415882

NATURALREADER — A text-to-speech tool that will read aloud the text from websites, PDFs, and even traditional books. The app is fantastic at reading in a way that is natural, not robotic. naturalreaders.com

CHOICEWORKS —

An app designed to help children who thrive on daily routines, as well as improving skills such as taking turns, not interrupting, and waiting. apps. apple.com/us/ app/choiceworks/ id486210964

DRAGON —

This app allows users to speak out loud and the software then expertly transcribes the audio into text. nuance.com/ dragon.html

QUESTIONIT — This app helps children with autism improve language concepts. Students answer who, what, when, why and how questions using sorting and matching to understand concepts. apps.apple.com/us/app/ questionit/id458737797

EQUATIO — Part of the Read & Write family of textto-speech tools, Equatio helps users write equations through dictation. texthelp.com/ en-gb/products/ equatio

TALKING CALCULATOR — A full featured, user friendly, customizable calculator that reads aloud both the input and calculation results. apps. apple.com/us/app/ talking-calculator/ id424464284

Mike Daugherty is a husband, father of three young children, author, speaker and Google Innovator. He is a certified educational technology leader who has served in a variety of roles through his 18-year career in public education. Currently, Mike is the director of technology for Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Schools in Northeast Ohio.