How the iPad can help learning disabled students

by Guest Blogger Vicki Windman

Students with learning disabilities may have problems with reading, math, reasoning and recall. But given the appropriate tools, learning disabled students too can achieve academic success.The iPad has numerous apps to help learning disabled students compensate for their particular disability.

Dyscalculia Apps, for students who struggle with math concepts:

Telling Time goes one step beyond Jungle Time.It has three levels allowing students to advance their skills.It compares the analog clock to the digital clock.

Coin Math begins with identification of coins, counting coins, making change, and shopping. Allows users to advance levels.

Multiplicationis a visual app that uses skip counting and is particularly good for those students who have difficulty with memorizing facts.

Dyslexia and other reading disability Apps:

Reading Machinehelps students pronounce words they can not read. It has two keyboards - a color-coded alphabetical and a qwerty for older students.

American Wordspelleris a phonetic dictionary.A student can type a word and the dictionary will figure out the word: foto- photo.Turn on the Voice Accessibility and it reads the word aloud.

Reading for Details Level-based reading comprehension exercises. Users determine how many questions to answer.

Memory Apps

Noteshelf Some students prefer writing over typing to help them remember. Inserting a picture adds emphasis for visual learners.

Popplet, a new favorite, is a mindmapping app that allows users to record thoughts, explore ideas and collaborate with peers.

Vicki Windman is a special education teacher at Clarkstown High School South. Shehas used and reviewed the above apps extensively in her classroom.