Online Special Needs & App Resources

Some Places to Start/ Online Special Needs & App Resources Tweet

(For Android devices, see here ) 

Facebook Discussion Groups & Pages:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Special Needs/Unspecified
Raising and Teaching Individuals with Severe Disabilities
iTeach Special Education
SLPs Talk Apps (for SLPs, SLPTs and SLPAs)
PEN (Parent Education Network)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AAC Users
AACorn AAC Users Group  (current or interested AACorn App users)
Parents of Proloquo2Go Users (for  parents of individuals using Proloquo2Go) & Proloquo2Go Professionals (for professionals using Proloquo2Go)
Speak For Yourself Users Group  (current or interested SFY app users) 
TouchChat App Users Group (current or interested TouchChat App users)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Autism
Autism Daddy  (Parent Perspective)
Karla's ASD page  (autistic perspective)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apraxia
Apps For Apraxia- KIDS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CVI
Little Bear Sees
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sensory Processing Disorder
Sensory Processing Disorder Support and Awareness
Sensory Parents
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Down Syndrome
See and Learn 
Down Syndrome Foundation of Orange County 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Special Needs Web Resources:

General Resources:
Visit Instructional Technology Specialist, Emilia Hackney's Resource Page Great links from a variety of sources on Instructional Technology topics, including iPad use for the special needs population.

 Webinars /Education
PEN (Parent Education Network) Webinars - (this site has excellent free webinar videos on IEP and special need topics to view) 

News & Services
Alltop - Top Autism News  (this gathers Autism news from many sources) 
We Connect Now ( a website that serves college
students with disabilities.)



 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
App Deals/Giveaways & More:
SASK
Technology in Education 
AppyMall
Smart Apps For Kids
The iMums
iHeartthisApp
The Appy Ladies 
AppsForHomeschooling
AppAble
A Byte of This N That
Welcome to their World Apps
Lauren S. Enders, MA, CCC-SLP- Pinterest list  (awesome pins on FREE apps for special needs here)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review sites:

**Visit some of my favorite apps for special needs at my AppyMall page: Appy Mall**

Special Apps, Special Kids
The Appy Ladies
The App Academy (video reviews) 
Therapy app 411 (from a therapist perspective) 
Smart Apps for Kids
Technology in Special Education
I Heart this App
The iMums


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
App Search Engine Sites:
AppyMall
AppShopper

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grants & Help with funding of iPads: 
Proactive Speech
iTaalk
iHelpSNkids
Cookie for iPads  (OHIO residents only)
NFAR Grants (For San Diego area educators only)

Grants & Help with funding of Apps:
http://www.itaalk.org/resources/appfacilitatorprogram.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Research Program & Resources for iPads/Autism:
The Remle Project 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Assistive Technology & AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) Resources:

General info
Praacticalaac
AT Network (CALIFORNIA government org. for Assistive Tech; equipment exchange, loaning of devices)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Help with getting AT and AAC devices into the IEP
PEN Webinar: Including Assistive Technology in the IEP 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Books on iPads & Apps
Getting Started: iPads For Special Needs by Sami Rahman 
Apps For Autism: An Essential Guide to Over 200 Effective Apps for Improving Communication, Behavior, Social Skills and More! by Lois Jean Brady 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Learn about iOS AAC apps

Spectronics http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/article/iphoneipad-apps-for-aac (extensive list of AAC apps and their features)
Apps for AAC
http://www.appsforaac.net/applist (compare AAC apps by features)
Praacticalaac - (FREE; Lite AAC apps)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

iPad/iPhone/iPod case info:

wearable devices:

CHAT Bag (a stretchy lightweight wearable iPad case with straps!) NOW available for iPad mini, iPod Touch and iPhone too!
Gab'N'Go Harness (hands free device with speaker system, for iphone/iPod touch)


protective cases:
Protective Cases (on Pinterest)

iPad compatible wheelchair equipment:

Mount'N Mover (from Blue Sky Designs) http://www.mountnmover.com/product-options/ and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BlueSkyDesigns
Check out their iPad tray in particular, it is quite innovative: http://www.mountnmover.com/product-options/ipad-tray/
I ran across this company at the AOTA conference in San Diego and was impressed with their trays and mounts.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Catalogs/ Products for special needs equipment: (also see iPad/ iPhone/iPod case info)

Mount'N Mover (from Blue Sky Designs) http://www.mountnmover.com/product-options/ and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BlueSkyDesigns
Southpaw Enterprises http://www.southpawenterprises.com/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Want More? Consonantly Speaking has compiled a SUPER LINK with many of the above links and a whole lot more: 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you have a resource you would like added, please email at specialappsspecialkids@gmail.com