Technology Tuesday

This week’s Technology Tuesday features another edition of “Stephanie’s High Five” – where Imagine!’s Assistive Technology Lab facilitator Stephanie Tilley shares five apps for tablets and mobile devices that may benefit individuals with a variety of intellectual and developmental disabilities. Stephanie is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist who has worked for Imagine! for more than 10 years, and is the author of “101 Adapted Games for Kids,” which provides adaptations for children’s activities to create inclusive activities and environments. 

Stephanie’s High Five – September 9, 2014 

Tally Tots 

Tally Tots is a collection of number activities that teach the basics of numbers and counting. There are interactive games including activities such as matching, sequencing, sorting, building, and puzzles for each number up to twenty. Examples of activities include placing marbles on a maze or feeding acorns to a squirrel. There is also a page of numbers from 1-100 that users can tap on and count the numbers as they are tapped in order up to 100. After each number has been tapped, the numbers can then be randomly tapped to be reviewed.

Alpha Tots 

Alpha Tots is a touch interactive game that features puzzles and activities that help build the foundations needed to learn how to read. Every letter of the alphabet is featured with a different task that has to be completed for each letter. For example, for the letter B users build a Robot, and for the letter D users dig in the sand. The tasks need to be completed in order for each letter before users move on to the next letter.

Learn with Homer: Reading and Educational Games

This app features a friendly bird named Homer. Each user (up to 4 users with paid membership, 1 user with the free version) is set up by adding his/her name and picture. The user then goes to the hat shop and picks a thinking cap before starting the activity. There are 50+ skills offered in this activity including: letter sound recognition, proper pronunciation or letter sounds, upper and lower case letters, middle and ending sounds in words, blending, spelling, site words, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. Activities include Story Time, Discover the World, Learn to Read, and Homer’s Clubhouse.

Magic Story Factory  

Users have the option of creating their own story or having a story created for them. When creating a story, users choose a hero, a place, what happens first, next, and how the story ends. There are six options from which to choose for each section. Once the story has been created the user can read the story independently or have the story read to them. Once the story is complete, users can rewrite stories over and over again mixing and matching characters, locations, and what happens during the story.

Grandma’s Garden 

This app features a dancing Grandma as she has fun adventures in her garden. There are eight mini games: 1 – Match the Vegetables, 2 – Color the Vegetable, 3 – Count the Vegetables, 4 – First letter, 5 – Shapes, 6 – Touch the colors, 7 – Spot the Difference, & 8 – Number Groups. Each game features a different skill and the games rotate from one to another to keep users engaged.