How to Balance Teacher-Nurse Collaboration in Special Education

No matter how much you love your child, the fact of the matter is that having a child with special needs often proves challenging. There are a lot of things to take into consideration to ensure your child is receiving the utmost quality care regarding their health, education, and social, emotional, and physical development

When it comes to bringing your child into a classroom environment, many factors are dependent on the severity of your child’s disability. If he or she has limited motor control or a fragile immune system, they might not only require specialized academic instruction, but also a licensed healthcare professional who can attend to their medical needs on a daily basis.

If this is the case, managing an open and product collaboration of the teacher and the nurse is crucial. Both provide essential services, but is there a line drawn between the services that each provides? In other words, should a nurse also cater to academic needs and should a teacher also cater to physical needs?

Here is a look at how to successfully balance the collaboration between a special education teacher and a nurse so that your child can gain the most benefits possible.

Discuss the Needs: In order to ensure your child receives the appropriate services and treatment from both the teacher and the nurse, you are going to have to discuss the individual needs of your child with each person. Make sure that both the teacher and the nurse are well aware of your child’s mental and physical capabilities so that they can provide the right services.

Clearly Define Roles: While yes, it is acceptable for a teacher to provide physical support when she can and for a nurse to provide academic support when she can, it is important that their individual roles are clearly defined. For example, the teacher should know exactly what it is that she should be focusing on, and the same can be said for the nurse. While a teacher may be able to provide physical support, she may not know how to properly work with the equipment or provide medical support properly – and vice versa regarding a nurse.

Establish a Team Atmosphere: Regardless what type of expert services each of these individuals provide, they should both be working together in order to provide the best experience possible for your child. They should think of themselves as a team that is working together for the betterment of your child. While certainly, one person is trained and licensed to provide services in one particular area, ultimately, they should be working together to provide your child with the proper services. When a teacher and a nurse work together in the special education setting, your child reaps the most benefits possible.

A teacher and a nurse need to work together, yet understand their distinct roles when servicing a special needs child. Likewise, you, the parent, need to take an active role in ensuring the effective collaboration of your child’s special education teacher and nurse because it is your child who their individual services are benefitting.

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Special Education – We Can Do Better

As the 50th Anniversary of Martin Luther King’s infamous “I have a dream” speech has received a lot of news coverage it got me thinking about another very important area of civil rights… special education.

Until recently (last 30 years) our government completely failed to protect children with disabilities and to mandate that they too be educated with a quality and meaningful education. Prior to the 1970’s public schools did not address the needs of all learners. Congress found that roughly 2 million children were receiving no education or very little education which eventually resulted in the passage and enactment of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 (EHA).

For the first time children with disabilities had a legal right to a free appropriate public education (FAPE). This included the development of individual education programs (IEP) and provided federal funding to assist states in the expense of educating all students regardless of their disabilities.

Over the years the EHA has been expanded and reauthorized eventually becoming known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). While we have come a long way in our journey to protect the educational rights of all children it is frustrating to see school districts spend so much of their precious resources fighting against families and government regulations that protect students.

Having had the opportunity to visit schools around the world including refugee camps, where make shift schools house hundreds of kids with just a few teachers and little to no resources for children with disabilities, I really do appreciate the progress we have made in the US. But it also reminds me that there are only three things schools need to be successful: 1) willing students; 2) teachers that care; and 3) involved parents. That is it. You don’t need bloated administrations and inflated salaries. All you need are parents, students, and teachers working in conjunction with each other.

It is frustrating that so many school districts focus on the success of their high students as a reflection of the quality of their school. I believe success should be measured by the amount of growth each student makes regardless of how that compares with their peers. If school districts focused on meeting all of a student’s learning needs and worked collaboratively with families and other professionals to identify each area of concern, student growth would inevitably increase.

The only reason we have to enact laws mandating the education of all students is because public school districts failed to reach all learners. And even today, with all of the recently enacted legislation school districts still struggle to understand that all students are important and valuable members of our society.

Unfortunately, many special education administrators have forgotten the whole purpose behind the enactment of special education laws. As a result, they too often focus on doing the minimal amount possible instead of addressing all of a student’s unique needs. A clear example of this is students who remain year after year in a resource program with little to no progress. Instead of trying to understand why a particular student is not making progress and develop a specific program designed to meet their individual needs school districts will leave students in the same failed program. Why? Because that is what they have available and the law doesn’t necessarily require them to provide more. Yet, if your job is to reach all learners schools should be compelled to adjust their programs accordingly. But this is not the case. School districts too often offer limited services resulting in student failure instead of success. Herein is the problem and the reason why we still have so far to go with special education.

It really comes down to understanding one’s purpose as an organization. A public school’s sole purpose is to educate students. The quality of that education depends on many factors. The US Supreme Court has determined that public schools do not have to maximize a student’s potential they only have to provide them a basic floor of opportunity. But, this doesn’t mean schools can’t go above and beyond this requirement.

I know many teachers who work into the night and on weekends to better prepare themselves for the benefit of their students. They do not have to put in the extra work, but they strive for excellence. Similarly, special education departments should want to be the best they can which requires going above and beyond the minimal requirements of the law. But this is rarely the case.

For example, when parents bring in outside assessments to share with their child’s IEP team, too many times schools dismiss the new information. Outside assessments are second opinions of what a student needs and as such are very important. The IEP team should be thankful for the additional information as it can be used to develop an appropriate program for the student. However, I have seen many districts complain about the length of outside assessments or that certain assessors discuss findings outside of their area of expertise. Instead of focusing on the new data and how it can be used to benefit the student, school districts often take a defensive posture as if you are attacking them and their findings.

The courts have held that the fundamental purpose of the Education Code is the welfare of the students. In California the special education portion of the Education Code is intended to ensure that all individuals with exceptional needs are provided their rights to appropriate programs and services which are designed to meet their unique needs under the IDEA.

For this to occur, school districts must not feel threatened by independent assessments. In fact they should welcome the additional information and appreciate lengthy and detailed reports on what the needs of the student are.

If I was an educator I would want all the information possible on a student’s deficit areas so I could fully understand their learning needs and develop an individualized program specific to that student. Can you imagine going to a medical doctor with a second opinion and being told that the report contains too much information? Well that is exactly what many school districts are doing.

In conclusion, while our special education laws have provided great protection for students with disabilities we still have a long way to go to get school districts to understand the purpose behind such legislation. It is my hope to continue to work collaboratively with school districts and help them understand that the law is just a starting point and not the end. That is, schools can provide above and beyond what the law requires. Special education laws only require mediocrity; however, I believe our public schools should strive for much more…. not because they have to, but because they want to.

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What to Look for in a Special Education Aide

There are specific qualities that are inherent to all teachers, but this is particularly true of those  individuals who work with children with special needs. The classroom environment can be a challenging and crucial experience for your child, which means that finding the right person – the right aide – to work alongside your child is extremely important.

Depending on the needs of your child, he or she will either be assigned a one-to-one aide, or will work with an aide in a small group of classmates. In either case, the aide will work very closely with him or her, not only providing academic support, but social and emotional support as well.

 

Are you looking for an aide for your child? Here are some traits that indicate a good fit for your child:

Accepting: Your child’s aide should, above everything else, be accepting of your child. She should not judge, shun or otherwise make ill assumptions about your child’s capabilities. She should be accepting of your child on all levels and treat him as she would treat any other individual – of course, if she offers a little more love and support, that is always a good thing.

Understanding: This trait goes along with accepting, but it should be mentioned, just the same. A special education aide should understand that your child does have special needs and she should understand the limitations that those needs may present. However, she should not exclude him from activities or make excuses because of his needs. Instead, she should be aware of his capabilities and push your child to reach achieve what he is capable of, without going too far, of course.

Organized: No matter what the educational setting is, organization is essential; especially when working with special needs students. Your child’s aide will need to be aware of the specialized individualized education plans (IEPs) that your child may have, as well as any other particular needs/requirements he or she may have. Being organized will allow the aide to easily provide for the specific needs of your child.

Level Headed: Level headedness is vital for effectively working with the special education population. Children who have academic or emotional disabilities can easily lose their patience and overreact to certain situations. An aide needs to be able to remain calm and provide appropriate and consistent support at all times.

 

Highly Dedicated: All children need to have a firm foundation in order to feel comfortable, especially special needs children. Your child’s aide should be highly dedicated to him and willing to not only provide above adequate services, but should also be willing to get to know your child on a personal level. An aide who is consistently absent and who is detached will not make a connection with your child and will not provide the firm foundation that he needs.

Your child’s aide is an integral part of his success, not only academically, but mentally, emotionally and socially. An aide with the above-mentioned qualities will help to guide your child in the right direction.

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Finding Grants for Disabled Children

From food to healthcare and from medical to academic needs, the cost of raising a child can be quite cumbersome. When you add to those traditional costs of raising a child the additional expenses that come along with raising a special needs child – extra medical bills, visits with specialists, specialized treatments – you may be facing some pretty astronomical financial obligations.

Certainly you want to provide your child with the best, but in these economic times, it can be quite difficult to find the funding to provide your special needs child with the best care and resources possible. Fortunately, however, there is some relief for special needs parents – in the form of grants. Yes, grants.

The United States government has grown to understand the added financial demands that come along with raising a special needs child. As such, they have created specialized grants in order to help with this financial strain. There are also several non-profit organizations that exist for the betterment of the special needs population. These organizations have also created several grant options in order to relieve economic hardships so that those with special needs can receive the utmost care.

Finding Grants

If you are the parent of a special needs child, you may be wondering about how you can find these specialized grants. The truth is, finding such grants are actually not as difficult as you may think. Your computer is a valuable resource in your search. Simply type in the kind of grant you are interested in finding information about, or enter “special education grants” into your search engine. .Gov and .edu sites will be the best place to begin your search.

If this option seems too daunting to you, consider contacting a special education advisor or advocate in order to find out what types of grants are available for your child’s needs. Your child’s guidance counselor is one option, as is his or her doctor or mental health care provider. These professional advisors are well-versed in the special needs sector and will likely know in which direction to point you so that you can find grants for your child.

Types of Grants and Qualifications

There are several types of grants available for special needs children. They range from funding for academic advancement to moneys for your child’s medical care. In order to determine whether or not your child is eligible to receive a specific type of grant, you will first want to take into consideration your child’s specific situation. However, this is not enough to determine qualification; you will also have to fill out detailed documents, which will indicate your child’s needs. Those documents will be assessed, as will your needs for receiving such grants and based on the findings of the granting organization, it will be determined whether or not your child is eligible.

While it can certainly be discouraging to learn how costly providing proper education and health care for your special needs child is, don’t assume that he or she will simply have to go without; know that there are grants available that you could very well qualify for in order to ease your financial burdens.

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Special Education Books all Special Ed Parents Should Read

As a parent, your child is your entire world. No matter what their needs or ability levels are, you want to make sure that you provide them with the best opportunities possible so that they can become well-rounded and self sufficient individuals. This is true for parents of all children, but it particularly rings true in the hearts of parents of special needs children.

If your child has special needs, no matter what those needs are, her education is likely at the forefront of your mind. In a world that sometimes seems as if it was created only for the fully abled, it can be particularly difficult to find an educational program that provides not only the right types of services for your child, but that whole-heartedly understands her particular needs.

The best way to ensure that your special needs child is receiving the right type of educational services is to be informed yourself. What is the best way to become and stay informed? By reading.

There is a huge amount of authoritative literature written by leading experts in the field of special education. Reading these books will not only inform you about the types of educational services your child needs, but it will also teach you what types of services are mandated by law.

In order to help you in your efforts for ensuring that your child receives what he needs in the educational setting, here is a list of books that should be on your reading list:

  1. A Sociology of Special Education: From this book, you will learn about the dynamic of the relationship between your special education child and the typically developing population. You’ll gain insight into why “normal” society (whatever “normal” may be) views your child as special and what that means for him or her.

  1. Research and Evaluation Methods in Special Education: This book dives into the principles that guide the teaching of special needs children. You will find out how teachers are taught to create plans for these students and evaluate their performance.

  1. Effective Instruction for Students with Special Needs: You’ll learn about all of the tools and tips that special education teachers are guided to use in the classroom in order to effectively teach your child based on her specialized needs. By reading this book, you will not only learn what your child should be experiencing in the classroom, but you’ll also gain useful insight into how you can effectively work with your child at home.

  1. Parents’ Complete Special-Education Guide: Tips, Techniques, and Materials for Helping Your Child Succeed in School and Life:  This book serves as a useful guide that will provide you with valuable information related to properly preparing your child for the school setting, as well as the world at large. You’ll learn about the regulations that are associated with the educational and vocational needs of your child, as well as his social and environmental needs. In addition, you’ll find out about your child’s unique educational developmental needs and the intervention that she should receive in order to become as successful as possible.

As a parent, you are your child’s first teacher. Provide your special needs child with the best opportunities for academic and social development with the knowledge that you gain from these books.

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How to Create a Good Environment in an Inclusive Special Needs Classroom

Once you’ve managed to integrate special needs children into a mixed classroom, there’s still a road ahead:  getting them to feel part of the group on an extended basis.  To do this, teachers will want to make sure to pay attention to key areas in which special needs children can get lost in—or even led astray by—the crowd.  Here are the most important target areas in making special needs children forget any stigmas they may carry.

Classroom Guidance

If the special needs children in question have issues with spatial orientation, moving from one class to the next may be a big challenge.  In such cases, teachers should be sure to have a system set up for times of transition.  Should your school provide hall monitors for interim periods, they can be great monitors in between class periods.  Even better, securing a friendly peer who shares the special needs child’s pathway can be a more natural and inclusive way to keep everyone on track.

Structure Recess and Lunchtime Activities

Because recess is when the classroom has the least structure, it’s precisely the time when your efforts at inclusion may be challenged the most.  Special needs children who depend on guidance—kids with autism, for example—are more likely to get into conflict with other children when the rules are not so clear.  Without making children with special needs feel ostracized, teachers should subtly give these children either fun tasks or well-defined play activities to minimize the risks of things going awry.

Lunchtime, while centered around a clearly defined activity, can pose another set of challenges.  The school cafeteria is often a cacophony of competing signals, and among some special needs students, this can be anywhere from stressful to downright traumatic.  To remedy this situation, while cordoning off special needs children into a special area might incur as much stigmatization as it lessens over stimulation, a better option is to find subtle ways to seat more sensitive students in quieter, peripheral areas.

Think Out Seating Schemes

The cafeteria is an especially high-risk arena for seating conflicts, but the classroom can also be a war zone of distractions and even antagonism.  Special needs children with attention issues should be placed in the seating chart so that you can always make eye contact with them and gently guide them back to the lecture without saying a word.

However, while you want to place such children close to you, positioning them front and center might make them feel self-conscious, so use the front few rows and the closest aisle seats.  On a different plane, if you see a pattern of bullying emerging, make sure to break it up:  reassign not only the special needs child but also any ostensible cliques who’ve bonded through group harassment.

Allow For “Special Needs Time”

When it comes to in-class writing assignments, special needs children may run on a different clock, whether it’s because of impaired coordination and small motor skills or an attention deficit.  For this reason, teachers will need to give different time limits to special needs students but at the same time should not call attention to that fact.

For the same reasons, all teachers should be aware that special needs children might be not understand a direction at first.  When a class becomes unruly, special needs students often join in the fray uncontrollably.  Because they see problem behavior all around them, they don’t see any negative consequences and then not register the teacher’s reprimands.  In such cases, teachers need to be sure not to unduly punish special needs children who were unclear over the boundaries of decorum.

In all of these circumstances, the key is to do your best in not making special needs students feel as though they are being singled out.  Sometimes, the best way to do this is through simple honesty rather than through elaborate ruses everyone can see through.  Everyone may benefit from being candidly told that certain students have little differences that don’t really make them that different.  Remember, children can often be a lot wiser that we think.

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What Are the Best Games for Special Needs Children?

While there are enough kids games out there that you could never go through them all, games for special needs children are often harder to find. There isn’t the same variety of games designed specifically for children with special needs, and many of the games that are can be very expensive.

However, many children with special needs can benefit from playing with regular off-the-shelf toys – if they’re playing with the right ones. Below, you’ll find a list of some of the best games for special needs children that you can purchase through most toy stores or online retailers.

Toys With Large Parts

Many children with cerebral palsy or other conditions that make controlled movement difficult can benefit from playing with toys with large parts instead of smaller ones. That’s because children with motor skills impairment can easily pick up the toys, move them around, and play with them even with limited motor control.

Example: Lego Duplo Basic Bricks. Lego Duplo Basic Bricks are a simple set of Lego building blocks, but instead of the normal, very small pieces that can be difficult for children with motor skills issues to play with, the Duplo Basic Bricks set is comprised of much larger pieces – some a few inches in diameter.

With the Duplo Basic Bricks set, you can help your child make basic patterns or construct toy people, or just let them build free-form shapes on their own. Many children with motor skills issues enjoy large building blocks, and they may be able to help children develop spatial recognition skills.

Large Pop-Up Books

If you’ve ever been in a toy store, you’ve probably seen those huge pop-up books that take up half of a store shelf. These are ideal for many kids that can’t turn the pages of smaller books, as they allow a child the joy of reading and experiencing a story on their own.

Like building blocks, pop-up books can help some children build spatial recognition skills, as the pop-up part of the book can often be helpful in teaching children about height, depth, and three-dimensional objects.

Cause and Effect Toys

For children with autism, cause and effect toys – the type where a sound is made when a button is pushed for example – are the most beneficial. These types of toys promote interaction and can help autistic children to respond physical and verbal stimulation in an effective way.

Example: V-Tech Tote & Go Laptop. The V-Tech Tote & Go Laptop is a toy that looks like a brightly-colored scaled down version of a regular laptop. What the toy does, however, is teach kids about letters and words through fun games and interaction.

To use the laptop, children can either respond verbally or press a button on the toy’s keyboard in response.

iPad Games

The iPad is a technological innovation that has been used in a multitude of ways for children with special needs, because it’s interactive and easy for many children to handle. While there are too many games and apps to cover here, there are a few that have become particularly popular among parents with special needs children.

Example: ArtikPix. ArtikPix is a simple app for the iPad that uses matching activities and flashcards in a fun way to help children with speech-sound delays, which can affect children with a variety of different conditions. Best of all, ArtikPix is fun enough that kids will want to play by themselves, though it can be used by speech pathologists and parents as well.

Example: Abilipad. Abilipad is an iPad app that basically turns the screen into a writing and drawing surface for kids that may otherwise have difficulty communicating via written words. The Abilipad app also has word-prediction features and a text-to-speech function, helping kids understand how the words they speak can be translated into written text.

Children with special needs don’t always need special treatment when it comes to toys. While many of the toys listed above are somewhat educational, they’re also a lot of fun for most kids.

If a toy isn’t fun, a child isn’t going to want to play with it – which gives it no educational value at all. Make sure you test out any toys to see if your kids like them, before trying to make them part of your child’s regular play routine.

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8 Tips to Integrate Special Ed Kids into Classroom Activities

Kids who require special education aren’t vastly different from most other kids, outside of the manner in which they learn and retain information.

That means they still enjoy having fun, learning new things, interacting with other kids and just being themselves. So whenever it’s possible, integrating them in regular classroom activities at school can be extremely beneficial for the child.

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It can also benefit the teachers and classroom environment as a whole, considering that the more special ed kids are able to participate, the easier it will be for a teacher to instruct a full classroom and not have to divide their resources between two different types of classroom.

Here are a few ways to get special ed kids more involved with classroom activities:

1. Drawing — This might only fit the curriculum in a handful of classes and situations, but drawing is a non-threatening activity that students of all learning styles and abilities can engage in. If you’re looking for a specific activity to bring a group of students together, drawing is a good option. Avoid front-of-the-class presentation so kids won’t be worried about being embarrassed.

2. Reading Time — You’ll want to measure reading by time instead of by length of a book covered. Many special ed students will be slower readers and will struggle to keep up, so institute a reading period of 20 minutes or so, and whatever is covered is fine.

Just be sure that everyone is paying attention to the material and not being distracting.

3. More time to complete work — Extending deadlines for some kids and not others is tough, but consider being more lenient with those kids who have special needs or learning disabilities. They’re going to have a much more difficult time completing things like writing and reading assignments, so don’t put pressure on them to perform at the same level as the other kids.

While you don’t have to announce the discrepancy in due dates, don’t dole out punishment or correction to special needs kids as quickly as other.

4. Recess — Recess can be a great chance for special needs kids to feel integrated with the rest of their peers, yet it can also be an extremely discouraging time for them. Keep an eye on your class during recess and make sure put a stop to any bullying or rough play directed at special needs, or really any kids on during recess. If you avoid that, it should be a positive experience for any child who might feel a little out of place in the classroom.

5. Painting — Like drawing, painting is a great non-threatening educational activity, that many special needs kids will enjoy and possibly even excel at.

6. Question/Answer — Give the entire classroom, including the special needs kids a chance to answer some questions. Don’t limit their ability to participate, even if their answers might not be as well-informed as others. Steer their answers in the right direction, and help them succeed.

7. Avoid a one-size-fits-all approach — It’s critical to understand that even without special needs kids, the learning tendencies of students will differ from child to child. For a teacher with 30 kids, it’s hard to think that way, yet it’s necessary for a genuine educational experience to take place.

8. Patience — Lastly, make sure to exercise as much patience as possible for special needs children in a regular classroom. Chances are they just want to fit in, and the gentler you are in the way you approach them, the more successful they’re going to be and the more they’ll be able to learn.

Successful Transition

A special needs child might be met with a bit of a learning curve when confronted with a regular classroom, but with the right kind of environment and attention, they can have a successful transition, and can be productive members of that classroom.

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Preparing Special Needs Students for the First Day of Class

The first day of school can be a terrifying and exhilarating experience for the child and parent alike. It can be especially nerve-racking when a child with special needs is attending school for the first time or going back for another year. However, fear not. With some preparation before the big day, you can ensure a smooth first day for you and your child.

Even before the first day of school, visit the campus early, such as during the summer time, to get a feel for the place and to know where important facilities are located such offices, restrooms, and the nurse station. You can also check out the child’s classroom so you can prepare your child for what s/he is to expect on the first day of school.

It is always important for you and your child to be surrounded by a supportive, understanding environment so that your child feels welcome into the new school community. Introduce yourself to your child’s teacher, and make sure to inform them as necessary about your child’s needs. Introduce yourself as well to other member’s of your child’s school such as the principal, school nurse, counselor, and school aides, who, aside from the teacher, could be working very closely with your child.

If possible, help your child with the transition by explaining to them what to expect or even giving them a printed schedule of what the first day will look and feel like and where s/he will be at certain times– ask their teacher for help with this information beforehand. Purchase a special folder for your child’s teacher to keep in the classroom and one for you to keep at home of school activities and any pertinent paperwork about your child.

Even before the new school year begins, be active in school – PTAs are a great way to meet other parents and stay in the know about school activities and issues. You can collect phone numbers of your child’s classmate’s parents. PTAs can also be your opportunity to advocate for more seminars teaching school staff about working with special needs students.

While children with the same special needs may share similar characteristics, every child is unique. Although faculty members may discover on their own your child’s beautiful personality, as reinforcement to what you explain to your child’s teacher and other faculty members, write a letter to the teacher introducing  your child. In it you can include details such as:

  • A photo of your child
  • Your child’s physical/mental/emotional strengths and challenges
  • Likes and Dislikes
  • Toileting needs
  • Any food/medical allergies
  • Medical/medication information
  • Emergency phone numbers

Talk to your child as well so you are kept informed about what is going on in their day-to-day life to know if there are any concerns you may need to bring up with the teacher about the classroom setting.

If you have time to spare, volunteer in your child’s school during the school year and the days leading up to the first day of school. Teachers in younger grades will often request parent volunteers to help with work in the classroom, and if your child is older you can help around the school in other ways, such as being a playground monitor or organizing fundraisers.

With a little preparation on your part, that of the school staff, and your child for his/her first day of school, your child can focus on what matters: their academic, personal, and interpersonal development.

 

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Fun, Friendly Apps For Helping Young Special Education Students

When raising or teaching a special education student, there are many variables that you need to consider in order to get a child to perform well in the classroom setting. Depending on the level of disability the child might need aid in anything from speech and motor control to learning how to adapt to verbal and social cues.

For many children these abilities are within their reach, and providing them a helpful resource like fun educational apps can encourage them to develop and understanding of and grasp these concepts on their own.

 These apps feel more like games, and will be fun in both appearance and engagement. Different apps address different issues, such as trouble with auditory changes, social situations, non-verbal communication and other areas related to special needs. As your child plays the game, they’ll learn to improve in the areas that they’re struggling with.

Picking the right game for each child is also very important, but here we provide a list of some of the exceptional apps that meet a wide range of student’s needs.

1. ArtikPix

Designed for children with speech and sound delays, ArtikPix uses flashcards and matching games to help kids improve and develop in these areas. The app also uses child-friendly language, however it can be used in conjunction with a speech pathologist.

2. Proloquo2Go

This app is expensive, but it’s highly advanced and worth every penny if you have a child who can’t speak or who has trouble speaking.

Using images, symbols and typed text, even children with severe disabilities can communicate and improve their ability to speak using this app. They’ll be given words with symbols and characters that they can use to quickly communicate what they’re thinking and how they’re feeling.

There’s less of an educational aspect to this app, but it’s still highly effective in terms of improving quality of life and helping children with speech disabilities have the chance to communication.

3. Phonics Genius

This is simply one of the most comprehensive and detailed phonics apps available, and is all about helping kids decipher words by their sounds. The app breaks words down into several pieces and goes through the sounds one at a time.

4. Speech with Milo

With fun characters and a game-like user interface, Speech with Milo takes kids through animated sequencing exercises that are designed to improve speech and build social skills.

The typical format of the game is to give the child a series of cards that show different things happening, both in words and picture and then let the child rearrange the cards in the correct order.

5. The Social Express

This app is designed for those with high-functioning aspergers or a similar condition and is incredibly detailed and effective in its approach. The interface uses 3D characters to portray certain social scenarios and then allows the user to interact and make decisions in those situations.

Like Proloquo2Go, the app is a bit pricey, but is certainly worth the investment if your child’s condition applies.

Therapy Supplement

While you can’t replace therapy with an iPad app, you can effectively supplement it by getting your child involved with some of these tools. They’ll view the game aspect of it as fun and will teach them key social and academic tools without them even realize they are being taught.

Utilizing technology is a great way to get in touch with your child and help them develop, which will only enhance their performance in the classroom.

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