Finding the Right App
The search for the right app for your child or client could become very
daunting. Searching the App Store just based on a keyword often brings
up a list of apps that are irrelevant, poorly made, and in another
language. So how does one search, find and make an informed decision
about buying apps? Here is a list of App review and search sites that
will help you make a good decision on your app purchase so you don't
encounter that dreaded "app buyer" remorse because "the screenshots
looked good." This is not meant to be a comprehensive list of App search
sites just ones that may be the most helpful.
Quixey
Quixey was created in 2009 to help people find apps simply by describing what they want to do. They have what's called a Functional Search. With Functional SearchTM,
you only need to answer a question about the app you are looking for.
Mainly "what do you want it to do?" Most other app search engines,
mainly the App Store, are based on searching for basic keywords, so you
need to know the correct words to use to find the app you are looking
for. Quixey also doesn't limit its searches to just Apple apps it search
apps created for: Android, Blackberry, Windows, Chrome, Facebook, etc.
... as well as searching social media, videos, articles, and news about
that app.
SmartAppsforKids
This is a nice site that offers both reviews of apps, free apps of
the day, as well as apps based on grade or subject. The reviews are
quick and to the point and highlight the positive and negative of the
app. They offer pictures, links, videos, the Top 100 Free Apps and Good Free App of the Day list.
Technology in Special Education
This is another nicely put together site. That offers lists of free
apps and apps based on skill level- anything from Art, to Autism, Social
skills, to the SAT/GRE. One nice feature on the site is the Recommended Apps by IEP Goal/Skill
- it's not a super comprehensive list but offers some of the top app in
each category but also leaves some good ones out as well.
Bridging Apps
This site was created by Easter Seals of the Greater Houston Texas
area. It was created by volunteers composed of doctors, parents,
therapists, and teachers who share information on how to use apps with
children with special needs. They created an app search tool called Insignio
which allows you to an create and organize apps in a list, make notes,
rate, and be linked to Google Play and the App Store. What's cool about
the List feature is if you want to recommend apps to a parent or another
therapist, you can go on make the list and then email it to them.
Take a look at the list feature in action- Making an app list.
TherapyApp411
This site is a blog based on a collaboration between four #slpeeps on Twitter (me included), springing from the goal of developing a centralized location for information on mobile devices and their uses in therapy. The mission is to provide reviews and other content regarding apps and devices from a therapists' perspective- SLPs, OTs, PTs or other disciplines who would like to contribute. We will be cross-posting content from our own blogs, The Speech Guy, TiPS: Technology in Practice for SLPs, Speech Gadget, and SpeechTechie as well as opening this blog to contributions from other writer-therapists.
Apps for Children with Special Needs
This was one of the first review sites for apps for special needs created by Gary James ( a father of children with special needs). It offers blog reviews of a variety of apps for special needs as well as links to developers that develop apps specifically for therapy or children with special needs. It has evolved over the 2 years it has been around offering iPad giveaways, app giveaways, and heavy support to developers. You have to some searching of the site a bit to find here to category section is so- check out the category and developer list page- here.