This past fall I broke down and finally bought an iPad. I promise that I don’t own any stock in Apple products but I fell in love with this device. It is so intuitive that even someone like me - who is best described as technically challenged - can figure it out. Mobile devices are quickly becoming a part of our daily lives as are "apps." If you don’t own a mobile device, apps are specialized software programs or applications which run on devices such as mobile phones, iPads, and iPods. There is probably an app for any topic you can imagine or there soon will be.

One of the exciting uses for apps can be found within the realm of special education. There are apps for everything from learning how to use sign language to behavior management systems. Recently there was a news report about how a father created a specialized app which allowed his non-verbal child to communicate. There is a world of possibilities for how we can use this new technology to help our children to communicate, learn, and even manage their behavior. And the great thing is that many of these apps are relatively inexpensive at $20 or less.

In this post I am going to tell you about some apps that may help you to help your child. Please note that I cannot vouch for the quality of any of the apps described. Apps do not take the place of professional advice or support given by doctors, therapists, and teachers. They are simply an extra resource.

Communication and Speech Apps

• Sign 4 Me

This is probably the best sign language tool I have seen in the form of an app. It has an extensive data base of words which you can plug into the app and you will see a 3D character show you the sign for your words. You can also rotate the character, zoom in and out, and change the rate of signing shown. You can also type in phrases and whole sentences. I was very excited to find such an app because seeing signs displayed in a book doesn’t quite cut it. Finding the time to take a signing class can be difficult. For ten bucks you can learn some basic language to use with your child.

• ArtikPix

If you have a child who is having difficulties with pronunciation and articulation of certain speech sounds, this may be a very useful app to use with your child. It is also a great app for speech teachers on the go or the speech therapist who is looking for something fun to motivate the kids. This app presents all the speech sounds and blends in the form of flashcards. You can also record your child’s voice to hear improvement in speech over time. It is a little on the pricey side at around $30 on sale.

• Verbal Victor 

This is the newsworthy app developed by a dad for his son who has Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome. This app is described as an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) software application for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. If you have ever priced AAC devices before, they can cost upwards of thousands of dollars whereas this app costs less than ten bucks. You can customize this app with your own photos and audio recordings. You can plug in phrases such as “I want drink” or “I want to play” and your child can tap the associated picture and this will cause a corresponding audio to play. Reviews seem to be mixed as the app is in its initial stages of development and there may be some bugs to work out in the process.