Free webinars!

Free assistive tech webinars online at AbleNet University!
Sign up for live upcoming talks, or sit back and watch an archived webinar.. there are some great switch access webinar's by Kelly Fonner! You can even request CEU's for professional credit!
Enjoy! Karen

FREEE apps!

Many apps are free... but many app developers will make their paid apps free when they first come out (RJ Cooper) or for limited time periods (often on Fridays!). The following websites will help you to keep up with which apps GO FREE!
http://www.smartappsforkids.com/free-app-of-the-day/
http://freeappaday.com/
http://ipad.freeappalert.com/
http://greatappaday.com/ http://digital-storytime.com/sale.php#2

RIGHT NOW... Ablenet is offering their Sounding Board augmentative communication app for free for a LIMITED TIME!

Beware.. finding free apps can become an obsession!

Enjoy! Karen

Point or Grasp!

iDevice touchscreen tecnology is awesome! Touch, tap, swipe, no mouse needed! It is a great motivator for kids to practice finger isolation and pointing accuracy! Angling the device more upright/vertically using an iPad cover or mount can help to avoid accidental activations of non-pointing fingers.

Many therapists also like to use a stylus to develop pencil grasping skills! Of course, there are thousands of stylus' to choose...so which is best? Consider these three points to help make the choice that is best for your child.

1) iStylus! Be sure it is designed to use with an iPad - some touch screens can use any pointing device, even the back of a pencil - the iPad cannot!

2) Size - Too thin is often difficult for preschoolers to hold. The styylus surface also tend to be slippery since they are metallic. Some stylus' like BoxWave or Blue Cell, have a medium thickness, allowing a pencil grip to be added. This is what many of our students use.

A mini-stylus, like the one in the pic above, is extra short and can be used to facilitate fingertip use and strength. They often come with a cord to prevent losing them by connecting them to the iPad in the headphone jack!

There are even heavier stylus' like the Cosmos or Alupen for students who do well with 'weighted' writing tools.

Think of what your child uses best when coloring on paper and try to find a similar set up for the iPad!

3) Ruber vs. Foam tip - Rubber tips tend to have a little more resistance to the touch - giving a little more feedback, but can also sometimes result in excessive pressure. Once they rip, they generally need to be replaced. Foam tips provide a softer, smoother type of feedback; however, they are often too skinny to even fit a pencil grip - let us know if you find a 'fatter' one! Foam grips also have a tendency to flatten, but I 'heard' they can sometimes be re-rejuvenated using 'scratchy' Velcro to re-'fluff' them.

Still not sure what to get? Go to the store and try them or ask your child's therapist, teacher or a colleague for advice, but most importantly watch and ask the child!

Click below to see some of our favorite stylus':

Multi-pack of medium and mini rubber tipped stylus' often used with a simple foam grip
Alupen - heavier, durable stylus - difficult to use w/grip
Ten One foam tipped stylus

Enjoy! Karen

Welcome!

Hi, WELCOME to our blog, created for preschoolers who like to learn and communicate using the iPad, iTouch or iPhone! Please share your thoughts about using iDevices with your students and children so that others may learn and play too! Have FUN!