Today is World Down Syndrome Day and it is very important to focus our attention on helping children to lead a normal and happy life. And for this reason, we need to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the evolution of technology. Mobile apps have the power to teach little ones to be as independent as possible. From this point of view it isn’t easy to create that kind of apps and it is certainly really difficult to find one that meets your requirements but there are some mandatory elements we all need to consider when we talk about an app designed for kids with Down syndrome:
- Apps must be developed in collaboration with specialists who know all the aspects of this genetic disorder.
- This type of apps must be approved by Down syndrome organizations.
- With the simple design, they need to attract and engage children.
- They mustn’t contain distracting or annoying elements.
- These apps need to consider all age ranges.
- Mobile tools need to adapt to kids’ needs.
- Personalization is everything when it comes to these special apps.
Best Apps For Children With Down Syndrome
A few weeks ago, we talked about Otsimo, an app specially created for kids with learning disorders. We invite you to read the entire story for a better understanding of this tool. Additionally, we will create a list of useful apps for parents and teachers who want to help children with Down syndrome. For this analysis we took into account the main platforms, the features provided and the price available for acquiring a certain app. Feel free to choose the one suitable for your kids’ needs.
LetMeTalk
Platform:
Features:
- LetMeTalk is a free AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) talker app;
- It allows users to create sentences based on images;
- It has over 9000 pictures from ARASAAC;
- Users also can add new images;
- It doesn’t require internet connection;
- The app offers voice support for images and sentences;
- It is translated into 17 languages;
Availability:
Free with in-app purchases
Manus Line
Platform:
Features:
- Manus Line is an app that offers educational and therapeutic exercises for kids with cognitive disorders.
- It was designed in partnership with Cognitive Disabilities Therapists.
- It can be customized, having options for “silent” and “black and white” mode.
- It is based on repeatable levels.
- The game provides many visual hints for helping users.
- The app is focused on developing many capabilities like eye-hand coordination, Fine Motor Skills, Attention and Spatial Orientation.
Availability:
Free
Gross Motor Skills for Children with Down Syndrome Mobile Companion
Platform:
Features:
- Gross Motor Skills for Children with Down Syndrome Mobile Companion is an app based on “Gross Motor Skills for Children with Down Syndrome” book written by Patricia Winders.
- The app takes into account the differences between children with Down syndrome and typical kids.
- It offers ideas for activities adapted for special kids.
- Users have the chance to save all the achievements as reminders for those efforts.
- Encourages parents to forget about baby trackers and to focus on positive results.
Availability:
Free with in-app purchases
Tuli Emotions
Platform:
Features:
- Tuli Emotions is an app created for ASDRA (Down Syndrome Association of Argentina).
- The app encourages kids to reveal their emotions based on real-life situations.
- The images used in this app were drawn and colored handmade by an interdisciplinary volunteer team.
- Kids have to choose a photo which represents an emotion and to move it over the screen.
- The game continues until children select the right emotion for that specific image.
Availability:
Free
Running Social Story
Platform:
Features:
- Running Social Story is a mobile app created for parents who want to teach children when is safe to run and when it isn’t.
- The app is based on a social story.
- It includes visual hints for helping kids find the right answers.
- There are also explanations for the reasons why children are allowed to run or not in certain places.
Availability:
Paid
CommBoards Lite
Platform:
Features:
- CommBoards is an AAC Speech Assistance app.
- It helps kids communicate with people around them in an easier way.
- The app is used by Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP).
- It is based on communication cards with symbols.
- The app provides support for 5 languages.
- It works without an internet connection, so it can be used anywhere.
- All images are separated into certain categories like Eat, Drink, Feel, Play, Say Hello – To mom, dad, grandparents.
- Parents can add new categories with pictures.
- Customers are able to use the microphone for recording sounds and to associate them with images.
- It offers also a paid version.
Availability:
Free
Special Words
Platform:
Features:
- Special Words is an app specially designed for kids with learning issues;
- Based on visuals, the app helps children to recognize pictures and sounds and to read;
- It is suitable for teachers, parents and health professionals;
- Special Words offers results for kids of all ages;
- It is translated into 26 languages;
- With over 96 pictures the app increases sight word vocabulary;
- It allows users to add their own words, images, and audio;
- Parents are able to change settings according to their children’s needs.
Availability:
Paid
Final Thoughts
This is our list of useful apps for children with Down syndrome. After all, there is a positive consequence of the fact that app markets are so overcrowded. You can find everything you want, including apps designed for kids with special needs. And hopefully, more and more specialists will find new ways to encourage and help children. Meanwhile, this list remains open. In case you discover an app suitable for this category, please let us know and we will be glad to add it here.
