iPad, iPod Touch and Apps Making Sense of the iWorld for Individuals with Special Needs

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iPad, iPod Touch and AppsMaking Sense of the
iWorld for Individuals with Special Needs

• Debbie Drennan, MSW

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Parents Helping Parents iTECH Services

• Trainings
• Techsplorations
• T.I.P program (Early Start ages 0-3)
• Consultations
• AAC/Communication expertise
• Information and referral
• Toy-switch surgeon
• Member, AT Network of California
• www.php.com [phone] toll free

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Overview of Presentation

• Participants will
• Learn about the built in features of iDevices
• Learn how to manage the Apps in iTunes
• Find out about a variety of apps in different
  areas, and find out where to learn more
• Have a chance to share knowledge!

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Before We Begin

• Apps list not exhaustive-just a sample of what is
  available
• iDevices and Apps for Assistive Technology and/or
  AAC (Communication) should be considered in
  conjunction with an evaluation by a qualified
  specialist as part of a comprehensive plan

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Before the Device

• What's the task? 
• What is the student/clients's level of
  performance at this time?
• What is the student/clients's level of
  participation at this time?
• What are the features the student/client needs? 
• How does the iPad AND THE APP you are considering
  match those tasks and features? 
• What data do you have that the student/client can
  use the iPad for those tasks?
• What's the expected benefit to the student/client?

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Why use iDevices?

• Ease of Interface
• Socially Acceptable- cool
• One device can be used for a variety of goals
  communication, reading, writing, etc
• Lightweight and Portable
• Economical, especially in comparison to dedicated
  AAC devices

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The Downside..

• Potential for Theft
• Easy to Lose
• Management of Apps requires time for all the
  updates
• Potentially need time to set up each device for
  each user
• Easy for device to become an entertainment tool

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Device Details

• iPod Touch
• Wi-Fi only
• 8GB to 64GB 229-399
• 4 hours to charge, 7-14 hours playtime per
  charge
• 2 cameras, front and back

• iPad2
• Wi-Fi only16-64GB, 499-699
• Wi-Fi and 3G16-64GB, 629-829
• 3-5 hours to charge, around 10 hour battery life
• 2 cameras, front and back

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Features of Operating System

• Voice Over
• Zoom
• Restrictions
• Auto-Correction, Auto-Capitalization
• International Keyboards
• Font Size
• White on Black

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Where Do I Find all these?Settings-General

• Under Accessibility
• Voice Over Three finger scroll, Braille
  Bluetooth hook-up available, Web and Language
  Adjustments
• Zoom Double-Tap with three fingers to zoom, use
  three fingers to move around screen when on
• Large Text- goes up to 56 point text in built in
  apps
• White on Black
• Speak Auto-text- Speaks auto-corrections and
  capitalizations out loud
• Restrictions-Sets 4 digit code to restrict access
  to certain apps

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Apps that are Included

• Calendar with Alerts (if desired)
• Contacts
• Photos (picture library)
• Camera
• Voice Memo
• Notes
• Clock

• iTunes
• iPod (Music library)
• Safari
• App Store
• Game Center
• You Tube
• Maps
• Mail
• Face Time (iPad2 and iPod Touch)

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App and Device Management

• Education
• Can use a Cart for updating, loading apps en
  masse (PowerSync Cart, http//apple.bretford.com/p
  roducts/ )
• App licensing for education available
  (http//www.apple.com/itunes/education/ )
• Do NOT need to have credit card on file in
  iTunes to have account

• Personal
• Must have your iTunes account on device to update
  or add apps
• Can have multiple accounts on one device, but can
  only sync to one computer, or lose the apps from
  the other account
• Up to 5 devices for personal use per app

Recommend Once a week updating for devices/apps!
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And Now, Apps!

• Areas covered
• Vision
• Organization
• Reading support
• Writing support

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Vision Apps

• LookTel Money Reader (EyeNote-free app by
  government, not as good)
• Zoom Reader
• Sendero LookAround GPS
• VizWiz
• More Apps can be found at http//www.spectronicsin
  oz.com/article/iphone-ipad-apps-for-magnification-
  and-vision-support

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LookTel Money Reader- 1.99

• Point camera at US bills, it will orally tell you
  what the bill is.

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ZoomReader- 19.99

• Using camera, magnifies up to 4x, reads text out
  loud, can vary speed of output, pitch, can
  highlight, etc

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Sendero LookAround GPS- 4.99

• Using GPS and vibration features of device, it
  tells you where you are, and nearest points of
  interest (defaults to restaurants). Works best
  outside.

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VizWiz- free

• Allows user to use camera to take a picture/ask a
  question, then choose to ask Web Workers, or the
  IQ Engine (image identifier), Email someone or
  Twitter feed to get the answer

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Organization Apps

• Evernote
• Awesome Note
• mSecure
• Additional Apps can be found at
  http//www.ocali.org/up_archive_doc/Apps_Designed_
  with_Disability_in_Mind.pdf under
  Organization/Study Skills

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Evernote- free

• Multi-platform cloud sharing tool. Can take
  notes in multiple ways, save them to the cloud
  account, then share them or pull them down on
  almost any device

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Awesome Note- 3.99/ 4.99

• Can create own folders to save notes, ideas, etc.
  Syncs with Google Docs, can set alarms for
  reminders. Calendar integrated into it.

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mSecure -4.99

• Remember one password, and store all the other
  passwords and important information in it

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Reading Support

• iBooks with Voice Over enabled
• Read2Go
• RFBD
• Speak It!
• For More apps, go to http//www.spectronicsinoz.co
  m/article/apps-for-literacy-support

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Read2Go- not available yet, 19.99

• For Bookshare members, will be able to read and
  store Bookshare books on the iDevices! Targeted
  to come out soon. www.bookshare.org

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RFBD Audio- 19.99

• For Learning Ally members, allows their books to
  be played on idevices- New name and website for
  RFBD- http//www.learningally.org

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Speak It! - 1.99

• Copy text into app from emails, web, etc, and
  have it read with high quality voices. Highlights
  as it reads.

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Writing Apps

• Typ-O HD
• AudioNote
• High School Special MAX (8in1) by Essay Writing
  Wizard
• Popplet
• See Literacy list (previous section) for more apps

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Typ-O HD (iPad only)- 14.99

• Word Prediction, also reads text out loud as you
  write. Four dictionary sizes available, Four
  voices available.

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AudioNote- 4.99

• Works like the LiveScribe- can type or write text
  while recording, then play back notes, with audio
  tagged to notes.

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High School Special MAX -17.99

• Writing Prompt application, includes
• 1. Four Independent Writing Pages - Notes,
  Outline, Bibliography, and Essay.  2. 
  Assignment Prompt Page with Due Date. 3. 
  Automatic one button compilation of your Essay
  and Bibliography, and emailing to address of your
  choice. 4.  Capability to email more than one
  writing page in the same email. 5.  One Button
  Back Up Capability

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Popplet! -4.99

• Easy to use mind-mapping tool. Allows combination
  of text, drawings and photos.

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Peripherals

• Cases
• Stands and Mounts
• Bluetooth Switches and Keyboards
• Stylus/Pointers/Keyguards
• Tornado Switch Interface (available summer 2011)
  http//www.youtube.com/watch?vY5XcBBy0I9g

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Cases

• Things to ask
• Portability
• Durability
• Mounting needs
• Otterbox 89.95 (iPad 2) to 29.95 (iPod touch)
  http//www.otterbox.com
• RJ Cooper iPad Ultimate Carry Case 99
  www.rjcooper.com
• AMDI iPad iAdapter-198 (version 1 only)
  http//www.amdi.net/store/iadapter.html
• Button Cover- BubCap Home Button Cover-5 for 4
  bubcap.com

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Stands and Mounts

• RAM Mounts- 36-48 depending on type
  http//www.ram-mount.com/Products/WheelchairMounts
  /tabid/2562/Default.aspx
• CJT Mounting- cjtmounting.com
• RJ Cooper stands and mounts www.rjcooper.com
• MountMe! Freedom II - http//www.mount-me.com/

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Bluetooth Switches and Keyboards

• Switches
• Bluetooth Switch Interface- 99, Super-Switch
  149 www.rjcooper.com
• Blue2-Pedal switches- 149 www.ablenetinc.com
• Keyboards
• Many available- some built into cases. Best
  option, do a google search with needed features

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Stylus/Pointers/Keyguards

• Stylus- many available- Pogo, Targus, etc. or,
  make your own- http//blog.makezine.com/archive/20
  10/05/collins-lab-diy-ipad-stylus.html
• Make a stylus into a head/hand pointer-
  http//www.rjcooper.com/tablet-pointer/index.html
  
• Keyguards- http//www.laseredpics.biz/servlet/the-
  Adaptive-Technologies-Supplies/Categories

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More Information, Please!

• http//a4cwsn.com/ Apps for Children with
  Special Needs- app videos
• http//www.spectronicsinoz.com/library/faqs
  Spectronics has lists of apps for certain areas,
  ie, communication, reading, etc
• www.ocali.org Has lists of apps with descriptions
  in certain areas in Document Archive
• http//autismepicenter.com/TEST/autism-apps.shtml
  Reviews of apps
• http//iphoneapplicationlist.com/apps/
  Unofficial list of apps for iphone/ipad broken
  down into categories

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Other Useful Tools

• Freeappalert.com Lists apps that are free for a
  short time-can sign up for email alerts
• http//momswithapps.com Group of family friendly
  app developers who blog about apps, and offer
  Free App Fridays

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Your Turn!

• Highlight YOUR favorite apps, YOUR experiences
  using the iPad/IPod touch with your
  child/student/client, and tips you have to help
  others!