EdCeptional Minute - #41.5 - App Review Sites

Every other week on EdCeptional we'll be having a short 5 minute episode, called the EdCeptional Minute.  This week's episode focuses on places to find app reviews.  Take a listen at the EdCeptional Channel - http://edreach.us/edceptionalshow.

Patrick

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#AppMondayTAS - New Collaboration with BridgingApps.org

Each week I will be featuring an app from BridgingApps.org.  These apps are features in the Bridging Apps newsletter each week and are reviewed by Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and Special Education Teachers.  Come back each Monday to see a new app and review!

Here's some more information about BridgingApps.org and their mission.

BridgingApps, a program of Easter Seals Greater Houston, is a community of parents, therapists, doctors, and teachers who share information on using mobile devices (iPad, iPhone, and Android) with people who have special needs. This program was co-founded by Sami Rahman and Cristen Reat. Both are parents who found success when using a mobile device with their child with special needs.

With the rising number of apps on the market and the diverse skills of people with special needs,
BridgingApps has created an app review system that focuses on skills — not age, diagnosis or
developmental level. All app reviews are conducted by Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and Special Education Teachers. The purpose is to assist users in choosing apps that will help improve skills and enhance the lives of people with special needs.

Visitors to the BridgingApps.org website will find app lists, practical how-to’s, success stories, tips on getting started with a mobile device, Insignio (a custom built app search tool), online classes, community groups, and more. BridgingApps has recently partnered with the Texas Computer Education Association to provide a Mobile Devices for Children with Disabilities certification open to anyone.

If you are interested in joining the BridgingApps community, you can register with the site, which allows access to maximize use of the app search tool Insignio, community boards, and forums. You can share a success story, read helpful articles, sign up for the weekly newsletter, watch how-to videos, take an online course and connect with others who use mobile devices for special needs. - Christen Reat

Patrick

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Sped Apps

Caroline Musselwhite (www.aacintervention.com), and quite a few other speech therapist have started a great wiki - Sped Apps 2.  The purpose of the wiki is listed right on the front page:

The founding members of this wiki consist of "old" therapists, with over 200 years of experience working with special populations and technology. We hope that people will use this site to make informed decisions before downloading. Our purpose in creating this wiki is to foster collaboration around how applications can be used in unique ways to support learning in home, school, and therapy settings. If you have used iPad/iPod applications with special populations, please consider joining and contributing to this wiki by adding information to the charts on the various pages (see navigation pane on the left). You can also contribute without joining by adding entries on the discussion tabs for each page.

I think the last sentence is the best part - Join and add entries!  If you click on the discussion link on the top

You can see and contribute ideas on how to use the apps.  These reviews are geared toward students with disabilities in mind and they have quite a few reviews done.  I can see them adding a lot more in the coming months!

Patrick

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Trabasack

I was contacted this summer to review the Trabasack.  The Trabasack is a lap tray/backpack/shoulder bag, it's actually hard to explain.  So let's start with what it does.  The Trabasack Curve that I was asked to review comes with several straps which you can use to secure it around your waist (if sitting), use as a back pack, or use as a shoulder bag.  It comes with a built in pocket to store AAC devices, or laptops (which is what I've been using it for!).  The tray part on top is felt and works great to hold velcro pieces.

I've been using the Trabasack personally for several weeks now, and am quite impressed with it.  The pocket is large and fits my Macbook with no problems.  It is light enough to take around the school, and sturdy enough to put up with some abuse!  I think that the design is my favorite part.  It's a very ingenious design and lends itself to many uses.  I can see where it would work very well for a person in a wheelchair, allowing stability and freedom of movement.  It is a well made, well thought out product.

Trabasack was developed in the UK and has only been available in the US for a short while.  It is $75.95 from Wheelchair Accessories.

For more information please visit the Trabasack website - http://www.trabasack.co.uk/content/sensory-play-tray


- Patrick

**I was sent a review unit of this product**

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