More Great Apps for Children with Down Syndrome

Updated April 2018

We continue to be excited about how technology is truly leveling the playing field for persons of all ages with additional needs. The unique features of e-tablets and e-readers in particular(i.e. iPad, the Kindle, etc.) and the advantages they provide can now enrich the lives of many individuals of all ages who experience physical and mental challenges on a daily basis. This could not be more significant than for children and adults with Down Syndrome.

In March of 2013, we published an article here in our blog entitled BEST Apps for Children with Down Syndrome. Since that time, nearly 10,000 readers have visited our blog site to access that particular article and its resources still posted there. We’re excited about this level of interest and thought it was about time that we provided a 2014 update for parents, teachers and others who care for and teach children challenged with Down Syndrome. Hope you discover at least one resource here to help you or someone you know!

More Great Apps for Children with Down Syndrome

Apps for DS from Down Syndrome Daily (FREE & at various prices)
This is a list of apps & sources of apps mentioned in DSD updates available on Apple iPad, iPod, iTouch, iPhone and Android OS.
http://www.downsyndromedaily.com/p/apps.html

Collection of Down Syndrome Apps via Amazon.com (FREE & at various prices)
https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=down+syndrome+apps&tag=mh0b-20&index=mobile-apps&hvadid=77653061799193&hvqmt=b&hvbmt=bb&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_97snzougsi_b

App List for Young Children with Down Syndrome
BridgingApps has put together an app list for young children with Down Syndrome. Use these apps to not only make the smart device fun, but beneficial to the child’s development.
http://bridgingapps.org/2014/10/app-list-young-children-down-syndrome/

Desktop APP---Reading Focus Cards (Patent 8,360,779)
This DESKTOP app is the digital version of the physical Reading Focus Cards tools (Patent 7,565,759), solutions for struggling readers. This app provides very practical support (i.e., very large fonts and more, when needed) for children and adults with Down Syndrome, low vision, ADHD, dyslexia, stroke or brain injury issues, autism and other conditions that can affect reading success. This desktop application promotes more FOCUSED online reading of almost ALL digital media (webpages, PDF files, Word documents, Excel spreadsheets & more.) In addition, the app supports touch-screen technology (where applicable).
1. For Macs (desktops & notebooks):
Visit the Mac App Store and search for Reading Focus Cards or go directly to
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/read-and-focus/id920617853?mt=12
2. For Windows PCs (desktops & laptops):
Visit Gumroad at https://gumroad.com/l/ReadingFocusCards OR visit the Microsoft Windows Store and search for the app called Reading Focus Cards. (No URLs are ever provided for apps in the Windows Store.)

Special Words (Apple version updated for iOS 7 & Android version updated for Android 4.4)---from Special iApps
Teach your child to recognize early vocabulary written words, and encourage their speech development, on Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod touch and on Android tablets and phones. Supplied with 96 pictures and matching written and spoken words in 19 languages, based on the See and Learn Language and Reading resources from Down Syndrome Education International. Personalize with your own words, pictures and audio, and transfer these to and from the Special Stories app.
http://www.specialiapps.com/en_us/SpecialWords.html

Apps for Children with Special Needs (Down Syndrome)
These award-winning apps are used in homes and schools around the world. Tap the App Store icon to download now for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. Tap the Google Play icon to download for Android tablets and smartphones.
http://www.specialiapps.org/en-us/apps-for-special-needs.html

See and Learn apps (Various prices)
See and Learn apps offer engaging activities designed to promote early development for children with Down syndrome on a variety of computer and tablet devices. These apps present similar activities to those included in the publisher’s printed kits and download editions for each step in the See and Learn programs.
Special Note: Coming Soon! NEW See and Learn apps will be launched in early 2014 for a variety of computer and tablet devices.
http://www.seeandlearn.org/en-us/apps/

For information on customizable reading tools for ADHD & other reading challenges:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Image courtesy of: Phandroid.com: http://phandroid.com/2011/08/12/over-past-year-android-tablets-have-grabbed-20-of-ipads-global-market/ and
Brennan Innovators, LLC at www.focusandread.com