iPad Apps for Students with Learning Disabilities

This workshop is intended for teachers and TAs who work with students with learning disabilities. We will explore the adaptive features of the iPad and how they can help all learners, especially those with special learning needs. We will also learn some new apps that can help with note-taking, memorization and more.

Getting Started

  1. Use the QR Code on the right to bring you to this workshop webpage.
  2. Go to the Padlet wall for the workshop icebreaker. Add a note. Title it with your name and where it says "Write something." Type what you are hoping that the iPad can do for your students.

Accessibility Features (Built into the iPad)

The iPad has many accessibility features built right into the operating system. Let's explore a few.
Settings...General...Accessibility...Zoom
  1. Zoom
  2. Show Controller

Settings...General...Accessibility...Button Shapes

Settings...General...Accessibility...AssistiveTouch

Settings...General...Accessibility...Home Button

​Settings...General...Accessibility...Guided Access

Settings...General...Accessibility...Speech
  1. Speak Selection
  2. Speak Screen
  3. Highlight Content
  4. Typing feedback

Dictation

Split Screen (works with many but not all apps.)

​Word Prediction

iBooks

If you have a document in an ePub form, iBooks enables students to interact with text.
  1. Download an ePub (Featured...Free Books...See All next to the category you would like to view)
  2. Highlight and use Speak Text
  3. Look Up a word
  4. Use speak screen to read the dictionary text.
  5. Highlight text.
  6. Write a note.
  7. Look at notes

iPad Notes App

The new Notes App might be helpful for students who want to write notes on their iPad
  1. Create a new note.
  2. Type a title at the top of the note. (This is what will appear as the name of the note in your list of notes.
  3. Use the writing tools to write notes with your finger.
  4. Create a checklist. (and check off the items.)
  5. Discuss sharing features. (Unfortunately, you cannot save a note to eBackpack.)

Rewordify - The Basics

Rewordify.com is an amazing website that will simplify difficult English as well as help improve vocabulary.
  1. Go to rewordify.com.
  2. Open a new tab and find a passage online that would be difficult for a student to read. (Try Photosynthesis from Fact Monster). Copy the difficult text. Paste that text into the yellow field in Rewordify.
  3. Yellow text will show the original word, and allow you to hear it pronounced.
  4. Tap the purple bar to learn the difficult words.
  5. Change the display settings.
  6. If you create a login you can share your documents with a url.
  7. Play with the Demo if you would like to learn more.

Cram.com

Cram.com is a resource that you and/or students can use to create flash cards to study and learn facts or memorize information.
  1. Play with a deck.
  2. ​Go to Cram.com and sign up for an account.
  3. Create a set of flash cards.
  4. Flashcards mode - Allows you to look through your flashcards to study them.
  5. Memorize mode - Allows you to look through your cards and record if you knew what was on the flip side or not.
  6. Test mode - Allows you to take a Matching, Written, Multiple Choice or T/F test. (Gives you a percentage and tells you which answers were correct and incorrect)
  7. Games - Turn the cards into 2 different games. Fun!! (Stellar Speller is only for spelling/vocabulary words.)

You do not need an account to "use" the flashcards (any of the modes listed above). Simply provide the url to anyone with a web browser and they can study using your flashcard set.

Workshop Evaluation (BOCES)

Please complete the workshop evaluation.