Autism is a developmental disorder that affects children and adults. Some common symptoms of autism include poor social skills, repetitive behaviors, and trouble communicating with other people.
The best apps for autism help people with autism learn how to communicate with others and manage their lives. These apps can also help loved ones communicate with people who have autism.
Apps are a great way to integrate technology into the life of someone on the autism spectrum. They can help them learn how to communicate with other people, improve their social skills, and manage their daily schedule.
In this article, we’ll look at some of the best iPad apps for autism that are available today.
best apps for autistic communication child
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TOP PICKS | 18 TOOLS
Best Apps for Kids with Autism
The autism spectrum is just that: a widely varied and broad range of abilities, challenges, characteristics. For some kids, social skills and communication are particularly difficult. Coping with change and the unexpected can also require support. Educators often cite the need for accessible apps that provide visual cues to aid in communication, support transitions to reduce anxiety, and create a consistent structure in students’ daily schedules. The apps and websites on our list can help kids learn to better identify and regulate emotions, communicate and express themselves, manage time and routines, and practice successful social exchanges.
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Emotional Regulation
Daniel Tiger’s Grr-ific Feelings
Songs and activities help kids express, recognize, understand emotions
Bottom line: Daniel Tiger and his friends present excellent examples for kids who are just learning healthy emotional expression.
Grades: Pre-K–K Price: $2.99
Touch and Learn – Emotions
Free app helps kids identify emotions, recognize body language
Bottom line: Bridges the gap between feeling or witnessing emotions and using words to describe them.
Grades: K–2 Price: $1.99
Prism
Experiential game teaches empathy toward those with autism
Bottom line: Lessons on inclusion and community in the classroom require post-game facilitated discussion for deep learning.
Grades: 2–6 Price: Free
The Mood Meter
Well-designed tool encourages kids to reflect on and manage emotions
Bottom line: Appealing, thought-provoking tool builds emotional intelligence.
Grades: 6–12 Price: Paid
Smiling Mind
Quick and easy meditation practice for busy classroom lives
Bottom line: This easy-to-follow meditation program can help reduce stress and support social and emotional learning.
Grades: 8–12 Price: Free
Language and Communication
Skill Champ
Foundational-skills-practice tool supports specific learning needs
Bottom line: Well-designed tool for targeted foundational skills practice.
Grades: Pre-K–3 Price: Free
QuestionIt
Wh- questions taught in concrete ways for kids with language delays
Bottom line: A solid, if basic, approach to teaching question words and concepts to students with significant language issues.
Grades: K–7 Price: Free to try, Paid
Proloquo2Go
Brilliant tool helps kids with speech difficulties communicate
Bottom line: The price is hefty, but Proloquo2Go carries its weight by providing students and teachers an effective, one-of-a-kind communication tool.
Grades: K–12 Price: $249.99
Vizzle
Visual lessons reinforce concepts for students with special needs
Bottom line: Thoughtful but dated tool helps with differentiation and progress-tracking for students with autism.
Grades: K–12 Price: Free to try, Paid
Pictello
Fabulous tool can help kids create social stories
Bottom line: Pictello is a great way for kids to create social stories that can help them find their unique voice and prepare for internal and external struggles.
Grades: 1–5 Price: $19.99
Routines and Schedules
First Then Visual Schedule HD
Useful multisensory tool teaches self-direction and follow-through
Bottom line: This simple but powerful tool engages kids in independently following a schedule.
Grades: Pre-K–12 Price: Paid
Time Timer
Manage and conceptualize time with great visuals, a few bugs
Bottom line: A decent option for visual timer needs, being sufficiently customizable, but there are still a few bugs and room for improvement.
Grades: 1–12 Price: Paid
Choiceworks Calendar
Empowering calendar tool alleviates transition anxiety
Bottom line: Great structure, lots of visual choices, and ease of use make this tool a worthwhile investment.
Grades: 3–9 Price: $4.99
Social Skills
Social Story Creator Educators
Create multimedia stories that help with social skills
Bottom line: Solid and very simple app for kids with social challenges.
Grades: Pre-K–12 Price: Free to try, Paid
Social Adventures
Expert-approved activities nurture students’ social skills
Bottom line: A treasure chest of social-skills-building activities created by speech and language pros that are worth the high price and need for facilitation.
Grades: K–3 Price: $7.99
ConversationBuilder
Themed scripts help kids practice successful social exchanges
Bottom line: For speech-language pathologists, this is a must-have tool for helping kids learn conversation skills.
Grades: K–6 Price: $19.99
The Social Express II
Fabulous multimedia lessons boost social-awareness skills
Bottom line: Compelling webisodes help students learn to cope with real-life situations.
Grades: 2–8 Price: Free to try, Paid
Stories in Motion
Comic-style course on social nuances aims to help kids with ASD
Bottom line: Sufficient tool to supplement social and emotional learning for students with autism.
Grades: 3–8 Price: Free to try, Paid
Related Resources
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3 Essential Skills Students with Autism Can Learn from Tech
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3 Great Apps That Use Visual Cues to Support Students with Autism
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Dealing with Digital Distraction in the Classroom
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