Best Pre-Writing Apps – Go-To-For-OT Blog

Best Pre-Writing Apps – Go-To-For-OT Blog

From my blog post on Go To For OT blog.

https://gotoforot.com/2016/03/17/best-pre-writing-apps/

Thanks for the add “OTs with Apps and Technology”

Survey Says! Assistive Technology Writing Supports for Handwriting and Writing — AT and OT: Assistive Technology for OTs | OT’s with Apps & Technology

https://otswithapps.com/2018/01/15/survey-says-assistive-technology-writing-supports-for-handwriting-and-writing-at-and-ot-assistive-technology-for-ots/#comment-48516

Excellent tips from The always fantastic resource Edutopia regarding dysgraphia. Creating a Dysgraphia-Friendly Classroom | Edutopia

https://www.edutopia.org/article/creating-dysgraphia-friendly-classroom?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiWkRZNFlqUmtaall3TkRjMCIsInQiOiJnMVwvR01QS29kbklYMmJvYVY2YWFQKzhlOEpZUkZqRDlja0psQXR4TjJIa2F2OG05enRHQXFJTDd4RjI3NlEwU1BvZG9zV211d0ZlVXFzRHFVOEtZczRPV1puTTNqeXVGTHl0cVhJd3JtV2dGdEVQMmVtT0FSeWdjMVNKR3pxdmEifQ%3D%3D

From Miss JAIME: Great information and keyboarding standards per grade level included. “Keyboarding Skills – Ages and Stages of Learning to Type”

Link

Symbaloo: OT Listing of Handwriting Development Apps

Handwriting Development Apps for IOS and Android by an OT: http://www.symbaloo.com/mix/handwritingappsbyanot

December 2016: Calling all OT, AT, special educators and other professionals working with children and adults with writing limitations:

Could you please take and share a quick 10 question (multiple choice) survey for an upcoming presentation I’m performing regarding the use of handwriting/writing assistive technology supports? It’d be greatly appreciated.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HDFMPG3
Molly Shannon, MS, OTR/L, ATP

Superstar Sources for School OTs

by Molly Shannon, MS, OTR/L, ATP, on the ATandOT Blog As an OT with over 30 years’ experience in working in public schools and in assistive technology, I feel a key contribution we provide to our s…

Source: Superstar Sources for School OTs

Handwriting Development Apps

Handwriting Development Apps by Molly Shannon, MS, OTR/L, ATP, on the ATandOT Blog   This blog post highlights handwriting development apps and it continues as the second in my series of three pos…

Source: Handwriting Development Apps

Apps for School-based OT

This handout is from my AOTA 2016 short course presentation regarding use of apps in school-based settings.

by Molly Shannon, MS, OTR/L, ATP   mshanot2000@yahoo.com       www.atandot.com                     Apps and Technology

A. Apps to support the acquisition of pre-writing skills in the developmentally young.

Visual Motor Skills:

1. Gaar Pre-Writing,free IOS and Android
2. Ready to Print,$9.99 IOS and Android
3. Dexteria Junior for Preschoolers,$2.99 IOS
4. First Lines,$1.99 IOS and Android
5. Writing Wizard,$4.99 IOS and Android
6. Injini Childhood Development Suite, $29.99 iPad

Visual Perceptual Skills:

1. Amazing Shape Puzzles, free IOS
2. Kid’s Learning Puzzles Farm Animals,Tangrams, free IOS
3. My First App Vol. 1 Vehicles,$2.99 IOS
4. Match it Up (1-3), free IOS
5. Build it Up, free or $2.99 IOS
6. Bugs and Buttons and Bugs and Buttons 2, $2.99 IOS and Android
7. Dot to Dot or Find the Difference apps (by Michael Contento), free IOS
8. Color Dots,$2.99 IOS

Bilateral Motor Skills:

1. My First App Vol. 1 Vehicles,$2.99 IOS: labyrinth task
2. Driving Apps, such as Dr. Panda’s Bus Driver, $2.99 IOS (or Space, Mailman, Airport)
3. Letter Reflex (visual spatial and bilateral with labyrinth task), $3.99 IOS

Fine Motor Skills:

2. Dexteria Junior, $2.99 IOS Dexteria, $3.99 IOS
3. Bugs and Buttons and Bugs and Buttons 2, $2.99 IOS and Android
4. Ready to Print, $9.99 IOS
5. Lazoo Squiggles, $2.99 IOS
6. Paint my Wings, free IOS
7. Luv Drawing and KidsDrawing: no longer showing avail in App store, check later
8. Drawing Programs that record voices and the drawing strokes to make a video: Kids Doodle, free IOS, and Sago Mini Doodlecast, $2.99 IOS

B. Apps and technology to support the acquisition of handwriting skills.

1. Write my Name, $3.99 iPad
2. Ready to Print, $9.99 IOS and Android
3. Writing Wizard, $4.99 and Cursive Writing Wizard, $4.99, both IOS
4. Touch and Write, $2.99 and Cursive Touch and Write, $2.99, both IOS
5. Handwriting without Tears-Wet Dry Try Suite, $6.99 iPad, and $4.99 Android
6. Letter School, $4.99 IOS
7. Little Writer, free (shapes, letters, numbers, words), IOS
8. Ollie’s Handwriting and Phonics, free, iPad

C. Apps and technology to support the acquisition of writing skills.

1. Best Keyboarding Software Programs 2016: http://typing-software-review.toptenreviews.com/
2. Portable Word Processors: Neo (on eBay only), Fusion or Forte (writerlearning.com ), Laser PC 6 (www.perfectsolutions.com ) 
3. Adapted Keyboards/Mice/Software: various vendors, such as Don Johnston, Inc., Cadan Assistive Technologies, Infogrip, Ablenet, etc.
4. Apps:
   1. Keyboarding: Keyboarding without Tears, $10 per student/year for IOS, Android, and Windows phone
   2. Early writing with onscreen keyboards/writing: Word Wizard; $2.99 iPhone and iPad; Abilipad, $19.99 iPad; Clicker Sentences, $30.99, iPad
   3. Word prediction/writing and reading supports: Co:Writer app, $19.99 IOS and Universal (requires school license); Read and Write app from TextHelp, all platforms, free first month (requires school license)
   4. Third Party Keyboard apps: not big fan of these, example: Kid’s Keyboard, .99, IOS
   5. Third Party Adapted Keyboard: Keeble Accessible Keyboard, $7.99, iPad (Keeble is an iOS keyboard that allows users with fine motor challenges, switch users and users with vision impairments to type in any app. The keyboard offers word prediction, timing options, Select on Release, Select on Dwell, auditory feedback, and other accessibility features)
   6. Text to Speech/Word Correction: Ginger Keyboard and Page, free IOS-Android-Windows Phone; iSpeech, free IOS; Speak It!, $1.99, IOS; Google Text to Speech, free Android; Ghotit Real Writer, $99.99 IOS
   7. Writing Prompts: Story Dice, $1.99 IOS or Android; Write About This, $3.99 IOS
   8. Annotation/PDF for worksheets, math, notes, etc.: SnapType, free and Pro, $3.99, IOS; Type on PDF, free, IOS; Notability, $2.99, IOS; ModMath, free iPad; Panther Math Lite, $9.99 iPad; Panther Math Paper, $14.99, iPad
   9. Speech/Voice Recognition: Dragon Dictate, free IOS; Active Voice, $9.99, IOS; is available within Read and Write app and within Windows 7.0 and up 

D. Resources/References:

AOTA: 

1. AOTA Fact Sheet, 2015. The Role of Occupational Therapy in Providing Assistive Technology Devices and Services. Retrieved on March 19, 2016, from: http://www.aota.org/-/media/Corporate/Files/AboutOT/Professionals/WhatIsOT/RDP/Facts/AT-fact-sheet.pdf
2. Specialized Knowledge and Skills in Technology and Environmental Interventions for Occupational Therapy Practice. Am J Occup Ther 2010;64 (6_Supplement):S44-S56.doi: 10.5014/ajot.2010.64S44. Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process. Am J Occup Ther 2002;56(6):609-639. doi: 10.5014/ajot.56.6.609.

OT and AT Blogs, Pinterest:

1. AT and OT blog (atandot.com ), Go-to-For-OT Blog (www.gotoforot.com ), and Handwriting with Katherine blog (http://www.handwritingwithkatherine.com )
2. Handwriting Apps (Feature Match List) – Comparison of popular iOS/Android manuscript handwriting apps. Carol Leynse Harpold, MS Ed, OTR/L, ATP otswithapps.com
3. Sugar Aunts, Mama OT, Lauren Enders, SLP

References: 

Arthanat, S., Curtin, C., & Kontak, D. (2015). An evaluation protocol for selection of educational technologies for students with developmental disabilities: a demonstration study using iPad apps. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention, 8, 236-255. doi.10.1080/19411243.2015.1077771

Arthanat, S., Simmons, C.D., & Favreau, M. (2012). Exploring occupational justice in consumer perspectives on assistive technology. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 79, 309-319.doi: 10.2182/cjot.2012.79.5.7

Bouvat, B., Kangas, A., & Szczech Moser, C. (2014).  iPad apps in early intervention and school-based practice. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention, 7, 1-15. doi.10.1080/19411243.2014.903762

Borgestig, M., Falkmer T, & Hemmingsson, H. (2013). Improving computer usage for students with physical disabilities through a collaborative approach: a pilot study. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy. 20(6):463-70.  doi.10.3109/11038128.2013.837506

Brandt, A., & Alwin, J. (2012). Assistive technology outcomes research: contributions to evidence-based assistive technology practice. Technology and Disability, 24, 5-7. http://content.iospress.com/download/technology-and-disability/tad00338?id=technology-and-disability%2Ftad00338

Breivik, I. & Hemmingsson, H. (2013). Experiences of handwriting and using a computerized ATD in school: adolescents with Asperger’s syndrome. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy. 20(5):349-56.  doi: 10.3109/11038128.2012.748822.

Batorowicz, B., Missiuna, C.A., & Pollock, N.A. (2012). Technology supporting written productivity in children with learning disabilities: A critical review. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy [serial online]. 79(4):211-224. http://dx.doi.org/10.2182/cjot.2012.79.4.3

Freeman, A. R., MacKinnon, J.R., & Miller, L.T. (2004). Assistive technology and handwriting problems what do Occupational Therapist’s recommend? Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 71 (3), 150-160. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15366631

Handley-More, D., Deitz, J., Billingsley. F., & Coggins, T. (2003). Facilitating written work using computer word processing and word prediction. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 65,139-146. http://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.57.2.139

Kinney, A., & Gitlow, L. (2015, June). A consumer-centered approach to evaluating assistive technology  usability  outcomes. Technology Special Interest Section Quarterly, 25(2), 1–4. http://www.aota.org/-/media/Corporate/Files/Secure/Publications/SIS-Quarterly-Newsletters/T/TSIS-June-2015.pdf

Lidström, H. & Hemmingsson, H. (2014) Benefits of the use of ICT in school activities by students with motor, speech, visual, and hearing impairment: A literature review. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy 21:4, pages 251-266. DOI: 10.3109/11038128.2014.880940

Murchland, S. & Parkyn, H. (2011) Promoting participation in schoolwork: assistive technology use by children with physical disabilities. Assistive Technology, 23:2, 93-105.DOI: 10.1080/10400435.2011.567369

Watson, A.H., Ito, M., Smith, R.O., & Anderson, L.T. (2010). Effect of assistive technology in a public school setting. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 64, 18-29. http://dx.doi.org/10.5014/ajot.64.1.18

Best Pre-Writing Apps

Best Pre-Writing Apps by Molly Shannon, OTR/L, ATP, on the ATandOT Blog  

When apps first emerged for handwriting, there were a wide variety for practicing letter and number formation. Yet, as…

Read More: Best Pre-Writing Apps