Routes To Reading and Writing
Routes To Reading and Writing
Routes To Reading and Writing
Routes
to reading
and writing
Dr Mitzi Waltz on resources that parents and
teachers have found helpful for teaching the
core skills of being able to read and write
For children who are non-verbal
or minimally verbal, a tablet
computer can be a great tool in
helping them to read.
One of the best arguments for
investing in one of these
sophisticated touch-screen
devices is that full-featured
Augmentative and Alternative
Communication (AAC) programs
are now available for them.
12 Au t i s m | e y e I s s u e 1 9 2 0 1 5
Programs such as
Proloquo2Go are more than
simple communication tools
(although that is a crucial use for
them): their visual displays put
the written word alongside its
visual representation and its
sound. As with picture books,
thats the best way to help
someone understand the basic
concept of reading.
It helps to work
alongside the
child and get them to
point out how the
words they see on
the screen are made
up of discrete
phonemes (distinct
units of sound)
www.autismeye.com
Three different
styles: screen
shots from Mr
Thorne Does
Phonics (top),
Phonics Silly
Sentences
(above right)
and Noisy
Neighbours by
Ruth Green
(above)
PocketPhonics by Apps
in My Pocket
This app helps
children learn the
sounds for each
letter, plus some
letter
combinations,
rewarded with graphics and
sounds (make sure this is actually
a reward for your child).
Kidspiration by
Inspiration Software
This visualbased software
for Key Stage
1-3 learners
helps children to
improve their
Squeebles by Tiny
Spark Ideas
This series of
apps includes
very snappy
Spelling Test
and Phonics
options, which
have downloadable primarylevel Key Stage content. You
can also add your own content
(for example, the spelling words
that came home with your child
this week)
Mr Thorne Does
Phonics by Mr Thorne
Made by a
British teacher,
this flash-cardstyle, videobased app
explains key
phonics concepts. There are
themed variations (such as
safari, and myths and legends).
Au t i s m | e y e I s s u e 1 9 2 0 1 5 13
Resources
Writing Challenge by
Literautus
Sensory rooms
Ball pools
Sensory trolleys
Tactile murals
Children get
creative prompts
for building
characters and
stories, and for
using new words
in their writing, with this fun app.
Noisy Neighbours by
Ruth Green, Tate
Gallery Read & Play
Sensory studios
Children using
this app are
encouraged to
write by making
up characters
and putting them
into their own stories.
Bubble tubes
Interactive floors
Mike Ayres De
sign
Sensory Res
ources Catalo
gue
Providing for
people
additional needs. s special and
A complete service
for soft play,
sensor y equipm
ent and environ
ments.
Stay safe
Some learners on the autism
spectrum struggle with computers,
especially when they are
confronted with rapidly scrolling
text or flashing icons.
If your child isnt enjoying the
experience from the start, have a
look at the possibility of changing
settings to calm down the screen,
limit or slow the way information is
presented, or change the text and
background colours. If nothing
works, respect the fact that this
Resources
lA
pple special education apps selection:
https://www.apple.com/uk/education/
special-education/ios/
lG
oogle Play (Android) special education
apps selection: https://play.google.com/
store/search?q=special%20
education&c=apps&hl=en
lK
indle app: https://www.amazon.com/gp/
digital/fiona/kcp-landingpage?ie=UTF8&ref_=kcp_pc_mkt_lnd
lP
rAACtical AAC: Supports for Language
Learning: http://praacticalaac.org. There
are some excellent concepts and
resources on show via this speechtherapist-run site, which focuses on how
www.autismeye.com
The advantage
of educational
games is that they
provide instant
rewards that can
motivate children to
keep going
device or programme isnt the
right one for them.
Also, be sure to check out ways
of protecting any electronic
devices you use. Heavy-duty
cases (see Resources) can make
pricey tablets almost drop-proof.
Keep an eye on any app that
allows children to purchase extra
content. I recommend disabling
such features except when you
want to use them yourself.
If you check Google Play or
Apples App Store (see
Resources) you will discover a
wealth of tablet and smartphone
apps besides the ones highlighted
here. Many of them can also be
purchased from Amazon.
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