Apps and Extras for iPad Accessibility
Dec
22
Written by:
12/22/2011 4:09 AM
The iPad is
loaded with accessibility features from font size, assistive touch,
speak auto text, voice over, speak selection, and zoom. These features
are especially important for people who are visually impaired,
physically disabled and need more than one tool to access their iPad
independently.
Following
is a list of apps and accessories that will enhance the iPad
experience, including styli, iPad covers and other features that make
the iPad the best tool for both students and adults.
Accessories
Toughest iPad- Biggrips-
available for the iPad 1 and 2. The Big Grips Frame helps keep the iPad
from slipping out. It is made out of foam, which protects against
accidental drops. Best of all, the Big Grips is non-toxic, lead and
latex free, PVC free, resistant to oils and chemicals, durable and
lightweight. It also has a stand that can be purchased separately. The
case is $39.95. Purchasing the case and stand together is $49.95.
Bupcap- Does
your child keep hitting the home button when working on an app? Bupcap
will prevent this with 3 different types of caps from regular to maximum
protection. These covers fit over the home button. The company
recommends: starting with the Explorer 6-Pack, which includes two BubCap
(regular), two BubCap Ultra, and two BubCap Max home button covers. The
cost ranges from $5.00 to $6.99.
Keyguard- Bumpers to prevent the student from accidental activation of a key. This is especially great for apps such as Proloquo2go. The guard is $19.95.
Mouthstick Stylus $40.00
Stylus a solution for quadriplegics, people with ALS, MS or other
disabilities where they cannot use their hands. It has a default stick
size, which can be altered when ordering. It has two working solutions: A
fully conductive mouthstick with a Stylus Sock on the tip or a separate
Stylus Sock that you can wrap around your own mouthstick plus a slice
of the same conductive fabric that connects the sock to the iPad body.
iPad Steady Stylus
$40.00 This T-shaped stylus has a wooden handle with a grip made from
transparent rubber wrapped around a wooden stick. The pointer is made
from aluminum with a conductive fabric sock plug as the tip. Especially
good for people with limited strength in their hands.
Stylus R Us has a wide variety of telescoping styli ranging in price. The average price is around $40.00.
Apps with Accessibility Features
SoundAMP-R
$4.99 Using ear buds, hear what you would like to hear. Provides users
with clear sound and maximum volume possible. Records lectures,
presentations, and interviews. Bookmark the recording to remember
important points. Export recordings to your computer.
Voice Brief $2.99 Personal assistant app; allows users to customize for news, the weather, calendar and more.
Big Contacts-large font
$.99 BIG Contacts is for anyone who has trouble reading the default
text in the iPhone's contacts app. The bold and condensed Helvetica font
is one of the easiest fonts to read.
Web-Reader text to speech
$1.99 Uses text-to-speech technology along with web page content
recognition to read web pages to users. Configure web pages to be read
as soon as they are loaded, read pages manually after they are loaded,
or use cut, copy, and paste to read only sections of text.
Intellipad $19.99-
Expensive, but worth it! Offers notepad functionality plus word
prediction, text-to-speech and a customizable keyboard. Keyboard Editor
allows users to merge cells to form larger keys. Enter letters, words or
sentences. Select fonts and letter sizes. Choose from an array of
colors and color templates that can be applied to the whole keyboard or
to select keys. Users can create audio recordings that are played when
the key is pressed. |
Apps for Learning
Sign Language Fun Learning
$4.99 Lively and engaging video app includes proper American Sign
Language for letters, numbers, animals, family members, transportation
modes, nature scenes and salutations.
Switch Accessible iPad Apps (including which switch will work with each app)
Courtesy of Dan Herlihy
Sounding Board $49.99 A communication program from Ablenet for you to create custom boards using their symbols or your own photos. (switch access using Ablenet Blue2 Bluetooth switch)
Predictable $159.99 – A text-to-speech application that offers customizable communication functions with social media integration. (switch access using R.J. Cooper's Blue Tooth Switch Interface)
Rad Sounds $29.99 - From R.J. Cooper a cause/effect music program. You can customize the playlist by recording or singing to the iPad, import you iPad's music library or use R.J.'s own songs. (switch access using R.J. Cooper's Blue Tooth Switch Interface)
TapSpeak Choice $149.99 - A communication app with text-to-speech ujsing the Mayer-Johnson PCS symbol library. (switch access using R.J. Cooper's Blue Tooth Switch Interface or Ablenet Blue2 Bluetooth switch)
TapSpeak Button $29.99 or $49.99 - A basic communication app with cause and effect training and motor skill training. The lower priced app offers the PCS symbols as an in-app purchase with the more expensive version having the symbols preloaded. (switch access using R.J. Cooper's Blue Tooth Switch Interface)
Tap Speak Sequence $29.99 or $49.99 -Offers sequential recording and playback of songs, stories and other messages. You can recordin your own, use their starter set, and purchase more sets through iTunes. (switch access using R.J. Cooper's Blue Tooth Switch Interface or Ablenet Blue2 Bluetooth switch)
Scene & Heard $49.99 or free Lite version– Visual scene display augmentative communication app.(R.J. Cooper's Blue Tooth Switch Interface)
TapToTalk free with additional albums available for purchase - Communication app. (switch access using R.J. Cooper's Blue Tooth Switch Interface)
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