App Review: 123 color HD - ON SALE NOW (50% OFF)

Mom, advocate, activist, and all around good gal Jennifer Wieczorek Polak recently posted the following information on the app "123 color hd"

Walter has 123 color HD and it says the colors as you touch them. It also has a color by number feature and a bunch of different languages. He has taught himself the colors in a bunch of different languages this week. I don't know what other apps you are using to colr, but I think this one is really good. walter, of course, loves it because it includes maps.

ON SALE NOW!!!
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/123-color-hd-talking-coloring/id364892854?mt=8

Gazelle to start selling second-hand iPads

Electronics reseller Gazelle has made a name for itself by buying up used electronics in good condition and then reselling them through stores like Walmart. But Forbes reports Gazelle has been collecting so many first generation iPads recently that the company plans to start selling them directly to consumers.

Reference:

http://liliputing.com/2011/04/gazelle-to-start-selling-second-hand-ipads.html

Free This Week April 13-16

Everyday Mathematics has made all its mathematics apps free for the week of April 13-16. I think they usually go for $1.99 in the App Store.

Everyday Mathematics Addition Top It
Everyday Mathematics Baseball Multiplication 1–6 Facts
Everyday Mathematics Beat the Computer Multiplication
Everyday Mathematics Divisibility Dash
Everyday Mathematics Equivalent Fractions
Everyday Mathematics Monster Squeeze
Everyday Mathematics Name That Number
Everyday Mathematics Subtraction Top-It
Everyday Mathematics Tric-Trac

Just in time for Easter!

i Get... Easter Egg Hunts

Our thanks to reader Jillian Martz for letting us know about this great app.

Can be found on iTunes at
http://itunes.apple.com/app/id429692136

Description

i Get… Easter Egg Hunts is an application providing a photo story for individuals that need support in understanding the process of an Easter egg hunt. Twelve icons with real picture images are used to illustrate the sequence of events. Each page can be individualized for the user by adding personal photos taking pictures with an Apple camera ready device, add text and audio. Typically developing young children participating in a hunt for the first time and individuals with developmental delays, such as PDD-NOS and autism will benefit from this interactive application.
Parents, teachers, SLP’s and other support professionals will appreciate the user friendly design.

Features
-Eleven pre-made icons and one user made icon provide a sequential order of events for this annual occasion.
-Real-life photos from an Easter egg hunt provide detailed illustrations.
-Audio may be added by the user for each step.
-Storyline can be personalized for the individual user
-Changes to the information are easily made in the settings section.
-Display order of the icons can be selected by the user.
-All icons may be replaced with personalized photos.
-Completion of each task can be indicated by the use of a checkmark feature.

PLEASE NOTE: CAMERA FEATURE WILL ONLY WORK WITH APPLE DEVICES THAT ARE CAMERA READY

Coming soon!!!

• Guidance in choosing an assistive technology device
• New spreadsheet for applications available using android based technologies
• Our free iPad app giveaway for the iPad - sign up as a follower or in our facebook group and you could win a free app!
• How to get those photos uploaded to your iPad
• Considerations in financing a touch tablet device
• iPad presentations - for those interested interested in having us present
• Stories of how these technologies have made a difference
  

Temporary Free and Reduced Price Apps in Recognition of Autism Awareness Month

There are a few apps that are temporarily free for Autism Awareness Month:

GraceApp a Picture Exchange app normally $37.99 Click Here


See.Touch.Learn Vocabulary Development Normally $2.99 Click Here
with 50% off in app purchases


The following are reduced price apps:

Autism Colors DTT Discrete Trial Training (DTT) to help learn the basic colors. Normally $19.99 on sale for $9.99 Click Here

Autism Letters DTT Discrete Trial Training (DTT) to help learn the basic colors. Normally $19.99 on sale for $9.99 Click Here

Expressive Picture exchange app normally $35 NOW $17.99 Click Here

First Then Schedule Normally $9.99 $4.99 Click Here

iCommunicate thru Sun 4/3 Flashcards, storyboards, routines, and visual schedules. Record custom audio Normally $49.99 on sale for $29.99 Click Here

Scene Speak Images can be edited with active “sound areas” Normally $14.99 on sale for $7.99 Click Here

Zanny Born to Run Interactive, rhythmic story. Comes with game that targets facial expression identification. Normally $2.99 on sale for $0.99 `

A Few Pitfalls to Avoid

Inappropriate apps
Check apps for appropriateness e.g. avoid apps with violence - review an app before allowing a child to use it

Multiple iTunes accounts /Multiple base computers
Recommend creating one iTunes account for the family and apps can be shared across all devices on that account. Syncing to multiple base computers is generally not a good idea. Just trust me on this one.

Insomnia apps
A few apps out there we have found linger and don't allow the iPad to go into it's normal sleep mode. Check that things do close down properly.

Jealousy
Siblings or peers could be jealous that your ASD child has one and they don't. Come up with social rules make sure sharing and turn taking are defined and explained. You may want to come up with some particular rules for classroom do's and don'ts. Make sure and give consequences for rule violations!

Stimming
Usually stimming occurs on a child's desire for one particular app. Take the app off. Expect a possible new behavior to take the stims place - a tantrum. Stay strong! Keep it off! You can always reload it later when the child is not expressing an problem behavior and limit the amount of time your child is exposed.

Antisocial behavior
It's best to not allow a child to retreat into their room with the iPad. We recommend for those users who are in autonomous mode to operate the iPad in the family environment as much as possible (e.g. kitchen or family room). Come up with what you believe is an appropriate amount of time the child can use the iPad and let the children know. ("OK - when the timer goes off - it is time to put the iPad away.")

It is best to be a part of at least some of the use of the iPad with your child - get yourself involved by either narrating what your child is doing when using or download a multiplayer app and play with them!