About This Event

The following is an extensive and meticulously organized list of apps that may be helpful to individuals with dyslexia, parents of dyslexics, or the professionals who work with dyslexics (teachers, tutors, reading specialists, etc.). We carefully consider each app before we add it, ensuring that it claims to help dyslexics in ways that are in line with the evidence on how to help dyslexics. In other words, we add apps that aid with the cognitive processes used in speaking, reading, spelling, and writing, but we do not add apps that are visual aids for reading, because evidence shows that dyslexia is not a visual disability.

Times Tables 1x1 - Easy Maths

In this free app, Leo the Lion teaches the basics of multiplication before putting them to the test. Compared to other multiplication apps, this puts a much greater emphasis on teaching the topic rather than just testing and practice. Once children have mastered the lessons, they are put to test in the form of a race between Leo the Lion and an animal competitor. Teachers and parents can also engage with this app in the say-it-aloud activity, where there is a pause for a response after a math question. In-app purchases are available to unlock more difficult times tables. This app is available for both Apple and Android.

Epic! - Free

Epic! is the leading digital library for kids, with access to over 25,000 resources, including ebooks, audiobooks, learning videos, and quizzes. Designed for ages 12 and under, Epic! provides a fun way to engage in reading. Free for both iPhone and iPad, children can explore and learn in a whole new way.

Storyboard That

Storyboard That is an online tool that allows users to create engaging and creative storyboards, for both educational and entertainment purposes. Creating storyboards is great for school projects, and teachers can use this resource for reinforcing ideas to ESL and students with disabilities. The website provides a variety of customizable templates for teachers that are ready to export or present in minutes. Storyboard That also provides an extensive image library and special tools that make the website easy to use, while also being compatible with iPad and Android.

Teen and Adults Phonics Library

Teen and Adults Phonics, also known as TAP, has introduced an app that is a library of novels written for teenagers and adults with dyslexia and other learning disabilities. Their stories are fully decodable, meaning that they include a cumulative phonic progression meant to build readers’ confidence and capabilities. Additionally, there is a decodability tool and 7 different levels of reading. The app is free to download exclusively for iPad, and full access to each book is available for $2.99 USD. You can read more about TAP here.

ABC Reading Magic Series

ABC Reading Magic is a 5 part series of apps that build off each other to improve reading skills. The three core skills that these apps focus on are blending, segmenting, and reading. These apps also expand your child’s vocabulary so that he/she can recognize and pronounce words that are not normally found in the everyday vocabulary of young learners.

Included are progressive skill-building games in skill levels that most other reading programs overlook: blending, segmenting and reading. This time-tested and proven process utilizes phonics principles that help improve your children's phonological processing ability, giving he/she strong foundations in reading.

Each app includes built-in lesson plans as well as male/female voice, font style, and letter color options.

Leo - Recorder & Transcription

Compatibility: Requires iOS 10.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

The Leo app specializes in recording and transcription, all in real time for the user’s benefit. This app is especially designed for individuals with dyslexia and other learning disabilities, giving them the tools they need to succeed. The app transcribes voice to text, helping to get thoughts to written words faster and easier. Once recorded, all transcripts are saved and backed up so that you can go back through them later on. To reduce confusion, there is a calendar organization system built in, as well as the ability to edit and customize your recordings. Overall, the simplicity and easy to use aspects are some of the most appealing for this app, along with its ability to perform real-time transcription for a long period of time.

Find the Synonym

Compatibility: Requires iOS 5.1 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

The user is given one whole word and seven letters, which, when rearranged, spell out the synonym or antonym of the word. The user has to rearrange the letters correctly before time runs out. Clue letters can help, but using them reduces the score.

Reading Machine - Free

Compatibility: Requires iOS 7.1 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

Recently featured by Apple, the app Reading Machine takes reading for beginners to a new level. With the overall goal of reducing frustration amongst readers, this app assists in the reading process by modeling how the letters and sounds in a word go together. How it works is that when a child comes to a word he is unfamiliar with and unable to read, he simply types it into the Reading Machine. The app, with a dictionary of over 5,000 words, sounds out the word so that the child can try figuring it out by blending the sounds together to make the word. He can then “ask” for additional help, and the whole word is stated. This strategy helps children become better readers because they are forced to decipher the word instead of guessing or memorizing words that they see. Creators of the app say this is the type of letter-sound skill that the brain needs in order to develop quality reading skills. In addition, this app empowers the reader because it transforms them into a self-teacher of new words. Whether a new reader or a dyslexic, this app allows the reader to enjoy the reading experience without feeling embarrassed by what he doesn’t know. With the Reading Machine in hand, it keeps reading fun and children on track to become advanced readers.

Action Words

Action Words is an application for iPhone and iPad that teaches beginner readers over 100 action words using real photographs to increase their early vocabulary and improve their writing skills.

Users can select which category of action words they want to work on (emotions, movements, etc) and, within a category, turn action words “on” or “off” so they can monitor how many new words are presented in each round. When the user selects which category he or she wants to work on, an action word appears on the screen accompanied by four photographs. The user must select which photograph best depicts the given action word. There are no hints or penalty for selecting the wrong photograph, the user just keeps guessing until he or she chooses the correct photograph. This application is made to be engaging for its user, so the existing 500 photographs, concepts, and accompanying audio are all customizable. Users can also add their own categories, action words, and photographs.

Lectio

Lectio is mobile application built to encourage independent reading for students with language related learning disabilities. Developed by the mother of a dyslexic, Lectio is an application for iPhone and iPad that quickly allows the user to snap a picture of a text-filled page and have a specific word or words read aloud. The application doesn’t require access to internet, and allows the user to select just the word he or she wants help with, instead of reading the entire passage out loud. Once the picture is taken, words on the page that are in Lectio’s extensive dictionary will appear highlighted in yellow, and the user can simply tap the single word they want read aloud—or can hold down his or her finger to view a definition of the word. This application is designed as a quick and personalized aid to reading in classrooms, at home, and out in the community.

Mystery Word Town

• News Bulletin: The Huevos Rancheros Gang stole the gold and they are hiding out amongst the good citizens of Word Town.
• Your Mission: Help the sheriff, a friendly and curious little ghost, recover the missing gold and catch the outlaws.
• Spelling practice integrated with a rich, immersive game experience
• Record your own words and make your own custom word lists
• Unlimited user accounts - create your own avatar and save your game progress
• 3 skill levels and 2 game modes provide a highly customizable and flexible learning experience for a range of age s
• Optional audio hints speak the words from the selected word list
• Visual hints provide scaffolding for difficult words
• Quirky characters and backstory are revealed as you recover the missing gold and capture the outlaws