Unless you’ve been living in a cave for the past year or so, you’ve probably noticed the proliferation of mobile application development targeted at the special needs community. There are new developers coming up with new ideas for apps every day! As a parent or teacher of special needs students, this may sound like a dream come true with endless possibilities available to you and your children. However, there is a small downside, being that with so many options available to you, choosing the right apps could actually become a burden.
Luckily there are people like Gary James of Apps for Children with Special Needs, A4cwsn who gives you unbiased reviews of the endless list of apps out there. Although A4cwsn has shown the spotlight on the Conover Company apps, we’ve put together our own list of ways The Conover Company Functional Skills apps have separated themselves from the rest of the app pack.
1. Live Action Videos
The Conover Company Functional Skills apps are effective because they are practical and to the point. We don’t use obscure games to try and teach lessons in round-about ways, but rather actual video clips of people doing just what the learner is trying to learn to do herself. Our apps allow learners to watch a skill in action and then try to replicate the skill on their own.
2. Backed by 30 Years of Research and Development
Although the mobile app boom is a fairly recent craze, The Conover Company has been developing the software behind their applications for over 30 years. Although the technology has changed, our apps still encompass the core theories behind teaching individuals with developmental disabilities.
3. Video Podcast Channel
Where else can you watch a live demonstration of an application before you invest your valuable time and money in it? The Conover Company provides you with video podcasts that not only allow you to get a sneak preview of the application before you buy it, but also give you tips and step-by-step instruction on how to use the app after you buy. We feel that this is a great way to provide you with the information you need to make the best decision when looking for applications.
4. Supplements to a Broader Approach to Learning
For those of you who are familiar with The Conover Company and our products, you know that our business goes far beyond the development of mobile applications. In fact, we created our mobile application line as a supplement to our Functional Skills System software, which is a much more in-depth program that facilitates the achievement of freedom and independence in people who have developmental disabilities. What that means for you as the user is that you have a choice when it comes to our products. You can choose to use our applications independently, or in conjunction with the full Functional Skills System software.
5. There’s no Shortage of Topics Here
When it comes to independent living, you can imagine there is a wide range of functional skills that must be addressed. Our apps cover functional skills as they relate to all practical settings, including work, school, life, and social. From there, we have the applications broken down into more specific tasks and skills as they relate to that particular setting. This makes it easy for you to choose the applications that fit your child’s needs the best, for a more customized approach to learning.
Whether you’re a parent or a teacher of children with special needs, we know how overwhelming it can be to figure out which mobile apps will be the most beneficial to the learner’s development. You’re constantly being bombarded by new developers and new applications, and sometimes it can be hard to tell which will be the most effective. The next time you find yourself faced with the difficult decision of purchasing a new mobile application, ask yourself if the application meets any of these five criteria. If not, you know where you can go to find an app that does.
