app, tablet or laptop for yr1 who types but can't write

[jomaman]

hi,

ds1 is dyspraxic and although we are working on handwriting and fine motor skills, he is far off being able to form letters independently. we have been using an iPad in class so he can type along during the phonics sessions (he can spell and type) but we have struggled to find an app where the font is big enough and there is the ability to 'free draw' on the same page, e.g. to do a tick or a cross.

He's started yr1 and there is a lot more writing things down in their work books this year, and I would like to keep his work together in some kind of e-notebook.

Have spent hours downloading apps that either fully don't work or are inappropriate, please tell me somebody has found the perfect technology solution for what must be a common problem?

thanks in advance

My DS is also in year 1, cannot speak or write but can type, and it is his only way of communicating. He has a Kindle Fire which he carries with him, and on it the Android text to speech app: AAC Speech Assistant, which we find great. We chose the Kindle Fire rather than mini iPad for general use because it is easer to read in the sunlight.

He also uses a text to speech app on the iPad, which is called Speak It, when the Kindle is flat or when he is just playing with the iPad.

This is the case we use for the kindle, it does a great job, the Kindle goes everywhere and has never been damaged despite being dropped, thrown etc:
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00FGAH7W8/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I realise ours is a different situation from yours, but thought this info might help someone anyway!

thanks very much! i had been thinking about kindle fire too, mainly because the school doesn't allow devices with cameras (our ipad1 without camera is on its last legs by now!) and afaik the kindle fires don't have a camera.

i will look at the text to speech apps, but i think what i need is something that is basically like a plain whiteboard that you can type on in huge font - why is nothing ever easy!

Kindle fire is very good indeed. I just have to make sure that DS continues not to realise that it can connect to the internet, as if he did he would send his whole time on YouTube and not communicating using it! He doesn't know it has anything else on it apart from the text to speech app and a timer!

Is dude allowed to use typing as part of academics also? That will be very encouraging for us

Well, he doesn't really do anything "academic" at school (yet), school is mostly for the social/behavioural benefits, he spends the mornings at home working with his tutors. But they "allow" (well, they have my strict instructions) him to have the Kindle with him at all times (or his LSA is holding it if he is on a swing or something). We have the support of Great Ormond Street in using AAC technology so I don't think they really have much of a choice about the matter. We are awaiting funding for a Lightwriter to be used for table type work etc, but the Kindle will always be more useful when out and about.

I did not add those shopping links to "Kindle" by the way, it happened automatically. I am not trying to flog Kindles or anything!

DS used a laptop for longer writing tasks last year. As everything it came with pros and cons.

Pros, I feel we got a much better picture of the work he is able to do when his writing ability is not getting in the way. He also feels much more confident typing (had got to the point where he would not allow us to look at his books).

Big downside for us was making sure a laptop was always available, and that due to locations of socket etc he was often sat apart from his work group.

He used a programme called clicker 6, which has some auto complete options (I think they are pretty flexible) and the option for the teachers to add words to a subject specific dictionary. It was good for example when they studies Egypt for him to have all those words to hand.

This year he's moving to an ipad in class. The school use them with older years, and with the tech issues of the laptops we requested he have one too. As far as I know he will still use clicker 6. As they are school iPads they are already pretty locked down and don't have lots of games on them. We'll have to see if it solves the issues we had last year.

We will be buying some a keyboard for him to use as I don't feel long periods of typing on a tablet will be particularly easy for him.

Oh and he also spent a fair amount of time on the BBC dance mat typing game to improve his typing skills.

Jthompson, can I ask how you've found clicker 6? It's been recommended for DS 7 and I think the iPad app would be best.

His school say it has been with IT who are sorting it out since February when I chased it up yet again last week!!