BridgingApps Presentation, Down Syndrome Guild of Dallas 2013 Fall Conference Ensuring a successful transition of students with disabilities from high school requires thoughtful planning and goal setting. Learn how mobile devices can help develop functional skills such as using a calendar, following a schedule, making a grocery list, and making healthy choices. This session discussed how students can increase their level of independence by maximizing use of mobile devices.

1. Apps for Life! Transition
and Independence

2. Agenda
• BridgingApps Program and History
• Using mobile devices for transition and independence
• App demonstrations
• Raffle

3. Who We Are
BridgingApps is a volunteer community of parents,
therapists, doctors, and teachers who share information
on how we are using mobile devices such as the iPad,
iPhone, iPod Touch and Android devices with people who
have special needs.
www.bridgingapps.org

4. Beginnings

5. BridgingApps Website
www.bridgingapps.org
• Getting Started—hardware, accessibility,
communication apps, videos, tablet accessories
• App Search Tool—search apps, read app reviews,
create lists, share lists
• Programs—Classes, services, AT labs, training
• Community—Online community groups, local
meetings in Houston, Austin, McAllen
• About Us—Contact us & success stories

6. Transition Planning
• Begins at age 14
• Transition assessment- students should be part
of planning process.
• Begin to discuss courses of study to assist the
student in making a successful transition to
his/her goals for life after HS.
• Develop transition services plan.
• By law, the plan must be reviewed every year
until graduation.

7. School Exit Summary
• All areas require Present Level of Academic Achievement
and Functional Performance
• Needs- Assistive Technology, environmental or material
resources or modification
• Academic Achievement- what are the student’s levels?
• Social Development- does the student need support for
socializing?
• Physical Development- how independent is the student?

8. AT Resources
• Texas Technology Access Program
• 3 demo centers in Dallas area
• http://techaccess.edb.utexas.edu/demo3.html
• State of Texas has mandated help with AT
devices for transition planning:
• http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=214749
8140

9. Post High School
• Depending on ability level and student goals,
students will transition to college programs, trade
schools or work programs.
• Which apps would be of benefit?
• Organizational apps
• Graphic organizers
• Bus or train schedules

10. Tasks
• Schedules
• Telling Time
• Make shopping lists
• Budgeting Skills
• Socialization
• Communication

11. iPod Touch Study
• Trained adults with cognitive impairments to use
iPod Touch as a job coach in the workplace
• Results were improved functional performance and
reduced behavioral challenges
• Even with non-readers, functional performance
improved with iPod compared with traditional
laminated schedules, paper reminders, and reduced
need for job coach
• *Gentry, Lau, Molinelli, Fallen, and Kriner, Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation 37 (2012)
75-85. http://worksupport.com/documents/apple_ipod_touch.pdf

12. iPod Study Targets
Apps targeted to support:
1. Task reminders
2. Task lists
3. Video-based sequencing prompts
4. Behavioral self-management
5. Way-finding tools

13. iPod Study Apps
1. Clock, Notes, Voice Memo (recordings of task
notes), Camera/Video Camera (video modeling
of task, Contacts
2. VoCal, iCal
3. Storykit
4. iReward

14. How to Support
Independence?
• Person-centered tool
• Consumer buy-in
• Focus on skills, abilities, and interests
• Involve person in the app-selecting and practicing
process as well as peers

15. Organizational Skills
• Notes or note taking apps that can be shared
• Calendars & Planners
• Homework Helpers
• Note-Taking and Organizational App list:
• http://bridgingapps.org/list/?id=44794

16. Supporting Socializing
• Facetime
• Facebook
• Texting
• Using Maps
• Transportation Apps (GoPass by DART)