Parent Resources

Parent Resources:

Yates Baptist Church, Durham NC

EcHo—Early Childhood Outreach Program, Durham NC

New Hope Church, Durham NC

TEACCH, North Carolina Chapel Hill University

Developmental Pediatricians

Camp Royall—Autism Society of North Carolina, Pittsboro NC

Educational iPad Applications

• Model Me Going Places 2 – Social Stories – Free
• Is That Gluten Free? – Nutrition – $7.99
• Sentence Builder for iPad – Language – $3.99
• Story Builder – Language – $3.99
• Question Builder for iPad – Language – $3.99
• iCommunicate for iPad – Language – $29.99
• MyTalk Tools Mobile – AAC – $39.99
• iDress for Weather – Life Skills – $1.99
• MyTalkTools Mobile Lite – AAC – Free
• Visual Impact – Living Safely – Life Skills – $34.99
• Off We Go – Going to the Dentist – Social Stories – $4.99
• Off We Go – Going on a Plane – Social Stories – $4.99

Language and Vocabulary

Here you’ll find apps for learning the alphabet, using the dictionary, reviewing grammar rules, and more.

1. Word Magic: Kids fill in the missing letter to form words, accompanied by bright pictures.
2. Clifford’s BE BIG with Words: In this game, kids spell out words so that Clifford and his friends can think of things to paint.
3. Dictionary.com – Dictionary and Thesaurus: This easy-to-use app features a search bar, thesaurus, search history and word of the day.
4. Free Spanish Tutor: Introduce or help your kids review Spanish with this app that features native speaker audio, puzzles, written tests, flash cards, and a multiple choice quiz.
5. Textropolis: Kids have to find and piece together words in order to build up their "textropolis" in this game.
6. iWrite Words: Small children learn to write by tracing words with this game.
7. Spell and Listen Cards: Kids rearrange letters to form basic words, improving their vocabulary and sight reading.
8. Grammar Up: Help kids learn adjectives, nouns, verbs, adverbs, infinitives, gerunds, conjunctions, and other grammar basics.

History

These American and world history apps involve your kids in making decisions that determine the success or decline of whole civilizations.

11. Manual for the United States of America: Kids can learn about and read the Articles of Confederation, Declaration of Independence, Federalist Papers, biographies of Supreme Court justices, and a lot more.
12. Oregon Trail: This classic game is now available on the iPad and helps children of various ages practice problem-solving and decision-making skills as they learn about history and try to survive the great trek West.
13. Civilization Revolution: Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution teaches kids about world civilizations, including Japan, Germany, China, Spain, America, and others, as they lead their people to victory.
14. On This Day: Help your students learn more about history with this trivia-like game that lists important events each day.

Math and Science

These apps use flash cards, games and interactive displays to teach your kids about math, astronomy and more.

15. Math Cards: This grade-as-you-go game teaches subtraction, division, multiplication and addition in a touch-screen game.
16. The Math Master: Practice math drills and learn math facts on this app, which features a numeric touchpad.
17. KidsCalc 7-in-1 Math Fun: This app teaches young children number recognition, and older kids arithmetic. It features a birthday party theme, and includes flash cards, puzzle game, running timer, and more.
18. PopMath Basic Math: This level-based math game is supposed to be non-stressful but still effective.
19. Mathemagics – Mental Math Tricks: More advanced students can practice multiplication, square numbers, and more.

Reading

Help your children learn to read and get excited about reading the classics with these apps.

25. Learn Sight Words: Help your children learn the expected high-frequency words they need to know by the end of 1st grade with this cute app.
26. Newspapers: Encourage your children to read about the rest of the world by linking them to newspapers from different cities.
27. Free Books: This app costs $1.99, but you’ll get to read over 23,000 classic books like The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and plays by Shakespeare.
28. iLibrary+audio: Download whole chapters and then listen to them read aloud with this app. Books include The Call of the Wild, Emma and Treasure Island.

Art and Music

Encourage your children to explore art and music with the help of these apps.

29. Preschool Music: Kids can create their own songs and play a virtual piano as they play along with sheep and birds on this app.
30. Ultimate Guitar Tabs: Kids can read guitar chords and tabs to learn about music.
31. Art: Your kids — ages 12 and up — will learn about important artists like da Vinci, Georgia O’Keefe, Jackson Pollock and more with this searchable app that features quizzes, a slideshow, newsletter, and more.
32. Instruments in Reach Basic: Learn the fingerings for instruments like the flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, bassoon, oboe and trombone.

General Education and Life Skills

These general education apps help to improve critical thinking skills through games, matching, puzzles, and more.

33. Monster Mix & Match: Kids practice critical thinking and problem solving skills with this game that lets them create monster cartoon characters.
34. Preschool Arcade: Preschoolers can learn numbers, the alphabet, and capital and lower case letters while developing critical thinking and matching skills.
35. Highlights Hidden Pictures: Highlights Magazine designed this game that includes eight puzzles filled with hidden pictures your kids search for while using clues and hints.
36. I SPY Spooky Mansion: This is a great app for helping kids think critically as they solve riddles and puzzles while collecting keys in a spooky old mansion.
37. TeachMe: Kindergarten: Review or help younger children get a head start on kindergarten lessons in reading, math and spelling.
38. 10,500+ Cool Facts: This app provides an easy way to add random tidbits of knowledge to your kids’ brains. Shake your iPad to get a new cool fact.
39. 2010 World Factbook: With this app, your children can learn about different countries, their flags, languages, government, economy, and more.
40. Flashcards Deluxe: Customize your own flashcards with this app, which integrates with Quizlet.com, features audio and text, and can hold over 5,000 flash cards.

Down syndrome: Resources

Down syndrome: PACC Case Study
Lesley Womble, Jasmyne Speller & Rachel Popov

Background: Down syndrome is the most common form of retardation, appearing in about 1 of every 800 live births.  Advancing maternal age increases the chances of conceiving a baby with Down syndrome.  This results when there is chromosomal abnormality, referred to as trisomy 21 – an extra copy of the 21^st chromosome.  Doctors can make the initial diagnosis of Down syndrome at birth based on physical attributes.  Blood tests can be performed to check for the extra chromosome and confirm the diagnosis.


Resources associated with Down syndrome in the Triangle Area and throughout NC:
- Triangle Down syndrome Support Network
www.triangledownsyndrome.org


- Down syndrome Associate of Charlotte
www.dsacnc.org


- The Piedmont Down syndrome Support Network (located in Winston-Salem, NC)
www.pdssn.org


- The Down syndrome Network of Greater Greensboro 
www.team-up.org


-Family Advocacy Network (FAN) (located in Chapel Hill, NC)
This program is located in Orange County and provides educational clinics and support group meetings for parents of special needs children on the 2nd Saturday of each month.  This is a program of the Mental Health Association.  Educational training is also offered from 10:00am – 12:00noon, while support group time is 8:30am – 9:45am.  
For updates, please visit www.fan-mhaorangeco.org/newsandevents.html or contact Julie Bailey, a family advocate for FAN at Julie@mhaorangeco.org or call 919.942.8083, ext. 2.  
In addition, FAN offers a 4-week parent support/education series three times per year titled, “Parenting Wisely,” an interactive, computer software program for small groups or individuals needing assistance with basic parenting skills.  
For further details, please contact Linda Boldin, family advocate, at Linda@mhaorangeco.org or 919.942.8083. 


Genetic Counseling: UNC-Chapel Hill
- UNC Clinic, located at 101 Manning Drive, #7001J, Chapel Hill, NC  27514
919.966.7890
Supervising Physician: Cynthia Powell, MD 
 

What is a Learning Disability?

What is a Learning Disability and What Does It Mean?

Signs, Symptoms, and Strategies

Leanring Disability Checklist

The links above aim to provide information about what learning disabilities are, including signs and symptoms. The last source is a checklist to see if your child, client, or student is exhibiting signs of a learning disability.

Treatment of LD

Treatment of Language Based Learning Disabilities

Treatment Efficacy Summary presented by ASHA

The links above provide information about treatment of learning disabilities including the roles of speech therapist involved with language based learning disabilities.

Information provided by Amanda Carter and Blanca Segovia

Links of Resources Related to Learning Disabilities

The National Center for Learning Disabilities

Organization, which aims to extend services and provide information about learning disabilities. Pictured below is a learning disability check list to see if your child, student, client, or loved one is exhibiting signs of a learning disability:

LDA- Learning Disabilities of America 

Since 1963, this organization aims to help enhance the lives of people living with learning disabilities, their parents, teachers, and other professionals.

ASHA Article: Secondary to Postsecondary Education Transition Planning for Students with Learning Disabilities

American Speech-Language Hearing Association's position on continuing education in regards to learning disabilities.


NSSHLA Article: Improving Communication in Adolescents with Language/Learning Disorders

Information provided about adolescent development including  resources about communication and building relationships, which promotes success within therapy. The article also focuses on service delievery to adolescents and how it differs from service to other populations.  The experience of the speech therapist should exhibit strength working with this population and provides an insight into the role a speech therapist should have in the lives of adolescent children.

GreatSchools: Transition Planning for Students with IEPs

Provides information on Transition Plans, including times, discussions, IEPs, student involvment, documentation and community resources to inform the student and parent of their rights to plan and persue education after high school.


Information posted by Amanda Carter and Blanca Segovia