A ccording to the Center For Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in every 54 children has autism spectrum disorder. Symptoms of autism vary greatly but some common difficulties autistic individuals face include speech delays or absence of speech, difficulty in social situations, and poor motor skills.
This can be especially difficult for parents. For many in the autistic community, help can be found through technology. There are many assistive applications specially designed to cater to the needs of autistic individuals, helping with communication, social skills, and navigating everyday life in general. Below, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best applications to support and empower autistic users.
- Proloquo 2 Go
A support app designed for non-verbal people, Proloquo 2 Go is a text-based communication app that turns typed words into verbal speech. It is helpful not only for people on the autism spectrum themselves, but also for their families, therapists, parents, and educators.
It is easy to customize to suit the user’s individual needs (having 3 different vocabulary levels and more than 7000 predominated words) and presents users with images to help with communication. It is priced at $249.99 and has a 4.7 rating on iPhone.
- Proloquo 4 Text
This is also a text-based communication app available in 15 different languages and is designed to help non-verbal users communicate better. It has a word and sentence prediction feature to allow for fast communication and allows users to use their voice. It’s available on iOS for $119.99.
- Keeble
For individuals with autism that have under-developed motor skills, typing on everyday keyboards can be quite difficult. Keeble is an assistive keyboard application that is a more user-friendly alternative.
It is available in English, Spanish, Dutch and French, and has multiple customizable options that users can alternate between. It is available on iOS for only $19.99 and is an incredible tech option to make typing and text communication more accessible to individuals on the spectrum.
- Children With Autism: A Visual Schedule
While there are plenty of schedule manager or time-tracking applications available, this application is unique in that it caters to the autistic community. Designed specifically with their needs in mind, this app is a picture-based scheduler that makes it easy for individuals to keep track of their daily schedules. This helps make the day predictable for autistic individuals, allowing them to stay on top of things and reduce the risk of getting overloaded or overwhelmed.
As it is picture-based, it’s easy to navigate and also has step-by-step instructions for completing everyday activities. For individuals that struggle with being independent or keeping track of their day-to-day life, this application is extremely helpful. It is currently available on iOS, starting at only $12.99 a month.
- Miracle Modus
Individuals with autism are much more prone to experiencing sensory overload, especially when out in public or in unfamiliar situations. Miracle Modus is one application designed to cater to this need. It features different therapeutic sights, shapes, patterns, sounds, and configurations that individuals can focus on to soothe their anxiety.
This is a great option for calming oneself down on the bus, at work, in school, in a social gathering, or in any situation where the individual feels anxious and panicked. This application is not only helpful for people on the spectrum but also those who struggle with social anxiety or sensory overload in their everyday life. The application is available for free download on both iOS and Android.
- Emergency Chat
Emergency Chat is safe and uses application designs to help autistic users reach out for help in emergencies where communication is not an option. The main screen of the app has preset text that explains to the reader that the individual needs help but cannot communicate, and explains that the app can be used.
It features simple text back and forth options, allowing the individual to communicate simply and reach out for help where they otherwise might not be able to. This application is a great backup safety option for users who struggle with their communicative functions and is available for free download on both Android and iOS.
- Flummox Vision
For individuals who struggle with social interaction and understanding social cues, Flummox Vision is a great option. This app allows users to watch episodes and interact with different characters to help strengthen communicative skills and develop their emotional intelligence.
It presents quirky, comedic scenarios and is incredibly fun to use. The app is available for free download on iOS and charges $1.99 per episode.
Here you have it, the best apps for autistic users!
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- autistic users apps
- apps for autism
- help with autism
- apps made for autism
- autism friendly apps
