Tech Tools for Caregivers
by
PSN Team 
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At BridgingApps, we are constantly gathering, researching, and trialing not only mobile apps for your tablet and smartphone, but also devices, web-based software tools, accessories, and more. We were recently invited to attend and present at the ATIA (Assistive Technology Industry Association) 2023 Conference where we were able to connect with app developers that we already knew such as CoughDrop, who develops amazing AAC boards and communication tools, Time Timer, who created the original visual timer used by Special Education teachers for years that is now a handy mobile app (you can even use it on an Apple Watch!!), as well as meeting developers with apps that we are excited to add to our database.
For this issue, we thought we would share some of the apps and tools we learned about at ATIA that can help you organize the healthcare of your loved one as well as help with everyday care for their physical and mental health. Check out some of the new fun finds below!
Sensory App House is a developer that we re-discovered during our time at ATIA 2023. They create fun, free, or very low cost (many a one-time purchase of $0.99 to download at the time of this writing) sensory apps with simple interfaces. We thought we would highlight a few of the free ones to get you started. We really love apps that can be used to help calm anxiety such as Sensory Mesmo and Sensory Lava. These apps each have colors that move on the screen independently or in response to touch. The user can change the colors by hitting one of four dots across the bottom of the screen on each of them as well as move the colors around using touch. Another one we really like is Sensory Just Touch. It is touch-receptive like the other two, however it has one filter that can use your device’s camera to warp scenes around you and then manipulated through touch. This elicited many giggles from our reviewer and could possibly lead to hours of entertainment as well as the calming effects we mentioned earlier. Many of their apps are available on the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, available as web applications, AND are switch accessible, which is a big win since we are always looking for apps that accommodate switch users. In our opinion, each of these apps are great to open and watch for a calming effect (similar to an idea of a lava lamp) without any user input.
You can check out our wrap-up of ATIA 2023 with our top 5 favorite apps and web-based tools, as well as a summary of some of the amazing accessibility features that we learned about from the teams from Microsoft and Apple. So many exciting new developments to help people with disabilities access the world!
One last thing not related to ATIA but that we are eager to share with you! Many of you may have already noticed that with the new, upgraded app database (launched in late 2022); we are now able to highlight web-based applications on our app database in the same way that we have always shared mobile apps available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Stores. We are so excited to share one of these new web-based apps, VestLife, as it was designed especially for parents and caregivers of children and adults with special needs. VestLife is a new, updated take on the notebook of information that we have all been gathering about our children to share with new doctors, teachers, sitters, therapists, etc. It is web-based only which means you can easily access to add information and share it on your laptop or desktop computer and through the Google or Safari web browser of your mobile devices. Vest allows you to create “pockets” of information about your loved one and choose whom you share this information with and for how long. Vest offers a 14-day free trial and then costs $99 per year (at the time of this publication).
Sensory Mesmo
By: Sensory App House Ltd
Sensory Mesmo is designed to be mesmeric. It features touch responsive pulsating colors and moving effects that can be enjoyed by all ages and abilities. By pressing the silver buttons it is possible to change colors, styles, and speed of movement. Sensory Mesmo can also be controlled by an external keyboard, Bluetooth access switches or Microsoft Adaptive and Xbox controllers, which makes it even more accessible for all!
itunes – Free | Google Play – $1.49
Sensory Lava
By: Sensory App House Ltd
Sensory Lava is a simple calming, relaxing visual touch responsive app for people of all ages and abilities. Sensory Lava generates lava and bubble-style slow-moving, calming visual effects. By pressing the silver buttons, it is possible to change colors, styles, and speed of movement. An external keyboard can also control sensory Mesmo, Bluetooth access switches, or Microsoft Adaptive and Xbox controllers, which makes it even more accessible for all!
itunes – Free | Google Play – $1.49
Sensory Just Touch
By: Sensory App House Ltd
Sensory Just Touch is a fun effects app for all with 30+ incredible touch effects. Users can morph their face or other objects using the Hall of Mirrors filter in combination with their device’s camera, experience incredible kaleidoscope type patterns and more that all respond to touch. Just Touch is fully switch accessible using a Bluetooth switch access box.
Free
CoughDrop
By: CoughDrop, Inc.
CoughDrop is a robust augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) app that gives a voice to those that cannot speak vocally for themselves. The program can be used with a switch or with eye tracking for those with mobility concerns. The program is also cloud-based so it can be used on nearly any device (iPad, Android, Kindle, Chromebook, Windows device, laptop, and more), meaning that a person’s voice is not limited to one device.
Free• Offers In-App Purchases
Tile- Find lost keys & phone
By: Time Timer LLC
People familiar with the Time Timer visual wall-mounted timers will love the mobile version. Use it on your iPad, iPhone and even on your Apple Watch! The mobile version includes the original timer as well as a custom timer, or a clock-based timer, which shows your desired increment of time on a real-time clock face.
Free • Offers In-App Purchases
VestLife
By: Vest Life, Inc.
VestLife is a web-based application that allows parents and caregivers of children and adults with disabilities to easily catalog and share their needs with others. With VestLife, the caregiver has complete control over who sees their loved ones information as well as how long they have access. A therapist or sitter is no longer involved? Rather than asking for paper copies of sensitive information to be returned or emails deleted, just remove that person’s access to VestLife.
Free 14 day trial, $99 per year to access all features
Check out BridgingApps App Search Tool to search for apps, create lists and even share them.
*BridgingApps, a program of Easter Seals Greater Houston, is a community of parents, therapists, doctors and teachers who share information about using mobile devices with people who have special needs.
Amy Fuchs is the Program Manager at BridgingApps and a former special education teacher. Amy Barry is the Digital Marketing Lead at BridgingApps and mother of five children.
Cristen Reat is co-founder of BridgingApps and a mother who found success when using a mobile device with her younger son who has multiple disabilities. We share a passion for using mobile technology to enhance the lives of people of all ages with disabilities.*
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- The Politics of Special Education: The Information You Need Right Now
- The Sandwich Generation: How To Handle it All, and Then Some!
- How to Select a Special Needs Attorney
- Facing the Challenges of Balancing Work and a Special Needs Child
- Balancing the Care of Siblings with Different Needs
- Multitasking the Right Way: How You Can Make the Most of Your Time
This post originally appeared on our March/April 2023 Magazine
