Technology to Ease into Transitions
by
PSN Team 
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Change can be hard for everyone, but for those of us who care for someone who has physical or cognitive challenges, we know that change often brings about things we haven’t even thought of as our kids grow! What are pre-employment transition skills? Why does applying for SSI involve so much paperwork? How do we start practicing supported decision making?
Moving from the structured, closely supervised home and school environments that our children typically attend while young to a more independent, less supervised work, education, or living environment when they are older can be daunting for everyone involved in the young person’s life. Along with many new things to learn, this is the time when they have to begin generalizing all of the skills they have been practicing to new environments, which often requires extra support.
We have gathered some apps that we have found useful for teens and young adults moving into their new adult role, however that may look. Check out Job Skills OnDemand, by Attainment Company, that provides tips for job interviews, social skills at work, and how to get ready for your day through short, engaging video clips. There are also apps
to help with completing and filing paperwork, such as Evernote Scannable that allows users to scan and save documents of all kinds to assist with organizing and sharing them in seconds. Proof of disability, state identification cards, insurance cards, one pager portfolio are just some examples of items that can be shared quickly and easily. This app is just one of many tools to teach someone to keep up with paper receipts or documents given to them by employers, doctors, therapists and schools.
When helping someone we love learn something new, there are going to be times when they become overwhelmed or anxious, it happens to ALL of us! Thankfully, there are apps to help users learn how to cope with stressful situations either by providing problem-solving steps, a way to work through how they are feeling, or even teaching physical actions and routines that can be followed to self-calm. One of these such apps is Smart Steps Mobile. Smart Steps Mobile is a task analysis app that walks users through a decision-making process when faced with an unexpected situation, such as missing the bus or getting lost while walking to work. Each time they use the app for help, they are able to mark that they are okay & problem has been solved or that they need to call someone. This is a great way to foster independence while still providing support. When someone does become overwhelmed or anxious, having an app such as BeMe: Teen Mental Health, that provides daily mood check-ins along with videos created by other teenagers on a variety of topics such as “feeling confident”, “stress relief”, “dealing with anxiety”, and so much more, can be a great tool. There are also apps that teach strategies for self-calming that can be done anywhere, such as The Tapping Solution. As with any apps, it is important that the person be taught how to use the app and become familiar with how it can help when they are calm and open to learning so that when the need arises, during a time of distress or sadness, they know how to use the app to meet their needs.
Job Skills OnDemand
By Attainment Company, Inc.
Gain confidence and independence with Job Skills OnDemand, a free app offering step-by-step training videos that teach essential workplace and life skills. Perfect for youth and adults with disabilities, it helps users prepare for real-world employment, build self-advocacy, and succeed at their own pace.
Ideal for anyone transitioning to work or wanting to strengthen job readiness.
Free • Offers In-App Purchases
Evernote Scannable
Evernote Corporation, Inc.
Turn your iPhone or iPad into a powerful scanner with Evernote Scannable. Instantly capture and enhance documents, receipts, and business cards, then save or share them in seconds.
Perfect for students, professionals, and parents who want to stay organized, reduce clutter, and never lose an important paper again.
Free • Offers In-App Purchases
Smart Steps Mobile
SmartSteps, Inc.
Smart Steps Mobile helps neurodivergent teens and adults handle everyday challenges with confidence. Its visual, step-by-step decision guides support independent problem-solving in real-life situations—whether at work, school, or in the community.
A great tool for building independence, self-confidence, and calm in moments of uncertainty.
Free • Offers In-App Purchases
BeMe: Teen Mental Health
Hazel Health, Inc.
Created with teens in mind, BeMe is a safe, supportive space for young people to explore their emotions, connect with peers, and get guidance from coaches. Through mood tracking, engaging content, and real-time support, BeMe promotes positive mental health and resilience.
A must-have app for teens wanting to feel heard, supported, and empowered to manage their mental well-being.
Free • Offers In-App Purchases
The Tapping Solution
The Tapping Solution, LLC
Reduce stress, calm anxiety, and boost your mood with The Tapping Solution. Using the science-backed Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), the app guides you through simple tapping exercises to ease tension, improve sleep, and enhance overall well-being.
Perfect for anyone seeking natural, on-the-go tools to feel calmer, more focused, and emotionally balanced.
Free • Offers In-App Purchases
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.
