Free Technology Resources

Many of these online resources are excellent for use with a SmartBoard (recommended due to the ability to use touch which has been found to be more effective than the use of a marker or stylus)

ZacBrowser - Web Browser designed by a grandfather for his grandson who is on the Autism Spectrum. Appropriate for young children or those with developmental disabilities.


HelpKidzLearn - This web site is full of FREE accessible (switches, touch screen, mouse) online games, activities, & stories from Inclusive Technology.

Starfall - All activities are great for SmartBoard use

• Make a Calendar activity - Perfect for Morning Circle - Excellent SmartBoard Activity

Tar Heel Readers - online, accessible books

Coloring

• TheColor.com
  

Drawing Tools

• Kerpoof- a free online tool
  
• Explore all tools
• Make A Drawing
• Doodle Pad

• TuxPaint - free drawing software download

Project Spectrum - Google Sketchup Tutorial for use with students on the Autism Spectrum. Access the Project Spectrum Manual of Ideas for Parents and Teachers here.

Do to Learn - Free Feelings and Emotions Games, excellent for social skills instruction, also check out the Fire Safety and Street Safety songs for students with cognitive disabilities

Visual Schedules - best for younger students

PocketMod - low tech visual organizer or schedule

Checklists - linear alternative to rubrics, easily create guides for students' projects.

Social Stories

• Region 2 Digital Lending Library - collection of social stories in PowerPoint format
• Prewritten Social Stories - ranging from Recess Story to Bathroom Story to Asking Other Kids to Play Story
  
• Comic Strip Conversations -
  Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have trouble interpreting social situations and understanding speech as quickly as most social interactions require. A comic strip conversation is a conversation between two or more people using simple illustrations in a comic strip format. They show children how to behave in a socially acceptable manner and conform to social standards. The effectiveness can be enhanced by incorporating a child's favorite cartoon character into the illustration.

1. Comic Strip Creator
2. Make Belief
   
3. Toondoo

Xtranormal - make free 3D movies

Yodio - add sound or voice to photos by recording from phone

Voice Thread - capture audio for online digital storytelling. Excellent online tool to create social stories or video modeling

Tinsnips - is a special education resource that strives to share a variety of specialized teaching tools, techniques, worksheets, and activities with teachers of students who have autistic spectrum disorders and related developmental disabilities. Many of these activities may be appropriate for Pre-K and Kindergarten children.