My 10 Favorite Apps for Children with CVI

I have been asked by numerous people to post my personal favorite lists and it is very difficult for me to pick my favorites because each child is different and I use different apps for different kids but I have narrowed down 10 that use the most with infants and toddlers with cortical vision impairment. I work in WV Birth to Three as a developmental specialist and vision specialist for infants and toddlers with CVI. So this list is in no particular order:

1.      Sparkabilities Babies 1 HD for iPad - Bottle Rocket

2.      Tap-n-See Zoo - Little Bear Sees

3.      BrightStart Baby: A Bright Start for Smart Babies - Eieio Software

4.      Baby Rattle Toy - SelenaSoft, Inc.

5.      Peekaboo: Ladybird Baby Touch - Penguin Books

6.      iLoveFireworks - Fireworks Games

7.      Hatch! Plus - Phodder

8.      Baby Screen - Planet Sloth

9.      ShapeShifter HD - Transform Games

10.  Bloom HD - Opal Limited

These are probably the apps I go to most for infants and toddlers in late phase 1 and phase 2.  I have other suggestions for children in phase 3.  For infants and toddlers in early phase 1 I typically only use the free lightbox type apps along with the free flashlights.  Hope this helps and would love your suggestions.

Bridget Bailey
Developmental Specialist/Vision Specialist for CVI

Apps just for CVI

So exited to report that Little Bear Sees has done it again with a new app My Talking Picture Board - Little Bear Sees  for our kiddos with CVI. Check it out!!!! If you are not familiar with Little Bears Sees then please check out their website http://www.littlebearsees.org/ . As far as I know they are the only organization making apps for our little ones with CVI. Their original Tap-n-See Zoo - Little Bear Sees is still one of my favorites for our young ones with cortical vision impairment.

Top 10 Apps by a Teacher of the Visually Impaired specializing in CVI

From a Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI) specializing in working with infants and toddlers with cortical visual impairment.


iComm - Bappz (because you can add child's own pictures if they have an iPad)

Sign 4 Me for iPad - A Signed English Translator - Vcom3D (for parents who need to look up signs)

Pianist Pro - MooCowMusic

Art Of Glow - Pro - Natenai Ariyatrakool

Glow Draw! - Indigo Penguin Limited

iLoveFireworks Lite - Fireworks Games

DuckDuckDuck - Majic Jungle Software
 
BabyFirst's Play Phone - BFTV, LLC
 
iLava - Dinusha Kumarasinghe
 
fluidity HD - nebulus design
 
Talking Tom Cat for iPad - Outfit7


 
 
Thanks Sandy!! There are few new apps from your list I am looking forward to trying out.

E uses beginning AAC/icomm on the iPad

This is E using the AAC app iComm.  I have it programed with a single picture of her favorite toy a lady bug and beside her to the right I have her actual lady bug toy.  E has CVI and this is the first time I have seen her look at a picture and then look at the object.  Sorry my video did not capture the objects but you can see her look at each item and the reflection of the screen in her glasses.  Her sister is helping her touch the screen but my goal was for her to fixate on a picture.  iComm is probably the easiest of all the AAC apps I have tried.  They have a lite version to try without audio and with audio is $7.99. 

Bubby plays the iPad

L is 2 years old and a victim of Shaken Baby Syndrome.  He has difficulty using his left side and has CVI.  Our goal introducing L to the iPad was to get him to use his left side more.  I guess he showed us.

Bubby talks with the animals on the iPad

Bubby is 2.5 and has special needs. He has a TBI as a result of shaken baby syndrome. He also is developmental delayed and has CVI as a result. He is working with the iPad on repeating animal sounds. He is using the app Elias Zoo which is free from iTunes

Carrying a lot less 'stuff'

Another positive so far using the iPad for home visiting has been I don't have to carry around so much stuff. In the picture I am using the iPad as a light box for a child with CVI. I have also used it as a flashlight, portable DVD player, switch toy, tape recorder, Big Mac, puzzle, story book and matching game. This is only the first week. I can already feel my toy bag getting lighter.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Drawing

A is 2 years old.  He has an unknown genetic condition resulting in hypotonia, seizure disorder and CVI.  He has never been able to hold a crayon or marker to draw but today he used his hand to make a picture.  With the Glow Doodle app (free) you can immediately save and email your picture.  Since his mother is away from home for military training, A emailed his picture to her all from the iPad. (using initials instead of the name of the children)