TOP PICKS | 13 TOOLS

Language Skills Apps for Kids with Special Needs

These engaging, thoughtful, and accessible apps help kids with speech challenges build foundational language skills and alternative means of expression. There are image-based communication platforms, news sites tuned specifically to those with special needs and learning difficulties, text-to-speech tools, and note-taking and writing apps that offer multiple ways to communicate. For other ways to empower students with speech difficulties, check out our Apps and Sites for Storytelling and Best Tech-Creation Tools lists, which include terrific tools to help kids communicate their unique point of view.

Top Picks

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Speech Journal

Audio wed to images for multiple learning/teaching goals

Bottom line: Journal is easy to use, but sharing option is weak.

Grades: Pre-K–3 Price: $3.99

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Articulation Station

Pricey but definitely worth it for kids struggling with pronunciation

Bottom line: For helping students with letter and word pronunciation, this highly valuable tool is worth the cost.

Grades: K–2 Price: Free to try The only letter sound that comes as a trial with the free version is "P," otherwise you have to pay anywhere from $3.99 to $7.99 for the various letter sound programs. The Pro Package that contains them all is $59.99.

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ConversationBuilder

Themed scripts help kids practice successful social exchanges

Bottom line: For speech-language pathologists, this is a must-have tool for helping kids learn conversation skills.

Grades: K–6 Price: $19.99

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QuestionIt

Wh- questions taught in concrete ways for kids with language delays

Bottom line: A solid, if basic, approach to teaching question words and concepts to students with significant language issues.

Grades: K–7 Price: Free to try, Paid

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Proloquo2Go

Brilliant tool helps kids with speech difficulties communicate

Bottom line: The price is hefty, but Proloquo2Go carries its weight by providing students and teachers an effective, one-of-a-kind communication tool.

Grades: K–12 Price: Paid $249.99

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Read&Write

Useful text-to-speech app and extension unlocks the written word

Bottom line: A valuable tool to make classroom use of websites and digital documents more accessible to all students.

Grades: K–12 Price: Free to try 30-day free trial. $145 per year for a single license and access to Read&Write across all platforms. School and district licenses also available.

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Seeing AI

Free app uses AI to communicate the world to visually impaired kids

Bottom line: Students who are blind or have visual impairments will likely find this multifunctional tool to be a welcome and useful shift from more limited apps.

Grades: K–12 Price: Free

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Vizzle

Visual lessons reinforce concepts for students with special needs

Bottom line: Thoughtful but dated tool helps with differentiation and progress-tracking for students with autism.

Grades: K–12 Price: Free to try, Paid After the free trial, price is dependent on usage licenses.

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Pictello

Fabulous tool can help kids create social stories

Bottom line: Pictello is a great way for kids to create social stories that can help them find their unique voice and prepare for internal and external struggles.

Grades: 1–5 Price: $19.99

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News-2-You

Draw kids into weekly news with powerful symbols and voice narration

Bottom line: Students can expand literacy skills, learn about the world, and get involved with discussion questions and activities.

Grades: 2–6 Price: $1.99 per newspaper; $54.99 per year New and archived newspapers can be purchased for $1.99. Annual access to all newspapers is $54.99.

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ClaroSpeak

Give kids a voice with supportive, quality text-to-speech tool

Bottom line: It's easy to use, and the multiple settings and functions make this app well worth the price.

Grades: 2–12 Price: Free, Paid For $9.99, users can unlock more voices, OCR, save to Dropbox and Google Drive, and autocorrect.

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Notability

Flexible note-taking tool empowers learners of all abilities

Bottom line: An excellent tool that lets students make their notes thorough and useful in the way that best suits their learning styles and abilities.

Grades: 6–12 Price: $9.99

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