If you have a child with special needs, you may be wondering how you can enhance his or her learning experience without causing undue strain. Any tools that can make learning easier or present information in a new way can be beneficial. And, since every child is different, what works for one child may not be helpful for another. Luckily, some of the newest technology tools make learning easier and more enjoyable, particularly for kids with special needs. Here's a look at some of the ways that tablets can help kids with special needs.

Improving Communication Skills

For kids who struggle with either verbal or written communication, tablets are a useful tool for self-expression and conversation. Some tablets offer apps and tools that make it easier for kids with communication problems. There are apps that supply text-to-speech tools, which is helpful for reading text to a student who struggles with vision or reading comprehension. And, there are voice transcription apps that allow kids to speak and have their words transferred to text.

Kids can even use apps that reinforce spelling rules, phonics basics and other information through visual tools. The multi-sensory input can help kids with processing disorders. In fact, there are even apps that make it easier for kids to create pictures for communication. Kids with autism can benefit from this, because it makes it easier to associate certain words and thoughts with images.

Support for Visual Impairments

In addition to the text-to-speech support, many tablets now provide apps that offer voice support for navigating the screen. These apps allow kids to touch an image on the screen and receive verbal descriptions of the selection. Some versions of these apps even provide adjustments to the speech rates, making it easier for a child who is struggling with both hearing and visual impairments.

These voice applications can even help teach letters, since they will spell out letters as a child makes selections. With integrated word prediction and spelling support, it simplifies the text entry process. If you have a child who's struggling with a learning disability and having trouble with letters and spelling, this is a great visual tool for reinforcement.

Accommodations for Hearing Impairments

Sometimes kids with hearing impairments have difficulties with online learning because of the background sounds. If your child uses a voice app to help with reading, the app will silence the background music and other sound effects. This makes it easier to hear the primary sounds, which is one of the biggest struggles for kids with hearing problems. Additionally, tablets typically support headphone use, which can help your child focus clearly on the sounds without disturbing anyone else in the room.

Refining Motor Skills

Since tablets have become more mainstream, the touch-screen navigation has become increasingly popular. For kids on the autism spectrum and those with other developmental disorders, motor skills can be challenging. The touch-screen encourages kids to work on their fine motor skills, while the ability to create shortcuts makes it easier for kids to navigate into favorite apps and programs without difficulty.

Developers have built apps for various tablets that allow you to set up certain movements and tasks that your child will have to navigate to progress through the app. These can be used to reinforce specific motor skills and to encourage hand-eye coordination. Hands-on alphabet apps give kids the ability to trace letters with their fingers, making it easier to learn to write, since you eliminate the need to focus on pencil grip at the same time. These apps re-create the rainbow tracing method of teaching letters.

With so many different options available for learning applications, tablets have become popular in most classrooms and therapy facilities. If you want to try out a tablet and see how your child responds, consider an ipad rental program that allows you to test it out before making the full commitment and investing in one of your own.