Students with learning disabilities often have trouble with study skills like getting and staying organized—a crucial executive function skill—and remembering what needs to happen and when. My daughter (who has dyslexia) and I have researched and/or tested the following apps, and she’s found them especially helpful. We know that every person has slightly different needs, but it’s worth taking the time to find out which apps work for your child.
This app is a great for students, teachers, and parents. It helps you stay on track by scheduling your appointments and reminding you of deadlines. Its features may be more intuitive for high school and college students.
This in-depth mapping tool allows students to visually organize their thoughts, ideas, and information. It could be especially helpful to older students when organizing thoughts for writing papers.
Corkulous acts like a giant bulletin board where you can collect, organize, and share ideas—including creating a family message center, reminder board, goal manager, and more.
These aren't your ordinary flashcards. Cards can have up to five sides (imagine: one side pronounces a word; another provides a visual cue; another spells it with a visual; and so on), and customizable colors and themes will help students tailor cards to their needs.
This free alarm clock for the iPad comes with snooze and sound fade-in features. It displays live, local weather conditions, which can help you or your child visualize what to wear as soon as the day begins.
GoodReader has been praised for its annotating capabilities and quick pace when managing large PDF and TXT files, manuals, and books. Its multi-tab option makes it easy to switch back and forth between documents when studying.
Read and annotate PDF documents, highlight text, and take notes with PDF Expert, which is compatible with Preview and Adobe Acrobat.
Note: All of these mobile apps were researched and/or tested by our mother-daughter team in December 2012 on Apple products like the iPhone and iPad. New editions may change the nature of an app, making it more or less LD-friendly. “New” may not mean “better” for you. Also, our recommendations don’t include complimentary apps that require you to buy a full version of a program.
Darla Hatton and Kaila, her teenage daughter (who has dyslexia) have been active members of the larger LD community for years, including giving presentations at the Family Cafe's Annual Conference in Florida. They’re committed to sharing information and supporting the success of individuals with learning disabilities.
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Students with learning disabilities often have trouble with study skills like getting and staying organized—a crucial executive function skill—and remembering what needs to happen and when. My daughter (who has dyslexia) and I have researched and/or tested the following apps, and she’s found them especially helpful. We know that every person has slightly different needs, but it’s worth taking the time to find out which apps work for your child. 
