Our 20 Favorite iPad Apps for Kids with CVI
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For kids with Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) there are a few things to keep in mind when helping them use their vision: Keep their environment clutter free, use bright attractive and high-contrasting colors, and accompany visuals with simple movements when possible.
The iPad may not be as bright as a Lightbox, but it can be much more interactive and easily tailored to suit the needs of kids with CVI… if you have the right apps. There are more and more organizations recognizing the possibilities of the iPad and creating iPad apps designed specifically to help kids with CVI, but there are also other apps that might not have been created with CVI in mind yet still work great for our kiddos!
Apps Designed Specifically for Kids with CVI
Tap-N-See Now:
The developer of this app calls it “the first app for iPad and iPhone created specifically for children with cortical visual impairment.”
Find the app on iTunes.
Read a review.
EDA PLAY:
Helps children work on vision and fine motor skills with games ranging from simple to more complex. You can choose the level of play for your child in two categories: Visual Level and Task Level.
Find the app on iTunes.
Read a review.
EDA PLAY PAULI:
A simple interface with high-contrast images coupled with a story line for kids to interact with. Touch the screen to progress the story and hear fun sounds.
Find the app on iTunes.
Read a review.
EDA PLAY TOBY: FREE
Designed for the training of vision and fine motor skills of the smallest children, this app reveals large, clear high-contrast images. There are two parts to the game: Watch What’s Happening and Touch and Make Something Happen.
Find the app on iTunes.
Read a review.
Big Bang Pictures:
High contrast animated images and great sound effects designed to provide visual stimulation and to develop and assess visual preferences.
Find the app on iTunes.
Big Bang Patterns:
Contains four specially created sets of animated patterns designed to provide a range of visually stimulating activities with a choice of bold colors and movements including tracking, sliding and tunneling.
Find the app on iTunes.
Crazy Gears:
Manipulate gears, chains, rods and pulleys to create sound and movement on the screen. The app contains a special mode for children with CVI that allows the color scheme to be changed.
Find the app on iTunes.
Read a review.
My Talking Picture Board:
This app helps children with CVI learn how to locate and recognize two dimensional images. Use your own images of people or favorite objects and also include your own sounds!
Find the app on iTunes.
Read a review.
Apps that Encourage Looking
Infant Zoo:
Simple high-contrast illustrations encourage visual attention and help to develop an understanding of cause and effect.
Find the app on iTunes.
Bloom HD:
Create elaborate patterns and unique melodies by simply tapping the screen. You control the colors used in the app and you can also just let it play on its own to create its own patterns.
Find the app on iTunes.
Read a review.
Sago Mini Sound Box:
Shake, rattle or tap the iPad to move the circles across the screen and hear different fun sounds (from drums to dogs barking) as they bump into each other.
Find the app on iTunes.
Read a review.
Fluidity HD: Free
Very responsive screen encourages simple motor movements with bold visual displays. Great for teaching cause and effect and increasing visual attention (no audio).
Find the app on iTunes.
iLoveFireworks:
This app makes big sounds and big visual displays with a simple tap of the finger. It’s also great for teaching cause and effect as well as increasing visual attention.
Find the app on iTunes.
Read a review.
Peeping Musicians:
Wait for the musicians to “peep” from behind their instruments. A simple touch gets each musician to move center stage and play a song for you!
Find the app on iTunes.
Apps that Encourage Touching
Cause & Effect Sensory Light Box:
This cause-and-effect app creates sounds and high-contrast lights when your finger is on the screen, then stops when you remove your finger. Perfect for children with low vision or CVI.
Find the app on iTunes.
Read a review.
Cause & Effect Sensory Sound Box:
This app was made for children with complex learning needs including autism and visual impairment. Eighteen scenes play a continuous sound which changes it’s pitch or intensity as a finger moves around the screen.
Find the app on iTunes.
Read a review.
Art of Glow: FREE
This app allows you to create vivid and bright pictures on your iPad with just a touch of your finger or hand on the screen. The black background provides a nice contrast.
Find the app on iTunes.
Bubbles:
Every tap on the black screen creates a bright blue bubble and every tap on the slow moving blue bubbles makes them POP with a very satisfying popping sound.
Find the app on iTunes.
Read a review.
Baby Look Tickle:
The more you tap or swipe the screen the more the baby laughs! The baby in this app is drawn with simple black lines on a white background and his laugh is infectious.
Find the app on iTunes.
Read a review.
Draw with Stars: FREE
Use your fingers to draw stars on a black background or even choose a photo from your photo library to draw on. This app allows for different settings, including music, sounds and animations.
Find the app on iTunes.
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