Favorite Apps for Children Who are Visually Impaired

WonderBaby.org teamed up with Paths to Literacy to create this list of our favorite iPad apps for children who are blind or visually impaired.

They categorized them by apps great for stimulating the use of vision, honing fine motor skills or teaching cause & effect, great communication apps, apps that tell stories and one app that is really nice for calming down and relaxation.

For more iPad app ideas, check out the app section on WonderBaby.org or search for iPad apps on Paths to Literacy. For ideas on accessibility, be sure to read this article on iPad Accessibility.

Vision

Tap-N-See Zoo
The developer of this app calls it “the first app for iPad and iPhone created specifically for children with cortical visual impairment.”

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!

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.

Doodle Kids
This bright doodle and drawing app is good for teaching cause and effect and visual attention. There is no audio but the colors are very grabbing and high contrast.

Infant Zoo Lite
Simple high-contrast illustrations encourage visual attention and help to develop an understanding of cause and effect.

Fluidity HD
Very responsive screen encourages simple motor movements with bold visual displays. Great for teaching cause and effect and increasing visual attention (no audio).

Art of Glow
Simple drawing app with very responsive screen. Helps to build visual attention and cause and effect (no audio).

Motor/Cause & Effect

Baby Finger HD
The tap of a finger causes movements and sounds on the screen. Very easy to use and geared toward younger children.

Bebot
Bebot is a simple sound cause and effect app that makes funny synth robot sounds. Touch the screen and make the robot sing!

Cause & Effect Sensory Light Box
This is a really well made cause-and-effect app that creates sounds and lights when your finger is on the screen, then stops when you remove your finger. Perfect for children with low vision or CVI.

Communication

Talking Tom Cat
This animated cat repeats words and sounds in a funny voice. Encourages vocalization and interaction with the iPad.

Sounding Board
This app allows you to create communication boards using simple symbols with voice output. Very good free communication app.

Answers YesNo
A simple yet extremely versatile app that turns your iPad into a communication switch that allows for an array of customizations.

Relaxation

Pocket Pond
Listen to birds chirp and frogs croak in a peaceful pond. Touch the screen to make the water splash or just watch the koi swim by.

Stories

Tickle Finger in the Jungle
In this highly interactive story, the reader has to help Tiny Tinga the monkey get home by “tickling” various predators along the way.

Dr Seuss’s ABC
All the Dr Seuss story apps from Oceanhouse Media are very well done. The stories are interactive, include sound effects and add a whole new layer to classic Seuss tales.

Accessibility

Ballyland Magic Plus App
Learn basic iPad and VoiceOver gestures in this fun and interactive game. Help the Ballyland characters prepare for and put on their magic show!

Ballyland Rotor
Fun and interactive game to learn the VoiceOver Rotor. In this sequel to Ballyland Magic, Ballicopter, Ballyland’s little red helicopter, goes on an adventure. Turn the Rotor to change where he will go! Free 3D print file of Ballicopter.

Ballyland Stay Still, Squeaky!
A story that responds to touch with audio feedback, while teaching basic iPad skills through cause and effect. Plus Bonus Game which helps to build spatial awareness on the screen by way of the finger drag gesture.

Ballyland Sound Memory
A fun sound-matching game for all, using listening and memory skills. Also builds a basic understanding of navigating a digital grid’s rows and columns.

Ballyland Code 1: Say Hello
A fun, fully accessible introduction to the basic concept of coding and computational thinking. In a digital game grid, make Wheelie go to Tinkleball and say Hello. Optional use of 3D printed learning tools.

Amber Bobnar, July 2023, WonderBaby.