Finding the best apps for kids with learning disabilities can be life-changing. These tools make learning easier and more enjoyable. Every child learns differently, and the right apps provide personalized support.
Kids with dyslexia, ADHD, or other learning challenges need apps designed for their needs. These apps use visuals, interactive lessons, and engaging activities to improve learning. With the right tools, kids gain confidence and enjoy learning more.
This article explores the best apps for kids with learning disabilities in 2025. These expert-recommended picks offer fun and effective learning experiences. Whether your child struggles with reading, math, or focus, these apps provide valuable support. Let’s dive into the top tools that make education fun and accessible for every child!
Children with Learning Disabilities
For children with learning disabilities, learning in school often requires different types of support to ensure they fully understand and remember lessons. Fortunately, the rise of assistive apps for special needs children has provided more learning resources than ever before.
These apps cater to children with conditions such as autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and other learning disabilities, allowing them to engage in education in ways that align with their unique learning styles.
What is Special Education?
Special education includes various services tailored to address the unique learning requirements of students. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), federal law ensures that children with disabilities have access to a free and appropriate public education, along with special education services for those who meet the criteria.
An essential aspect of IDEA is the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), which emphasizes that students with disabilities should be integrated into general education classrooms as much as possible.
To support this inclusion, teachers must provide necessary accommodations and assistance, which are clearly outlined in each student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP).
A student’s IEP is created by a team consisting of professionals and caregivers, who contribute valuable insight into the child’s specific classroom intervention needs.
To help students achieve their individualized goals and accommodations, many general and special education teachers incorporate special education apps as part of their teaching strategies.
The Advantages of the Best Apps for Kids with Learning Disabilities
Based on data from the National Center for Education Statistics, during the 2020–2021 school year, 15% of public school students between the ages of 3 and 21 received special education services. Among these students, the most prevalent disability category was specific learning disabilities, accounting for 33%.
These children can greatly benefit from apps designed for special needs education, particularly those tailored for individuals with ADHD and autism.
Technology in special education plays a crucial role in eliminating learning barriers and providing access to educational resources specifically created to meet their unique learning styles. According to an article by eLearning Industry, these apps support students by offering personalized learning experiences and increasing flexibility in teaching methods.
Using such technology fosters a sense of independence and self-reliance in students with special needs, allowing them to learn at a pace that suits them best. Additionally, it can help minimize the stress and anxiety that often come with learning in a group setting.
Best Apps for Kids With Learning Disabilities like Autistim
For children with autism, specialized educational apps can enhance their ability to grasp and retain lessons more effectively. Below are some top-recommended apps designed to support autism-friendly learning.
- Starfall
Starfall is a free educational app designed for preschool to third-grade students, including those with autism. It offers a variety of interactive activities, such as games and songs, to help children engagingly develop essential academic skills. - ABC Kids – Trac in Phonics
This free Apple app is perfect for young learners in early elementary school. It helps children recognize letters and learn their sounds through fun tracing exercises and phonics activities. - I can | Special Educational Fun
Designed for children aged 3 to 14, and focuses on strengthening social-emotional, cognitive, self-care, and academic skills for students with learning disabilities. Available on iOS and Android, this app is also highly beneficial for children with ADHD. - Proloquo2Go
Proloquo2Go is a paid communication app available on Apple devices. It supports nonverbal individuals, including those with autism, Down syndrome, and cerebral palsy, by helping them build language skills and communicate effectively in daily life.
The Top ADHD Apps to Assist Students with Disabilities in Learning
Students with ADHD often face challenges in staying focused during lessons and while doing homework. They may also find it hard to follow directions or complete tasks that demand a lot of mental effort.
Using learning and communication apps designed for students with special needs can greatly support ADHD learners in reaching their potential. Here are some excellent options:
- MindNode
MindNode is an iOS app that helps ADHD students visualize their thoughts by creating mind maps. These maps are especially useful for organizing ideas, writing papers, and handling large amounts of information. - Unstuck
Unstuck is a unique app that utilizes cognitive behavioral techniques to assist students in identifying frustrations, solving problems, and regaining focus on tasks. - myHomework
Keeping track of homework and school assignments can be tough for students with ADHD, but myHomework is a helpful free app. It enables students to manage class schedules, homework, and upcoming exams. - FlashcardsDeluxe
Studying for exams can be challenging for ADHD students. Flashcards Deluxe is a user-friendly, customizable app that lets students either use pre-made virtual flashcards or create their own to enhance their study sessions.
Best Special Education Apps
We’ve gathered a list of the best apps for special needs students that can be used by special education teachers and general education teachers alike.
Assistive Technology
- Otsimo
Otsimo is created for students undergoing speech therapy. It provides lessons and games that are evidence-based and can be customized according to the student’s age or proficiency level. The app also includes multilingual augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) games, making it suitable for non-verbal students or those with specific communication objectives. - SoundingBoard
SoundingBoard is a free AAC app designed for children who are nonverbal or have limited speech abilities. The app comes with preloaded boards featuring symbols and recorded messages, along with options to create personalized boards using either symbols or photos. - JABtalk
JABtalk is a straightforward communication app aimed at students with special needs. It allows users to customize activities using their pictures and audio to enhance communication. - Voice Dream Reader
Voice Dream Reader is an intuitive app that lets users listen to selected texts. It includes a built-in dictionary to improve comprehension and supports multiple languages, making it beneficial for English learners. - VoiceDreamWriter
Voice Dream Writer offers a range of features beneficial for individuals with dyslexia, blindness, visual impairments, or anyone, in general. It provides speech-to-text transcription and the option to listen to your written content. - Notability
The Notability app is a valuable tool for students, offering support in areas like note-taking and research. Its audio capabilities cater to various learning styles and enable teachers to leave narrated feedback on students’ work. - TimeTimer
Time Timer is a great visual tool that proves beneficial for students with special needs. It allows you to set multiple timers throughout the day, with different colors designated for various subjects.
LifeSkillsChoiceworks
The Choiceworks app is designed to assist students with autism and other disabilities in keeping track of daily schedules, and routines, and learning how to tell time. Teachers can customize the app by adding their images or choosing from a selection provided within the app.
- LivingSafely
Living Safely is aimed at students with autism, learning challenges, or other developmental disabilities. This app offers self-guided lessons on 27 safety-related topics, including bathroom safety, fire safety, handling getting lost, and much more. - EverydaySkills
Everyday Skills offers lessons on 40 vital life skills, covering situations such as dentist appointments, car rides, shopping, and working. - iDoHygiene
The iDo Hygiene app helps reinforce essential hygiene practices using videos and engaging games. Users can personalize their experience by uploading their photos to create step-by-step guides for performing hygiene tasks.
Literacy Tools for Learning
- StoryBuilderforiPad
Designed for special education, StoryBuilder for iPad allows students to answer questions that are then used to create a narrative. This app is particularly beneficial for students with dyslexia or those who find writing challenging. - Epic
Epic is a digital library app offering a wide selection of high-quality children’s books. Students can explore videos, books, games, and more, making it a great resource for enhancing literacy. - WordWizard
The Word Wizard app offers an interactive talking alphabet, enabling students to explore phonemic awareness and build words. It reads aloud any word a child forms, providing a useful tool for self-correction. - DyslexiaToolbox
Created by individuals with dyslexia, the Dyslexia Toolbox includes type pads, word prediction, digital overlays, text readers, and other features aimed at supporting literacy for those with dyslexia.
Speech Skills
- SpeechBlurbs
Speech Blurbs helps students practice the initial sounds, words, and sentences, making it ideal for children with articulation or communication challenges. - MyFirst AAC
My First AAC is intended for younger children with speech delays or disorders. The number of buttons on the screen can be adjusted to fit the child’s processing and fine motor skills. - SoundMatch
Sound Match is a matching game that uses sounds rather than pictures to enhance auditory processing skills. - Slingo
The SSlingoapp offers interactive games that focus on developing listening and language abilities in a fun way.
Social/Emotional Skills
- TheSocialExpress
The Social Express aids in building social skills by engaging children with interactive characters. It teaches appropriate social reactions in different situations. - SentenceBuilder/ConversationBuilderTeen
SentenceBuilder is designed for younger children, helping them develop conversational skills for peer interaction. In contrast, ConversationBuilderTeen is aimed at older students, providing a simulated environment for practicing conversations. - ABAFlashCards&Games:Emotions
ABA Flash Cards helps students identify over 100 different emotions through various games. The app allows customization, including adding personalized cards with your recorded voice. - MiracleModus
Miracle Modus offers calming visuals and sounds to ease sensory overload for students with special needs.
Math Skills
- MontessoriNumbers
This app uses visual learning methods and repetitive tasks to teach math, making it particularly useful for students with dyscalculia. - Photomath
Photomath uses your device’s camera to instantly scan and solve math problems. - ModMath
ModMath is a top choice for students with dysgraphia, as it enables them to set up and solve math problems digitally, without needing to write by hand. - MentalUp
MentalUp is a great app for students with dyscalculia, providing personalized math learning through engaging, interactive games.
What You Should Know
Technology makes learning easier for kids with disabilities. The right apps provide personalized support, boost confidence, and make lessons fun.
From reading tools to math games, these apps help children overcome learning challenges. Parents and teachers can use these tools to create engaging lessons that fit each child’s needs.
We hope this list of the best apps for kids with learning disabilities helps you find the perfect tool. Try them out and see how they transform learning! Share this guide with others who want to support kids in their learning journey.