Parenting Special Needs Magazine • May/June 2016 • What's APPening?

Who is ready for summer? We at BridgingApps begin daydreaming about summer long before it arrives! In fact a 2010 study from The Netherlands found that simply planning and anticipating a vacation gives a longer lasting boost in happiness, more so than the after effects of the vacation itself. So it is good for us to spend time anticipating less structure, outdoor activities and visits with extended family. This change in routine can also mean more contact and interaction with grandparents. We know that many grandparents are routinely involved in our children's lives and many even become primary caregivers for their grandchildren.

However, when it comes to technology, we have experienced the (sometimes) grouchy comments from grandparents that go something like this: "That kid always has nose in that thing" or "I don't even know why I try to talk to him." These comments can be hurtful, especially when we know that mobile devices can serve an important role for many children with disabilities, such as for communication or behavior prompts. One approach to these comments is to invite grandparents to share in their grandchildren's world using technology.

Generations have a lot to learn from each other, and we are sharing some ways we have found that technology can be a fun way to connect the generations. As we have always advocated at BridgingApps, technology is simply a tool, but a powerful tool that can be harnessed to practice shared enjoyment and engagement with another person. We have found that devices can serve as a remarkable bridge to connect the generations. We offer some ideas for how mobile devices can bring old(er) and young together.

Swaha is a fun and simple way to record and share special moments created between grandparents and their grandchildren. Simply pick photos from your camera roll and begin recording a story about those pictures, in your own words. Swipe from one photo to the next going forwards and backwards as you narrate. Then hit save. You just created, in seconds, a narrated video of your pictures.

Swim by American Red Cross is an excellent app for grandparents to use this summer when spending time with their grandchildren.This is a free mobile device app to promote water safety for parents and caregivers of individuals learning how to swim. Includes simple steps, illustrations and descriptive instructions users can take to ensure the safety of non-swimmers, new swimmers and even experienced swimmers in a variety of environments.

The GreyMatters App is an interactive life storybook created by a woman who wanted to connect with her grandmother with dementia in a positive way. The purpose is to draw on long term memories and can be a way to share stories from one's past. A caregiver is able to set up the app for the user in a few minutes by personalizing it with a photo, choosing a stage of memory loss (early, moderate, advanced, very advanced) and selecting subjects that may interest the user.

Perfect for grandchildren that live long distance from their grandparents, Creatacard is a fun, educational, and interactive experience for children to design and send their own card, featuring a variety of unique images and drawing implements. In fact, people of all ages can use CreateACard and use their artistic and creative skills in designing a card.

This app provides a remarkable mechanism to allow people who live far from each other to record videos of reading storybooks and can be sent to anyone--relatives, friends, teachers and more. The app offers many creative and practical possibilities. Recording a storybook can be used as a video modeling tool by allowing kids to view someone they love or themselves reading a story from start to finish.

This is a smart app that simplifies making a phone call. This is a wonderful app for grandparents and grandchildren to connect via phone. Instead of scrolling through contacts to find the name of the person, EasyPhone is activated by touching a photo of the person to dial a number. Though the app was designed for seniors or those with memory problems, we have found this app useful for all ages and abilities.

Also, be sure to check out Fairlady Media apps featuring lovable and fun Grandma and Grandpa characters that provide mentoring, guidance, and support as they learn and practice new skills and concepts.

If you are interested in searching for more apps, creating your own list of apps and sharing them, please go to BridgingApps.org. BridgingApps, a program of Easter Seals Greater Houston, is a community of parents, therapists, doctors and teachers who share information about using mobile devices with people who have special needs.

Cristen Reat is co-founder of BridgingApps and a mother w ho found success when using a mobile device with her children who have special needs.

Amy Barry is the Content Manager and Editor at BridgingApps and mother of five children.