Free+Technology+Resources

=Free Technology Resources For Students on the Autism Spectrum= Many of these online resources are excellent for use with a SmartBoard, interactive whiteboard (recommended due to the ability to use touch which has been found to be more effective than the use of a marker or stylus).

Low Tech Strategies

 * **Create a [|six-sided visual Foldup]; follow these directions Includes First/Then, Wait, Count Down. Easy and invaluable**
 * **[|Visual Aids for Learning] - printable visual sequences of school routines**
 * **[|Free Stuff from Slater Software] - visual stories using PixWriter and PictureIt, arranged by the month. Fantastic!**
 * **[|Pocket Mod]**

**Social Stories**
> **Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have trouble interpreting social situations and understanding speech as quickly as most social interactions require. A comic strip conversation is a conversation between two or more people using simple illustrations in a comic strip format. They show children how to behave in a socially acceptable manner and conform to social standards. The effectiveness can be enhanced by incorporating a child's favorite cartoon character into the illustration.**
 * **Region 2 Digital Lending Library - collection of social stories in PowerPoint format**
 * **Do to Learn - Free Feelings and Emotions Games, excellent for social skills instruction, also check out the Fire Safety and Street Safety songs for students with cognitive disabilities**
 * **Comic Strip Conversations -**
 * **Comic Strip Creator**
 * **Make Belief Comix**
 * **Toondoo**
 * **Create Your Own Comic/Super Hero**
 * **[|StoryMaker]** - story creation tool. One of the options is to create a story about making friends. Could be used for a social story.

**Video Modeling**
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 * **Xtranormal - make free 3D movies**
 * **Voice Thread - capture audio for online digital storytelling. Excellent online tool to create social stories or video modeling**
 * **[|PhotoStory 3 for Windows].- add photos, audio, text to create visual social stories or video modeling**
 * **[|Photo Peach] - even easier than Photo Story and it's online so it doesn't matter what computer platform you are using. Import photos, write captions, add music, done! The spiral effect is cool. [|Watch the demo here].**

Controlled Web Browsers
===ZacBrowser - Web Browser designed by a grandfather for his grandson who is on the Autism Spectrum. Appropriate for young children or those with developmental disabilities. (Download)===

[|Kidzui Browser] - Safe Internet Browser - over 2.5 million sites, games and videos approved by teachers and parents. (Download)

Software Resources
Hiyah Software - educational software for children who are developmentally from 18 months to 4 years.

Starfall - All activities are great for SmartBoard use

 * **Make a Calendar activity** - Perfect for Morning Circle - Excellent SmartBoard Activity

Coloring/Drawing/Creativity Tools

 * **TheColor.com**
 * **Kerpoof- a free online tool> **
 * **Explore all tools**
 * **Make A Drawing**
 * **Doodle Pad**
 * **TuxPaint - free drawing software download**
 * **[|Zoo Burst] - 3D Digital Story Telling Tool - very cool**
 * **[|StoryBird]**- **collaborative Story Telling Tool, provides gorgeous graphics to get students started creating their own stories. Kids love it.**