Fine Motor Assistive Tech

On Friday I watched the webinar on fine motor assistive technology apps using the iPad and iPhone/iPod.

The webinar provided a really good refresher on the types of fine motor challenges our students may encounter. While the focus at elementary school is often on hand/finger control (and often a referral is prompted by poor hand writing, as the presenters noted), there are a range of issues connected with fine motor that I didn't necessarily consider. For example, core stability and shoulder functioning can all lead to fine motor challenges in students, including hand/finger dexterity as well as the general range of motion students have. The consequences of fine motor problems in school can include not just problems with physical grasping and hand control, but also challenges with problem solving, self esteem and motivation due to continued negative experiences at school.

It was also interesting to learn the various ages at which fine motor skills develop. We have a one-year-old and a three-year-old, and our older son, especially, is starting to demonstrate many of the "typical" skills appropriate for his age. It is fascinating to watch him develop, but also sobering to realize how difficult it must be for a ten-year-old to have the same level of fine motor development as my pre-schooler.

The apps presented were really interesting. Many apps were game-style activities that required fine motor skills to play, and as such helped develop these skills. For instance, Bugs & Buttons is an app where you need to pinch various insects and drag them into containers. There is also a roach race where you push the roaches along by alternating drumming two fingers on two buttons. One of the more expensive but useful apps, Injini ($29.99) has a wide variety of activities to assist in fine motor development, presented in a well-designed visual interface. There is a free "lite" version to try (I downloaded the lite version it to show our three-year-old - he loves it!).

Barb and the other presenters discussed how styluses can be purchased for use with the iPad, and these may go further in fine motor development since so much is based on that pencil-grasp concept for writing. (This, of course, is student-specific, based on the plan in place for the student.) These various styli can be purchased from sources such as Amazon. Here is an example of one used in the webinar (click on image to follow link to Amazon):

Like so much of what we've been discussing in this course, the iPad certainly seems to provide an excellent way to engage and assist students who need fine motor support. My big question continues to be about funding, and whether our Student Services department would support the purchase of iPads for students in need of fine motor assistance (especially in the presence of traditional AT for fine motor). The benefit of knowing about the excellent ways in which iPads can be used is that we can add contribute to the discussion about their benefit. I think we are gradually seeing these tools used more and more in our schools, and hopefully that trend will continue.

Here is the complete list of apps covered during this webinar, along with a very brief overview:

Dexteria ($4.99 - Universal app)

This app provides therapeutic hand exercises for students, including dexterity, finger sequencing and isolation, and control.

Bugs & Buttons ($2.99 - iPad only)

This is a game-style app which requires the user to pinch and pull various insects to containers, as well as other finger movements to play various games. It promotes finger/thumb control, as well as appropriate and sustained pressure.

Juno's Piano ($0.99 - iPad only)

A virtual piano app, it allows students to practice finger control through music. Easy to use.

Injini ($29.99 - iPad only)

This app has a variety of games and activities designed to assist in fine motor development. The sequence of activities matches development (e.g. moving from vertical and horizonal lines to diagonals, curved lines, etc.) It is an engaging and interesting app.

Touch & Write ($2.99- iPad only)

A fun app designed to let children learn letters, numbers and words through tracing with a finger or stylus. It promotes fine motor skills by asking students to be precise in their tracing.


ShapeBuilder ($0.99 - Universal app)

This app includes 146 different puzzles, where children must drag the pieces into the correct position. The placement is quite precise, requiring steady placement and thus promoting fine motor development.

WritePad for iPad ($9.99 - iPad only)

This is a handwriting recognition app. Allows user to write letters and words with their finger or stylus, and the app converts the writing to text. This is linked to Handwriting without Tears principles.

Cars 2 AppMates (Free, requires purchase of physical toys to use with app, iPad only)

This is a highly engaging and contemporary app linked to Disney's "Cars" brand. The app requires special cars to be purchased separately. These physical cars are placed on the iPad screen and are used to manipular on-screen activity. The fine motor link is the physical manipulation and grasp of the cars themselves, especially through the three-finger grasp.

Pirate Scribblebeard's Treasure ($2.99 - iPad only)

This is a drawing app that animates what the user draws. Linked to pirate storylines, the user needs to use their finger or stylus to draw additional details into a scene.