Assistive Technology to Empower Kids with ADHD, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia

Children with ADHD, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia often face unique challenges in academic settings. However, the advent of assistive technology has revolutionized the way these children can learn, communicate, and succeed in school. In this article, we’ll explore six remarkable apps that can make a significant difference for child with learning difficulties.

 

 

For children who struggle with writing and math, ModMath is a game-changer. This free app provides a virtual graph paper where kids can type math problems, helping them bypass the difficulties of handwriting. It includes features like customizable fonts, alignment tools, and an intuitive interface that ensures kids focus on solving problems rather than formatting them. Teachers and parents can easily access and print completed assignments, streamlining the learning process.

 

Math is one subject that you must practice—there’s no other way around it. But what do you do when your child has Dysgraphia and Dyscalculia AND ADHD as the icing on the top? Well, you get ModMath. My daughter was procrastinating when it came to practicing fractions at school, and as a result, fractions became her homework.

 

At first, I scribed for her to complete a couple of worksheets. But my goal is always to enable her to be independent and feel empowered. So, I went looking on the world wide web and discovered ModMath. It was a game-changer. For the first time, she was open to solving fraction addition and subtraction problems without resistance. The app removed the struggle of writing and aligning fractions, letting her focus on actually solving the problems. Seeing her empowered and stress-free while completing her work was such a relief.

 

Best For: Children who find writing or aligning numbers challenging.

 

 

Brainstorming and organizing thoughts can be a hurdle for kids with ADHD or Dysgraphia. Inspiration Maps offers a visual way to organize ideas through mind maps, flowcharts, and diagrams. This app is perfect for helping kids outline essays, break down large assignments, or simply organize their thoughts.

 

I witnessed the power of this app firsthand with my daughter. One day, she had to summarize a lesson on evolution by creating a timeline of life, but the task left her overwhelmed and stressed. When I asked how she planned to complete the assignment, she hesitated before asking if I could scribe for her. Instead, I encouraged her to explore options for completing it independently. She borrowed my iPad, opened Inspiration Maps and started using it to create a chronological timeline with arrows linking each period.

 

The result was incredible—not just in terms of how much she accomplished, but the clarity and structure of her work. Her teacher was amazed at the quality of her assignment, which turned a stressful situation into a proud moment for her. This experience showed me how powerful assistive tools like Inspiration Maps can be in helping kids thrive.

 

Best For: Structuring written assignments and brainstorming ideas.

 

 

Sometimes, simplicity is the key. The built-in Notes app available on most devices is an excellent tool for drafting long writing assignments. Its straightforward interface allows kids to focus on content without distractions. For children with ADHD or Dysgraphia, the app’s dictation features are a game-changer, enabling them to voice their thoughts instead of typing or handwriting.

 

My daughter uses this app for her novel studies and any culture-related assignments that require her to answer short and long-answer questions. She relies on the speech-to-text function to draft her responses quickly. Once she has completed the assignment, she usually prints it out and makes corrections by hand before submitting it. This process not only saves her time but also helps her focus on the quality of her work rather than the mechanics of writing.

 

Best For: Drafting essays, reports, and other long writing tasks.

 

 

Kids with ADHD often struggle with maintaining focus while reading, and LiquidText offers a dynamic solution. This app allows users to import reading material, highlight important sections, and link notes directly to the content. Its interactive interface enables children to engage with texts more actively, improving comprehension and retention.

 

While my daughter doesn’t have a lot of reading work from school right now, I know this app will be invaluable as she moves to junior high, where assignments often require reading and making notes from multiple sources. LiquidText is already widely used by university students and researchers, making it a fantastic tool for academic growth.

 

It’s free if you want to use one document to read and make notes, with paid options for premium features that researchers use. I’ve personally fallen in love with this app, and I recommend giving it a try!

 

Best For: Enhancing reading focus and summarizing key points.

 

 

Reading long texts can be daunting for children with Dyslexia, ADHD, or Dysgraphia. Speechify converts written content into audio, allowing kids to listen to their reading material. This feature not only reduces the cognitive load of decoding words but also helps maintain attention. With adjustable playback speeds and natural-sounding voices, Speechify provides an engaging way for children to consume information.

 

We are still in the process of exploring Speechify completely, but my daughter already likes the text read to her as it helps with better processing of the material. Her audio and visual processing is super fast, so she can absorb the information quickly when it’s read aloud. I believe this app will become an even bigger part of her routine as she faces more complex reading assignments in the future.

 

Best For: Kids who struggle with reading comprehension or prefer auditory learning.

 

 

Organization is often a significant challenge for kids with ADHD. TickTick is a simple yet powerful planner app that helps children (and their parents) manage tasks, set reminders, and create schedules. Its clean design makes it easy for kids to use, and features like color-coded categories and recurring reminders ensure nothing falls through the cracks.

 

Personally, I use TickTick for myself because I love planners with zero distractions. This app allows me to color-code important projects, set reminders for due dates, and manage tasks without unnecessary features cluttering the experience. It’s by far the cleanest planning app I’ve ever used, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a minimalist tool to stay organized.

 

Best For: Managing tasks and building time-management skills.

 

 

Assistive technology empowers children with ADHD, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia by breaking down traditional barriers to learning. These tools not only support academic success but also build confidence, independence, and a love for learning.

 

By integrating apps like ModMath, Inspiration Maps, and LiquidText into their daily routines, kids can overcome challenges and achieve their full potential. As parents and educators, embracing these tools can pave the way for a more inclusive and supportive learning environment.

 

“We’re in this together—have a tip or story to share? Drop it in the comments!”