App a Day: About a year ago, I wrote about Look In My Eyes, an app designed to help kids with autism practice eye contact in a fun and non-threatening way. The maker of that app, FizzBrain, has been busy ever since making apps that creatively address some of the challenges kids on the spectrum face. In addition to updated versions of Look In My Eyes, the company has released Dance Party Zoo, which lets kids "practice basic motor skills -- balance, coordination and rhythm -- with [a] fun kids' dance game," and Smile at Me, which like Look In My Eyes allows for practice of a difficult skill, in this case knowing the appropriate facial expression, with a gadget rather than a person. My daughter and I played with Dance Party Zoo a little over the holidays, and it was pretty cool; you dance vigorously with the device in your hand or pocket, and then the app has a cartoon character reenact your dance while scoring your rhythmic ability.
You can find more information about FizzBrain's apps on its site or in its growing section of the iTunes store. (No apps for Android yet.) If you've used one of FizzBrain's apps, fill out a review form to add your own take -- or to share another Apple or Android app we should know about.
Update: If you'd like to give one of these FizzBrain apps a try, the company is offering a limited number of promo codes. Send an e-mail request to abbiejcort@msn.com if you're interested.
My huband and I recently wrote an iPad app to help individuals with autism learn to converse more fluently. The app, called Conversation Coach, comes with over 1400 photos. You can add your own photos and sounds to create custom conversations. A LITE version as well as the full version are available on the app store. Our son, who has autism, loves to use the app and we hope that others can benefit from it too.