Month: July 2018

Spotlight On Disability Positive Companies John’s Crazy Socks (4)

How Apps are Helping People with Autism

On July 31, 2018

Technology is improving day in and day out, and with that comes the power to transcend just silly games, instant messaging, and social media. With that comes the power to actually make a change and use apps to help people access the world in different ways. They can be used as both an accessibility resource and a research to keep children learning in ways that work for them. A predominance of these apps focuses on helping children with autism practice skills in an encouraging and fun one. Here are a couple examples of those apps for the iPhone, iPad, and Android:

Autism iHelp

Autism iHelp is an aid that teaches vocabulary words and includes 72 photographs paired with vocabulary words and learning enhancement activities. These activities are presented as games in order to focus on retention and auditory and visual memory. The app was developed through the collaboration of a speech-language pathologist and the parents of a child with autism.

Upper Case–Autism Series

This app is specifically meant for Android opposed to iPhone and iPad. The app provides coloring pages that help children learn the alphabet, and is specifically designed for younger children and toddlers.

Autism and PDD Concepts Lite

This iPad and iPhone app offer a wide range of stories and corresponding questions. It aims to increase reading comprehension and understanding.

Autism Aid App

This app, as well, is only available for Android and has been received with quite high ratings from users. It has a number of functions. It allows families to seek out help in case of an emergency, it helps children on the autism spectrum develop their communication skills, and lastly, it brings attention to external services available for both children with autism and their families.

Articulation Station

Articulation Station was created by a certified speech-language pathologist and helps children learn how to speak and pronounce words and sounds. The words being tuned are paired with high-quality images in order to engage in multiple modes of learning, as well as fun activities and games to keep your children engaged.

See.Touch.Learn.

This app focuses on the importance of visual instruction, a way which particularly benefits many people with autism. This app has thousands of picture based flashcards and exercises built off of them, and also includes the ability to create custom lessons and to expand the library of flashcards once a set has been mastered.

The Role Technology Plays in Startups

By Russ Ewell

On July 27, 2018

In Blog

Today’s world is, more than ever, propelled by innovative technology that is a major force behind the functioning of startups. Technology is playing many parts in the growth of startups. It changes the way that advertising is done and who it is able to reach, helps manage financial and statistic information within the startup, can keep employees connected in new ways, and more.

Technology is adding tactics beyond those which are considered orthodox to the wheelhouse of startups. Technology can be used to drive revenue for countries while simultaneously providing increased accessibility. Here are some potential ways that technology can help startups grow and compete:

Improve Customer Service with the Cloud

The cloud can help you combine customer experience and service into one central locus. The cloud is a great place to bridge an immediate gap between the customer and your customer service rep, thus allowing them to understand where the customer is coming from much better via apps and shared information.

Use Amazon Alexa as an Assistant

Amazon Alexa is an incredibly useful piece of technology. It is a base for so many sorts of information and resources that are all just a vocalization away. Additionally, by connecting Alexa to your personal documents and resources you can ask for information verbally without having to shuffle through papers or sift through files. This may only save a couple of minutes or seconds here and there, but your time is very valuable and these minutes and seconds all add up. She can also be used to send an email verbally, create a to-do list, notify you when a customer is contacting you, and more.

Utilize Managed IT Services to Secure Your Network

It is quite expensive to have a well-staffed IT department to avoid getting hacked. Often, hackers target small businesses and startups as they know that their defenses may not be as strong. CNBC reports that, in 2017, almost 6 in 10 businesses reported that they had received a cyber attack. However, Managed IT Servers have become increasingly prominent as a way for small businesses and startups to defend against cyber threats and become less vulnerable and increasingly fortified, at a very affordable cost.

These services can offer high-powered solutions to be proactive in fending off cyber attacks and maintain a secure company and information base. This defense will give your company the space and safety that it needs for growth.