Steven is a fifth-grader who I met during my occupational therapy fieldwork. He was diagnosed with dysgraphia and his handwriting is so messy that no one can read it.
His occupational therapist tried many things to help him improve his penmanship, but nothing worked. The determined OT even scanned his worksheets into a computer so he could type in answers to questions, but it was too time consuming so she stopped doing it. Steven was frustrated about getting left behind in class because he couldn’t complete the worksheets with the rest of his peers.
There had to be a better way to help Steven keep up. I had an idea! What if he could take a picture of his worksheet using an iPad and type his answers on the screen? I searched the app store, but there was nothing available to do this. Well, there were a few apps, but they were designed for business people and were too complex for a child to use.
I sketched out my idea on a napkin and shared it with Steven’s OT. She loved it! So I put together a detailed mockup of the app and worked with a developer to build it. A few weeks later, I had a working app called SnapType.
Steven’s OT and teacher are thrilled. However, the real joy comes from seeing Steven use the app. It is easy for him to take a picture of a worksheet and use the iPad keyboard to answer questions. He no longer falls behind in class and is more confident about his abilities.
The SnapType Family
We are the husband and wife team behind SnapType!
Amberlynn Slavin is a pediatric occupational therapist who has practiced in California and New Hampshire, USA. She has experience working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder, Down’s Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, mental health disorders, and other developmental disorders. When she’s not working, you can find her coaching gymnastics, working on all sorts of creative projects, and eating artichokes. As a student completing her occupational therapy graduate fieldwork at Springfield College, Amberlynn came up with the idea for SnapType. She also curates creative_cheap_crafts, an Instagram page dedicated to OT activity ideas.
Ben Slavin is an engineer and product guy who works behind the scenes of SnapType. He enjoys tinkering with technology to create clever solutions to challenging problems. He’s the kind of guy who gets stuff done.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.