Manipulative Apps to Support Students With Disabilities in Mathematics

Understanding mathematical concepts is important for all students, although often challenging for many students with disabilities. Historically, educators have used concrete manipulatives to support and build conceptual understanding. Mobile devices provide a valuable option to support students with disabilities in mathematics through app-based manipulatives. Although research is limited on app-based manipulatives, the emerging literature with virtual (i.e., digital) manipulatives more generally suggests student preference for virtual manipulatives without a loss of understanding. This column provides educators with information about app-based manipulatives and how to use them, with the goal of helping teachers make informed decisions about app-based manipulatives to support students.