Press Kit
Contact Dr. Cindy Fisher:
Cell: 913-522-6660 connect@smartsteps4me-com
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindy-fisher-1470851a/
Images
Smart Steps Mobile was created by a special education teacher, Dr. Cindy Fisher, who has a Masters in Special Education.
She wanted a tool to help students feel less anxious in new situations after graduating from high school.
This can help students navigate new situations such as college or a new job.
How to Download Images
Permission Granted: Images, videos, and information in this press kit may be used in newspapers, magazines, blogs, and other media for stories about this book without written permission.
Windows: RIGHT click on the image, select “Save Image As” and save to your computer.
Macintosh: Drag-and-drop image to your desktop or click and HOLD on the link, select “save as” and save to your computer.
How Smart Steps Mobile Helps
Planning and solving an everyday problem such as a late ride can be overwhelming when it takes several mini-decisions.
Smart Steps Mobile is an app that helps teens and young adults work through these situations by offering choices, one step at a time.
Tips and suggestions are provided at the bottom of the screen, just when they might be needed.
If they are unable to solve their problem, the app prompts them to call or text for help using one of the contacts they have stored in the app.
Sample Scenario: Missed Ride to Work
In one sample scenario (see video link at the bottom of this page), a young man uses his Smart Steps Mobile app when he misses his ride to work.
The app gives him ideas for a different way to work.
The app then reminds him to call work to let them know he is on his way.
He feels good about getting to work, and his boss is pleased to have the help she needs.
Self Advocacy and Communication Skills
It also helps with self advocacy and social communication skills by providing a script of what they might say in the moment to ask for help.
If they are nervous or are hard to understand, the user can press the speak aloud button and have it said for them.
A profile screen can be personalized with a photo and other information.
The user can show it to a helpful person instead of trying to explain what they need and who they are.
Introduce it in High School; Use it in College.
Colleges are finding that first year students lack self advocacy, and the anxiety and isolation they feel often leads to them dropping out of college.
Self advocacy is not something that happens overnight or in a few weeks. It’s a skill and attitude that needs to be practiced throughout a student’s school career. This is why it’s useful to practice using Smart Steps in high school.
This app lends itself to a classroom environment for role playing. After practice, the app user might remember what they practiced, or they can discreetly open their app to help them.
Sample Scenario: Asking for Accommodations in College
In this situation (see video at the bottom of this page), a first year college student needs to ask for accommodations, which is new for him since he didn’t have to do this in high school. He uses Smart Steps Mobile to give him ideas to contact each professor and the testing center.
It helped make his college experience less stressful because he had just the right amount of support when he needed it. He gained confidence handling things on his own, and his mom had peace of mind seeing this growth.
Content can be Customized
Content can be customized for a group or for an individual. For example, a classroom could have a group account.
The teacher can make general group trees that are tailored to the school, using specific names of people and places.
Then each group member can make a copy of the tree and tailor it for their own needs.
If the teacher or student wants help making trees, there are tutorials in the web portal or Smart Steps can assist.
Video Cartoons Demonstrate How the App Helps with Problem Solving and Self Advocacy:
http://bit.ly/SmartStepsMobileIntro
In this 1 minute, 11 second explainer cartoon, a young man uses his Smart Steps Mobile app when he missed his ride to work. He found a different way to work. The app reminded him to call work to let them know he was on his way. He felt good about getting to work, and his boss was pleased that she had the help she needed.
https://bit.ly/SSCollegeAccommodations
In this 1 minute, 42 second explainer cartoon, a first year college student needs to ask for accommodations, which is new for him since he didn’t have to do this in high school. He uses Smart Steps Mobile to give him ideas to contact each professor and the testing center. It helped make his college experience less stressful because he had just the right amount of support when he needed it. He gained confidence handling things on his own, and his mom had peace of mind seeing this growth.
Links
Smart Steps is available in the Apple App Store:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/smart-steps-mobile/id887603628?ls=1
Smart Steps is available in the Google Playstore:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.smartsteps4me.mobile&hl=en
Register for a Free account:
Register for an account and Log in on the website using these links:
https://app.smartsteps4me.com/register
https://app.smartsteps4me.com/login
See a Demo Account:
Use this info if you do not want to create an account in order to log in to the app. First, download the app.
Login name: SS4me22@gmail.com
Password: demo2022
Police Demo App Shows How the App can be Customized:
Decision trees in this version of Smart Steps Mobile were created from a document found online.
This example shows how the software can be adapted to different needs.
Content in the decision trees outlines how police and social workers coordinate to support someone with a mental health situation.
They can reference this information in the field to be sure they cover each step in order.
To see this example, use this info to log in to the app. First, download the app.
Login name: demo@smartsteps4me.com
Password: demo2022
Testimonials
■“I was looking for something like this!” ~ Joe
■“Where have you been?” ~Meghan
■“I’ve been telling people about Smart Steps. It’s such a great tool.” ~ Beth
■“How did you think of this? It’s so simple, but it’s perfect because it’s simple.”
■“They don’t always communicate well, so it could help them with their words.” ~ Brian
News
Exceptional Needs Magazine (7/2022)
“Behavior Issues: A Four Step Plan to De-Stressing Your Household.”
https://issuu.com/exceptionalneedstoday/docs/ent_issue_9/87
News Release in The Shawnee Mission Post, (4/2022)
“App Created by Former JoCo Teacher Aims to Help People with Autism Navigate Daily Challenges”
https://shawneemissionpost.com/2022/04/07/smartsteps-app-autism-144216/
“Gladstone Native Creates Product to help Young Adults with Autism” (4/2022)
