HWDSB Helps vs SkillSteps

HWDSB Helps is a free anonymous reporting service provided by Hamilton Wentworth District School-board. It enables a two-way anonymous conversation empowering students, staff and parents to prevent bullying and crime in our schools. HWDSB Helps provides each school with its own mobile information portal which features realtime updates on school activities with a built-in reporting tool. Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board has a vision in which all students achieve their full potential. Embracing student achievement, engagement and equity, the Board's staff strives to provide relevant, responsive education so that each of our 49,000 students becomes lifelong learners and contributing citizens in a diverse world. Learn more at http://www.hwdsb.on.ca or follow us on Twitter @hwdsb

Every child deserves tools that speak their language. SkillSteps brings together everything your child needs — social stories, communication support, mood tracking, and calming sensory tools — in one beautifully simple app. No more juggling five different apps. No more losing progress between tools. Just one place where your child can learn, express, and feel safe. SOCIAL STORIES — BUILT IN MINUTES Create personalised social stories for any situation — visiting the dentist, starting a new school, handling a meltdown. Use your own photos or our icon library. Based on Carol Gray's evidence-based Social Stories™ framework, trusted by thousands of therapists and parents worldwide. COMMUNICATION BUILDER Build visual communication boards tailored to your child's vocabulary and needs. Tap pictures to speak, construct sentences, and express needs confidently. Designed for children at every communication level — from first words to full sentences. MOOD TRACKER — UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY FEEL Help your child name and track their emotions each day with simple visual check-ins. Parents get a private dashboard showing patterns over time — invaluable for therapy appointments and spotting triggers before they become crises. SENSORY & STIM TOOLS — CALM IN THEIR POCKET When the world gets too loud, SkillSteps is ready. Pop bubbles, draw freely, or focus on your breathing. These sensory tools give children a safe, acceptable way to self-regulate — anywhere, any time. BUILT FOR CHILDREN. DESIGNED FOR PARENTS. Children enjoy the simple, colourful experience. Parents and caregivers get full control behind the scenes — create content, review mood history, share stories with therapists, and track progress over time. ALSO INCLUDES • Visual daily schedule builder • Emotion recognition activities• Custom reward system • Calming breathing exercises • Offline mode — works without internet • No ads. Ever. Your child's world makes more sense with SkillSteps. Free to try — because every family deserves access.