Parent PAL App Tracks Progress in Kids with Special Needs
Author: Children's Specialized Hospital
Published: 5 Apr 2016 - Updated: 12 Oct 2026
Publication Type: Product Release, Update
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content
Synopsis
This information describes Parent PAL, a Progress Activity Log app that Children's Specialized Hospital in New Jersey created in 2016 with a committee of parents, caregivers, therapists and physicians to help families record the day-to-day development of children with autism, developmental delays and other complex health needs. Typical development trackers focus on standard milestones in the first few years of life, so this tool gives parents of children whose progress follows a different path a way to bring organized notes to every doctor or therapy visit. The report also places the app in the context of current pediatric guidance, including the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation for developmental screening at 9, 18 and 30 months and autism screening at 18 and 24 months, which makes it useful for parents, caregivers and clinicians supporting children with disabilities.*
At a Glance
- 1 - The app tracks seven areas: sleep, pain, words, independence, behavior, feeding and activity.
- 2 - Parents can rate items on a 1 to 5 scale, type notes or enter numbers, then view weekly or monthly charts.
- 3 - The CDC Milestone Tracker app is a free alternative for children from 2 months to 5 years, in English and Spanish.
- 4 - In 2021, 8.56 percent of U.S. children aged 3 to 17 had a diagnosed developmental disability, up from 7.40 percent in 2019.
Topic Definition
- Developmental Progress Tracking
Developmental progress tracking is the ongoing practice of recording a child's skills, behaviors and daily patterns over time - such as sleep, feeding, communication, movement and independence - so that parents, caregivers and clinicians can see how the child is changing and spot concerns early. For children with autism, developmental delays or complex medical conditions, tracking often goes beyond standard milestone checklists to capture individual goals, therapy responses and symptoms like pain or sleep disruption. The records, whether kept in an app, a journal or a shared chart, support developmental screening and clinical evaluation but do not replace them, and they help families and care teams adjust treatment plans based on real observations rather than memory.
Overview
A Progress Tracker Built for Children with Complex Needs
Children's Specialized Hospital in New Jersey launched the Parent PAL, short for Progress Activity Log, in 2016 as a free iPhone app for parents and caregivers of children with complex health needs. The app was designed to make it easier to keep a record of a child's development between visits to a physician or therapist, so families could arrive at each appointment with organized information for the care team.
Many child development trackers are built around typical milestones and focus mainly on the first few years of life. The hospital's team saw a gap for children with autism, developmental delays and other complex medical needs, whose progress often does not follow a standard timeline and who may need monitoring well past early childhood.
What the Parent PAL App Tracks
The app was developed with input from a committee of parents, caregivers, therapists and physicians. It tracks seven areas of daily life and development:
- Sleep
- Pain
- Words and speech
- Independence
- Behavior
- Feeding
- Activity
How Entries and Charts Work
Depending on the area being tracked, a parent can type a custom note, choose a rating on a scale of 1 to 5 or enter a number. For example, a parent might rate a child's pain as 4 out of 5, or record that a child ate three bananas. Entries can be viewed as weekly or monthly charts, which makes patterns easier to spot and share with doctors and therapists.
Parents can set up profiles for more than one child. A side navigation panel links to hospital resources, including a physician search, map directions to hospital locations, the hospital's patient and family portal and ways to get involved, such as volunteering.
What Parents Said About the App
Early reviews shared by the hospital at launch focused on convenience. One parent said tracking a daughter's tantrums and behavior was simple and quick. Another valued being able to show a doctor charts of a son's pain levels week by week. A third said the app replaced the scraps of paper she had been using to log how her daughter reacted to certain foods.
Availability Today
At its 2016 launch, Parent PAL was offered for iPhone through the App Store, and the hospital said an Android version was in development. App availability can change over time, so families interested in Parent PAL should check their device's app store or contact Children's Specialized Hospital directly to confirm whether it is still offered.
Families who want a free, widely available option can also use the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Milestone Tracker app. It covers children from 2 months to 5 years, includes illustrated milestone checklists with photos and videos, adjusts checklists for babies born prematurely and creates a summary that can be shared with a health care provider. It is available for iPhone and Android in English and Spanish [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.-b]. The CDC notes that the app does not replace formal developmental screening.
Why Tracking Child Development Matters
Developmental disabilities are common among American children. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the share of children aged 3 to 17 with a diagnosed developmental disability rose from 7.40 percent in 2019 to 8.56 percent in 2021, mainly because of an increase in other developmental delay. In 2021, 3.05 percent of children had a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and 1.65 percent had an intellectual disability [Zablotsky et al., 2023].
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children be screened for developmental delays during well-child visits at 9, 18 and 30 months, with autism-specific screening at 18 and 24 months [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.-a]. A written record of sleep, behavior, feeding and communication can help parents raise concerns at these visits and give clinicians a clearer picture than memory alone.
When a concern is identified, help is available. Each state and territory runs a publicly funded early intervention program for children under 3 that offers services free or at reduced cost to eligible children, and parents can request an evaluation without a doctor's referral. For children 3 and older, parents can contact their local public elementary school and ask for a preschool special education evaluation [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.-c]. Families should talk with their child's doctor or therapist about which tracking tools and services fit their child's needs.
About Children's Specialized Hospital
Children's Specialized Hospital, part of RWJBarnabas Health, provides inpatient and outpatient care for children from birth to 21 years of age with special health needs. Its services range from physical, occupational and speech-language therapy to care for brain injury, cerebral palsy, autism, feeding disorders and behavioral and mental health concerns. These services are offered through outpatient locations across New Jersey [Children's Specialized Hospital, n.d.].
Frequently Asked Questions
NOTE: Researched FAQs by Disabled World (DW)
What is the difference between developmental screening and a developmental evaluation?
Screening is a short check, often a questionnaire completed during a well-child visit, that shows whether a child may need a closer look. An evaluation is a more detailed assessment by trained specialists that determines whether a child has a delay or disability and whether they qualify for services.
Is health information entered into a parenting app protected by HIPAA?
Usually not. HIPAA generally applies to health care providers, health plans and their business partners, so an app a parent downloads and uses independently is typically covered only by its own privacy policy. Parents should review what data an app collects and whether it is shared before entering details about their child.
What is an Individualized Family Service Plan?
An Individualized Family Service Plan, or IFSP, is a written plan created for an infant or toddler who qualifies for early intervention. It lists the child's goals, the services the child and family will receive and how progress will be measured, and it focuses on supporting the whole family.
How is an IEP different from an IFSP?
An IFSP covers children from birth to age 3 and centers on the family and natural settings such as the home. An Individualized Education Program, or IEP, is used once a child is 3 or older and receives special education through the school system, and it focuses on the child's educational goals.
How often should parents log their child's progress?
There is no single rule, but brief daily entries for things like sleep, meals and behavior tend to reveal patterns more clearly than occasional notes. For less frequent events, such as new words or skills, logging them when they happen is usually enough. A child's therapist can suggest what is most useful to track.
Can a paper journal work as well as a tracking app?
Yes. The value comes from consistent, dated entries rather than the format. Apps make charting and sharing easier, while a notebook or printed log may suit families who prefer paper or have limited phone access. Many parents bring either one to appointments.
What is the difference between a developmental delay and a developmental disability?
A developmental delay means a child is reaching skills later than expected and may catch up with time and support. A developmental disability is a lasting condition, such as autism or intellectual disability, that affects learning, behavior, language or physical abilities throughout life.
Should parents share their tracking records with a child's school?
Sharing is a family decision, but records of behavior, communication or feeding can help teachers and school evaluators understand a child's needs, especially when a special education evaluation or plan review is coming up. Parents can choose to share only the parts that are relevant.
References:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.-a). Clinical screening for autism spectrum disorder.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.-b). Milestone Tracker app.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.-c). Early intervention.
- Children's Specialized Hospital. (n.d.). Children's Specialized Hospital outpatient services. RWJBarnabas Health.
- Zablotsky, B., Ng, A. E., Black, L. I., and Blumberg, S. J. (2023). Diagnosed developmental disabilities in children aged 3 - 17 years: United States, 2019 - 2021 (NCHS Data Brief No. 473). National Center for Health Statistics.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: Apps such as Parent PAL show what happens when a hospital asks families what they need instead of guessing - the result was a tool shaped around the realities of caring for a child whose development does not follow a textbook timeline. A few minutes of logging each day can turn vague worries into clear patterns a therapist can act on, and that record matters most when it leads to action. Parents do not need a doctor's referral to request an early intervention evaluation for a child under 3, and older children can be evaluated through the local public school system. Whatever tool a family chooses, whether an app, a spreadsheet or a notebook on the kitchen counter, consistent tracking paired with timely screening gives a child the best chance of getting the right support early.*
Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Children's Specialized Hospital and published on 5 Apr 2016, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.
* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.