May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month in the United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 20.6 million people in the country belong to one or more of these ethnicities, not counting those who identify as multiracial–part AANHPI.
Many apps have AANHPI developers, themes inspired by AANHPI culture, or purposes relevant to the 2023 theme for this month, “Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity.” (2023 is the third consecutive year with an “Advancing Leaders” theme.) Listed below are some of our favorites.
Apps with AANHPI Connections
- Credit Karma provides credit-score tracking and financial tips. This is the official app of CreditKarma.com, founded by Ken Lin.
- Dr. Panda educational apps let children learn by virtual doing in dozens of settings, including Veggie Garden, School, Space, and Asian Restaurant. No verbal skills required for most apps.
- Language-lesson options available through Duolingo include Hawaiian, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, and Vietnamese.
- Popular meditation apps include Headspace and Plum Village.
- Zoom Video Communications, developer of the ultra-popular virtual meeting app, was founded by Chinese-American businessman Eric Yuan.
Leadership and Opportunity Apps
- LinkedIn: Network & Job Finder builds connections for professional opportunities.
- Simply Sayin’ is an app designed to help children and families understand common medical procedures. Also has potential for building interest in medical careers.
- Social Quest and Social Success teach adolescents and young adults (especially people with autism or communications disorders) to develop their soft skills.
Other Ideas for AANHPI Heritage Month
- Read and share the National Strategy to Advance Equity, Justice, and Opportunity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Communities.
- Read a book from the New York Public Library’s AANHPI recommended titles lists.
- Buy a meal from an ethnic restaurant (try the Yelp app for recommendations), market, or grocery store.
- Go on a virtual tour or webcam visit of an AANHPI neighborhood or country. Or check out the National Museum of Asian Art website and online Learning Lab.
- Try origami, bonsai, or another AANHPI craft.
Finally, some recommended AANHPI videos and movies:
- The ASIAN AMERICANS documentary series from PBS.
- Netflix’s list of Bollywood films.
- Crazy Rich Asians, probably the best-known film with an Asian American director.
- Minari, a story about a Korean American family farming in Arkansas.
- Nomadland, the first film to win a Best Director award for an Asian woman (Chloe Zhao).
At BridgingApps and Easter Seals Greater Houston, we are committed to building a fully inclusive society where everyone can be proud of their heritage, confident in their abilities, and unhindered by their limitations.
See also:
- “Asian Americans with disabilities are often overlooked. A new youth-led group aims to change that.” (NBCNews.com)
- The Asian Americans with Disabilities Initiative
- “FAPAC Announces Theme for the 2023 Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.” (Federal Asian Pacific American Council)
- “New series seeks ‘authentic portrayal’ of Asian Americans on the spectrum.” (NBCNews.com)
- “Why Asian American kids are under-diagnosed when it comes to learning disabilities.” (NBCNews.com)