AAC/Medicare Changes

I was hoping to have written this post last week, so that you might have more time to help out, but life got in the way!  This is a VERY important post, especially to those of you who rely on Medicare to secure AAC devices.  Specifically this is related to patients with ALS, Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Rett Syndrome,spinal cord injuries, spinal muscular atrophy and other impairments and their ability to retain and receive Speech Generation Devices (SGD).

As of September 1, Medicare will be changing the rules and will not allow patients to receive this devices to "unlock" them.  Thereby, denying individuals the ability to communicate with their families and other individuals via email, text, video chat, etc...  Even though the unlock fee is not paid by Medicare, they will no longer allow individuals to purchase devices that this could be done on.

Medicare has also been denying Eye Gaze devices for those individuals whose only means of access if via an eye gaze system.  Many of these cases have 2 medical professionals certifying the need for an eye gaze system and it is still denied. The backlog of appeals is years long and many patients are being denied the ability to communicate.

Please take a moment and go to this website - Center for Medical Advocacy, fill in your zip code, and the short form that follows to contact your representatives and urge them to sign a petition to stop these rule changes!  It takes just 2-3 minutes.  You only have until August 27, so please do it right away!

Patrick

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#AppMondayTAS - Proloquo4Text

Each week I will be featuring an app from BridgingApps.org.  These apps are features in the Bridging Apps newsletter each week and are reviewed by Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and Special Education Teachers.  Come back each week for a new review.  If you’d like more information on how to use the BridgingApps.org website, or to find more app reviews, please click here.

Proloquo4Text - (Universal, $129.00)

Reviewer Comments

Proloquo4Text is a text to speech app for alternative communication. The app is text based and includes word prediction and sentence prediction. These two features allow much faster communication through the keyboard than simply typing all the words and sentences.

The app includes a choice of 85 voices and 15 languages. It is easy to switch languages so a bilingual user can easily communicate in both languages. Messages can be delivered auditorily or through AirDrop, Twitter, Facebook, email and messaging.

The user can also create and save frequently-used phrases and sentences. The layout and other features of the app can be customized for an individual user. The app can be used any of the IOS based “i” devices, and an internet connection is not needed for communication.

We have used this app with a 15 year old with autism. He previously used a simple text to speech app with a keyboard only. Proloquo4Text allowed him to communicate at a much faster rate, reducing frustration.

The app has many helpful features such as highlighting words or even sentences, saving frequently used words and phrases to use as shortcuts, and the ability to pause and play - giving the user ultimate control in the rate of text changing to speech.

Because it is text-based, this tool would be extremely useful for children and adults who are literate, including those with diagnoses of autism, cerebral palsy, developmental disabilities, apraxia, ALS/MND, laryngectomy, stroke, or traumatic brain injury.

Mobile Devices

iPad

iPhone

Embedded Skills

ability to choose from multiple choices

communication

expressive language

must have some reading skills

promoting independence

multiple languages

switch use

Assistive Traits

Assistive Communication

Assistive/Independent

Assistive

iTunes Categories

Medical

Education

BridgingApps Categories

BridgingApps Reviewed App

Communication

Speaking and Listening

Disclaimer:

You may copy, modify format, distribute and perform the work(s), including app reviews and any data even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission provided that you: a) cite our research project and publications as follows: BridgingApps, a program of Easter Seals Greater Houston; b) agree that we make no warranties about the work(s) or data, and disclaim liability for all uses of the work(s) or data, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law; c) when using or citing the work(s) or data, you should not imply endorsement by us; and d) do not misrepresent the work or its content, or any part thereof, or present it any manner which would have the effect of disparaging BridgingApps, Easter Seals Greater Houston or any affiliated entity or person.

Patrick

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#AppMondayTAS - TapSpeak Choice AAC

Each week I will be featuring an app from BridgingApps.org.  These apps are features in the Bridging Apps newsletter each week and are reviewed by Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and Special Education Teachers.  Come back each week for a new review.  If you’d like more information on how to use the BridgingApps.org website, or to find more app reviews, please click here.

TapSpeak Choice AAC (iPad only, $219.99)

Reviewer Comments

TapSpeak Choice AAC is an augmentative communication app that is very flexible. The app is appropriate for children and adults. The app supports 40 languages and 88 voices. The voices can also be customized to make them age appropriate for anyone. The app comes with Pixon symbols which are designed for core communication. The PCS symbols (also on DynaVox) are also available. Photos and other images can also be uploaded and used within the app. The number of buttons on the page can range from one button to 56 buttons. This is a great feature as an early user can start with one or two buttons and then work up to a large number of buttons.

There is an optional message bar that can be added to each page to compose full sentences.

Another unique feature of this app is the button setting. There is an anti-stimming setting that prohibits multiple tapping. Settings can also be changed to detect touch on release or using touch averages. These settings allow more accurate access of the app for users with fine motor challenges. Scanning is also available and the scanning function contains many customizable settings. The scanning function allows scanning of buttons as well as the keyboard.

The app is easy to customize and buttons can be added directly to a page without exiting to the library. The buttons are color coded and the color coding can be customized as needed.

Pages can be easily saved and shared via DropBox integration.

TapSpeak Choice AAC is a great AAC app choice for the ability to use scanning as well as the large number of languages available. The app is appropriate for all ages and a range of abilities and communication needs.

Mobile Devices

iPad

Embedded Skills

communication

communication board

expressive language

scanning and selecting

multiple languages

switch use

Assistive Traits

Assistive Communication

Assistive/Independent

Assistive

iTunes Categories

Education

Medical

BridgingApps Categories

BridgingApps Reviewed App

Communication

Disclaimer:

You may copy, modify format, distribute and perform the work(s), including app reviews and any data even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission provided that you: a) cite our research project and publications as follows: BridgingApps, a program of Easter Seals Greater Houston; b) agree that we make no warranties about the work(s) or data, and disclaim liability for all uses of the work(s) or data, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law; c) when using or citing the work(s) or data, you should not imply endorsement by us; and d) do not misrepresent the work or its content, or any part thereof, or present it any manner which would have the effect of disparaging BridgingApps, Easter Seals Greater Houston or any affiliated entity or person.

Patrick

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I am not a mind reader and neither are you

I stumbled upon a very interesting blog recently, and have been continually impressed with the content. Uncommon Sense is written by Dana Nieder and she is sharing their journey raising 2 children, one with a complex communication issues.  The stories that Dana shares are enlightening, thought provoking and very encouraging.  The first post I read from the blog was titled - I am not a mind reader and neither are you - and is insightful and had me thinking about times I've tried to be a mind reader in the classroom!  More recently they shared their experience figuring out a new word.

After working many children with complex communication needs, it is very interesting to read about if from the families perspective.  Please head over to the blog and check it out - Uncommon Sense.


Patrick

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#AppMondayTAS - Go Talk Now

Each week I will be featuring an app from BridgingApps.org.  These apps are features in the Bridging Apps newsletter each week and are reviewed by Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and Special Education Teachers.  Come back each week for a new review.  If you’d like more information on how to use the BridgingApps.org website, or to find more app reviews, please click here.

Go Talk Now - $79.99 (iPad Only)

Reviewer Comments

GoTalk Now is an AAC app for the iPad. This is a very flexible and highly customizable communication app. The app starts with blank pages that can be easily and quickly filled to meet the needs of a user. Pages can be used as isolated communication boards or can be linked together. A message bar can be on or off based on the user's ability and/or need to use multi-word phrases. Cells can be filled with pictures from the GoTalk Now library, a web search or photos taken with the device. Backgrounds, borders, fonts and word placement are all customizable.

A page can contain one to twenty five buttons. Pages can also be made as a single scene page with multiple hotspots that the user can press to play recorded or text to speech messages. Videos and music can also be embedded into the buttons. In addition to fully customized pages, the app also allows you to download pages shared by other users.

GoTalk Now allows for scanning and embedded audio cues allowing access to a variety of users. Scanning can be set for step or auto scanning or group scanning by rows or columns. The pages can be saved to a PC or Mac, shared to other devices, emailed or printed as PDFs. The app comes with a "robo" voice but you can purchase text to speech voices for .99 each or record a voice for each button.

We like this app because it is fully customizable and very easy to program. We have used this app with an eight year old with a Cranio-facial syndrome. He was engaged with the app and the SLP was able to program the app on the fly to match the activities he was interested in. This app is appropriate for all ages including teenagers and adults.

Mobile Devices

iPad

Embedded Skills

communication

child can operate independently, with verbal prompts

communication board

expressive language

finger isolation

increase independence

social interaction

scanning and selecting

switch use

Independent Traits

Education

Assistive Traits

Assistive Communication

Assistive/Independent

Assistive

iTunes Categories

Lifestyle

Education

BridgingApps Categories

Communication

BridgingApps Reviewed App

Communication

Social Skills

Speaking and Listening

Needs Tag

Disclaimer:

You may copy, modify format, distribute and perform the work(s), including app reviews and any data even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission provided that you: a) cite our research project and publications as follows: BridgingApps, a program of Easter Seals Greater Houston; b) agree that we make no warranties about the work(s) or data, and disclaim liability for all uses of the work(s) or data, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law; c) when using or citing the work(s) or data, you should not imply endorsement by us; and d) do not misrepresent the work or its content, or any part thereof, or present it any manner which would have the effect of disparaging BridgingApps, Easter Seals Greater Houston or any affiliated entity or person.

Patrick

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#AppMondayTAS - SoundingBoard

Each week I will be featuring an app from BridgingApps.org.  These apps are features in the Bridging Apps newsletter each week and are reviewed by Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and Special Education Teachers.  Come back each week for a new review.  If you’d like more information on how to use the BridgingApps.org website, or to find more app reviews, please click here.

Sounding Board - Universal, Free

Reviewer Comments

SoundingBoard is a simple yet effective AAC communication board for children or adults who are non-verbal or for students who may "freeze" in an emergency and can not get their words out.

The app is preloaded with 14 boards with the option of 9 pictures per board depending on the needs of the user. AbleNet has an extensive library of pictures to change photos. There is also the option of using your own photos for certain boards. The other nice feature is the option to use your own voice when editing pictures such as your name and phone number.

Editing the board is also very user friendly. Caretakers, teachers or therapists just turn off the edit lock in the settings and simply go to the board they want to edit and either add or delete pictures. This is where you also can change the given voice and put in your own.

There is an option for in-app purchases from Able-Net to purchase boards dealing with restaurants, movies, general conversation getting dressed and mealtime. They are separated by female or male making the expressions more appropriate for a variety of users.

This app is one of the tools we use with all of our students as it helps with choice making, expressive language, receptive language and social skills. Two important boards are the Emergency Information and Emergency Help. In our classroom, we use this as one of our warm up exercises.

This is a must have tool for as it can be adjusted to the needs of the child. Our non-verbal students will use this app when they need to get information out quickly, especially for requesting help.

For those who are unable to use a touch screen, but who can operate assistive switches, the app can be used with 1 or 2 Bluetooth-connected switches.

Auditory Scanning: SoundingBoard now allows auditory scanning in addition to single and dual switch scanning. Auditory scanning works by playing a short "prompt message" during single or dual scanning actions. When the user selects the appropriate cell, the full message plays.

The app offers detailed videos and instructions at:

http://www.ablenetinc.com/Assistive-Technology/Communication/SoundingBoard

Possible IEP Goals:

Student will be able to state their address.

Student will be able to state their phone number.

Student will be able to make a choice from between two choices.

Attributes

Mobile Devices

iPhone

iPad

Embedded Skills

expressive language

increase vocabulary

language comprehension

sight word recognition

understand how to ask questions

understand how to introduce themselves

understanding expressions

expressive language

increase vocabulary

language comprehension

understand how to ask questions

understand how to introduce themselves

understanding expressions

scanning and selecting

switch use

communication board

Independent Traits

Education

Assistive Traits

Assistive Communication

Assistive/Independent

Assistive

iTunes Categories

Lifestyle

Education

BridgingApps Categories

Communication

BridgingApps Reviewed App

Disclaimer:

You may copy, modify format, distribute and perform the work(s), including app reviews and

any data even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission provided that you: a)

cite our research project and publications as follows: BridgingApps, a program of Easter Seals

Greater Houston; b) agree that we make no warranties about the work(s) or data, and disclaim

liability for all uses of the work(s) or data, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law; c)

when using or citing the work(s) or data, you should not imply endorsement by us; and d) do not

misrepresent the work or its content, or any part thereof, or present it any manner which would

have the effect of disparaging BridgingApps, Easter Seals Greater Houston or any affiliated

entity or person.

Patrick

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