Showing posts with label communication. Show all posts
Showing posts with label communication. Show all posts

Monday, December 2, 2013

#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
Assistive Traits
Assistive/Independent
iTunes Categories
BridgingApps Categories
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.



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Monday, September 23, 2013

#AppMondayTAS - Mr. Potato Head Create and Play

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.

 Mr. Potato Head Create and Play - $3.99 (Universal)
Reviewer Comments

Mr. Potato Head is an app built on the traditional Mr. Potato Head toy. As the child plays with the app, more parts are unlocked with a total of over 200 mix and match parts that can be unlocked. After making a silly character, the child can take photos of his/her creation to share and play with the character in a variety of scenes.
This app is great for working on identifying body parts both expressively and receptively. It can also be used for working on following increasingly complex commands. An example of this is: Give Mr. Potato Head a red hat and 2 brown eyes. The child can also work on expressive language as the adult can manipulate the app as the child requests parts to Mr. Potato.
We have used this app with children between the ages of 3 and 9 with diagnoses of speech/language delays, autism and learning differences.
Mobile Devices
Independent Traits
Assistive/Independent
iTunes Categories
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.



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Wednesday, August 14, 2013

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.




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Monday, August 12, 2013

#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
Independent Traits
Assistive Traits
Assistive/Independent
iTunes Categories
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.



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Monday, June 10, 2013

#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
Independent Traits
Assistive Traits
Assistive/Independent
iTunes Categories
BridgingApps Categories
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.







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