Day 3

Today each group viewed a different webinar of Barbs.  My group listened to "Physical Access to Mobile Devices."  We learned about many devices which allow people to access technology, such as mounting devices, stylus, joysticks, protective gear for technology, and various apps. The three apps we presented are:

Dragon Dictation – speech to text software in which you speak into the device (IPad, IPod) and it creates the text.  The downfall is the student must be able to articulate and pronounce their words well.  It is very sensitive to speech.  

Writepad - It recognizes various styles of handwriting and creates the text for the user.  You can also email this text afterwards.  You can use your finger or a stylus to write.  It is excellent for someone who has problems forming written letters, such as disgraphia.  One downfall is it doesn't perform some symbols, such as fractions.

Touch Trainer (6.99) – for early learners and individuals with intellectual disabilities.  Good for individuals with down syndrome or autism.  The app trains individuals to use technology by practicing fine motor skills in order to be able to use a touch screen.  It has engaging reinforcement and settings to select how many times the individual needs to practice.  You tap or swipe a specific area on the screen.  The screen eventually becomes smaller until it is the size needed to use a touch device.

Executive Functioning and Memory Group

Soft Puppets app- when an individual talks the app recognizes a voice and puppets on the screen move their mouths.  The sounds don't come out of the device, which is a downfall, however, it is very engaging.   Excellent app to use to reinforce social stories.



Shredder (99cents) – you can type your negative thoughts into the device and it shreds your bad thoughts.  This app helps relieve stress, or tension.  Maybe useful for an individual on the autism spectrum.

Let Panic Go (2.99) – good for panic attacks or any social breakdown.  It helps direct you on how to react and deal with the problem.

Early Learners Group

Kiddie Questions (2.99) – for building language, early vocabulary and problem solving skills.  You are asked the 5 W questions and the app prompts the user to answer the question.  You can decide which W questions you want the individual to work on.  It will also say (speak) the question.

Bugs and Buttons ($3) Students can practice math, and fine motor abilities, while using engaging activities and games.  It also has rewards you can learn.

JibJab Jr – You can take a picture with your camera and put it into the app.  It creates a story with the child in it.  Very engaging for early learners.

Communication Group

Sign 4 me (9.99) – created to teach sign language, but an excellent way to communicate with others by typing a message onto the screen and the character signs it.  Settings allow you to speed up the signing.  The character is also 3-D.

Speech Tutor – it shows people how to form your mouth and tongue to say a word.  You can change the view to see it.  It gives the description of the sound.

Math Group - apps for students having difficulty with math.  Mainly for elementary students, but good for anyone to practice math skills if they struggle with math.  Can ease the anxiety brought to students having difficulty with math.

Money Count – Canadian money which helps people learn to count money.  You can set difficulty level.

Symmetry Shuffle – teaches you how to slide, flip, turn, etc. figures.  Great introduction to geometry for junior high.

Number line (free app) – teaches students to estimate and use a number line.  Can email results to someone.

Apps in Special Education Group-setting up IPADs and tailoring to special needs.  Looked at students with special needs who need enhancing.

Pocket Pond (free)– calming app which can be used for anyone.  You can add anything to the calming pond for graphic appeal.

Science 360 - many different topics to explore, no text, but fun and engaging.

TourWrist – gives 360 tours of anything someone uploads.  You can move the IPAD around and it gives the tour of everything around the area you are viewing, as if you were actually in that place.  Great for students to explore places they have not seen.

Day 2

During our second class, we created a selection set for a specific student using the Proloquo2Go app.  It is a great app for students with ACC, having difficulty with reading and writing.  The program allows you to create categories for a non-verbal student to use, in order to communicate their feelings, responses, questions, etc.  Once my group decided on how to start, the content wasn’t difficult to fill in.  The biggest concern I have with the app is deciding what another individual will be able to communicate with another human being.  How can I decide what the person is wishing to say?  The most important part of the planning process is to ensure all teachers, specialists and parents participate in the planning process.  These are the individuals who know the student the best, and can try to fit her/his personality.  My biggest challenge would be what language to use for the specific age or grade, if I am not overly familiar with the age group.  After seeing other groups present their ideas, I discovered other strategies for creating a selection set.  The program is very complex and time consuming, but well worth the planning!


View a demo which demonstrates the simplicity of using AAC apps.

Below is a list of AAC apps for individuals who are non-verbal.  During my search, I found a number of options available, making it hard to decide on the most cost-effective product.  The ones I’ve listed are very effective for individuals with a wide range of speaking, language and writing disabilities.

MyVoice Communication Aid

MyVoice Communication Aid is a very popular AAC app for individuals with Autism and other communication barriers.  The app sparks communication between individuals with voice output, storytelling, social skill development, and visual scheduling.  It is easy to use for all ages, has free online support for family and professionals, and creates accessibility through scanning for individuals with physical disabilities.  The app cost $190 dollars, but appears worth it.

Look2Learn



Look2Learn is an app for the IPod, IPhone, and IPad which allows individuals to communicate using photographs to express their wants and needs.  You can add your own personalized vocals to the pictures.  There are over 80 photographs already in the library and you can add or hide pictures as needed.  The size of the selection windows can be adjusted according to needs.  It was created by teachers and is easy to use.  It costs $14.99, so very affordable for the use.



My First AAC



My first AAC is an app for the IPad which is easy to use and designed for toddler and younger children with delayed speech or severe speech disorders.  It introduces them to technology and allows them to effectively communicate with family or caregivers.  The app is organized by categories which reflect the child's natural speech development, with over 250 words or phrases (represented by an icon) to choose from, or you can create your own.  The app can be personalized to the child, and all audio is of the childs.  The app uses large icons to assist with motor skills deficiencies.  The cost is $24.99 and was created in collaboration with speech and language pathologists.


OneVoice Lite



OneVoice Lite is a free version of OneVoice, but does not include speech on this version.  It is an easy to use AAC app, available for the iPAd or iPhone.  The app allows you to personalize the device for the child, and add pictures and phrases relating to the child, or using a pre-created vocabulary bank.  The app does  not have multiple categories, therefore, easy to use for new or early learners.




TapSpeak Button Plus for iPad



TapSpeak Button for iPad is an app designed for populations with cerebral palsy, autism, apraxia of speech, cortical vision impairment and stroke.  It modernizes the idea of a mechanical switch, but is a portable button on the iPad which records and plays messages, allowing an individual to communicate in a simple, basic way.  The app features over 4500 symbols in the library, and allows you to personalize the buttons with photos.  The app costs $49.99.

Day 1 - Introduction to Assistive Technology!

"Assistive Technology is about providing ACCESS to a task and improving performance of an individual with a disability." - Barbara Welsford


Lots of great information to start off the course!  To introduce ourselves, we used an app on the IPAD called Pic Collage.  It is easy to use and you can add pictures and/or text to communicate.  This is a great way for non-verbal students to tell us about themselves, or to communicate what they did all day. 

Barb presented a powerpoint on "AT - Past, Present, and Future."  We were introduced to the classroom of the past where everyone learned the same way and work was all about using lots of paper.  Today we have classrooms made up of students with many different learning needs, and physical and emotional needs.  Barb introduced us to a number of students and the assistive technology which they were utilizing in the classroom.  Some of the assistive technology introduced includes:

-         IPOD touch

-         adapted desk

-         portable keyboard with text to speech

-         laptop

-         pencil grip

-         fidget toy

-         move and sit cushion

-         DAISY digital talking book/document player

-         weighed pencil

-         weighed vest

      Before determining what type of assistive technology to use on an individual we need to do an assessment to determine the AT focus.  Some information we should consider in this process are:

 

                  -the skill sets and needs of the student

-the environment where the student will use the AT and the degree of knowledgeable support in that milieu

-the task the student is asked to perform

-characteristics of the technology itself

-the factors that are changing over time

 

 

      An important factor to remember is situations change as students grow, develop and learn new skills.  Their interests change, subject content changes, teachers change, and assistive technology changes.  Therefore, constant assessment of students’ strengths and challenges are necessary to see the most success.

     

  Communication

     
      We communicate on a daily basis, but I have never thought about the process.  We broke communication down into an act by which one person gives to, or receives from another person, information about that person’s needs, desires, perceptions, knowledge or affection.  Three components that are needed for communication are: communication partner, common language, and joint attention between the partners.

  

 

     Proloquo2Go

      We learned about an awesome communication app called Proloquo2Go.  We played around with it on the IPADs.  This technology replaces the old fashion static board, where students had to flip through a binder to find the pictures/phrases they were trying to communicate.  This app allows you to continue to build upon, and edit, folders of interest to the student.  Proloquo2Go includes both text and pictures to choose from.  It is excellent for non-verbal students who are trying to convey their ideas.  The downfall is the price!

      Here is an introduction clip which shows the basics of the program: