Speakall! was recently featured in an online news article, describing its development as a service learning project at Purdue University. It is described as an app designed to help teach the process of constructing sentences. Targeted to users with severe communication needs, especially individuals with autism, it can support the transition from a picture exchange system (paper format) to a mobile device.
The video below provides a step-by-step tutorial for downloading and customizing this app for an individual student.
It can be used within an exchanged-based communication approach. The app is fully customizable to each child’s specific needs by allowing the instructor to use recorded audio and custom images from any library. When working with the application use graphic symbol sets and systems designed for AAC users to obtain the best results.
Requirements: Compatible with iPad.Requires iOS 5.0 or later.
Assistive Chat is a communication tooldesigned for those with speech difficulties who would benefit from a text-based communication system. Productivity features such as word prediction and “adaptive learning” of vocabulary are designed to improve efficiency for the user. Three natural voices are available in this app.
Watch the following video review of this app for a demonstration.
http://youtu.be/5_KEjkONjR8
Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.Requires iOS 3.1 or later
Created by a parent of a child with a disability, MyTalk Tools consists of a mobile app and an online workspace that provides an easy platform for design, customization, and editing. The mobile device is then synced to this workspace. A short demonstration is provided in the video below. Several other video examples are on the developer’s website.
The app is able to incorporate video (enabling modeling), photos, web images, sound, text and Text to Speech. A Phrase Bar feature supports full sentence communication.nabling modeling), photos, web images, sound, text and Text to Speech. Online, you have access to the Symbolstix image library, and basic text to speech, including one adult female voice. With an InApp Purchase, you have an option of Advanced Text to Speech with Acapela Voices (17+ languages, multiple voices),and video with auditory scan (requires optional InApp purchase of Acapela Voices).
Purchase of this product enables permanent access to MyTalk Mobile (totally stand alone software)and a 30 day trial of optional MyTalk Workspace. As described by the developer, you can create your very own content and communicate in a way that YOU choose in 5 minutes.
Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.Requires iOS 3.2 or later
iConverse is an Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) app developed by Xcellent Creations. It has 6 built in communication buttons that display graphics for basic needs: Bathroom, Drink, Food, Sick, Break and Help. A male and female voice is available or you can record your own voice. Once an icon is selected, a visible display of the text associated with that button is seen. You can create additional communication buttons. The video below demonstrates this process.
Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 3.0 or later
Tap to Talk is an AAC app from Assistyx. Assistyx LLC is a member of Moms with Apps, a collaborative group of family-friendly developers seeking to promote quality apps for kids and families. This app is recommended for ages 4-12. The app comes with a library of photos, but it is possible to add your own by visiting the product website and following their instructions. You can also add voice and sound to the pictures. The “player” apps are free, but there is a cost for designing privileges. Screens can have up to 12 pictures displayed, and each picture can lead to another screen of pictures. Albums created in TapToTalk Designer are “synced” over the Internet directly to your iPhone™, iPad™ or iPod touch®. Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 3.0 or later
SoundingBoard is an AAC app developed by the AbleNet. You can create create custom boards using AbleNet symbols or your own photos. The app provides layouts that accommodate 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, or 9 choices. Version 2.0 of this app includes the following features:
Linked Boards: You can now choose to link one board to another on any message location. For example, you can create one board with “red” objects and one board with “blue” objects. Then create a third board with two messages that invites the user to choose the color. That message can now link them to the appropriate board.
Single and Dual Switch Access: Using AbleNet’s bluetooth access switch, you can configure SoundingBoard™ to recognize single switch access (with a scanning interval from 0.5 to 9.0 seconds), as well as two-switch access. Visit www.ablenetinc.com/soundingboard for purchasing information for AbleNet’s exclusive iDevice access switch. Switch access works both on the board screen as well as the board selection screen.
Pre-Loaded Communication Boards: Fourteen communication boards come preloaded with the app. use. Those boards highlight key communication outcomes: Expressions, Emergency information, Reading, Daily Living, Social Situations, Shopping.
OneVoice by Legend is an app that turns the iPad or iPhone into an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device. It comes with a pre-populated vocabulary (focused on children), but you can also customize it by adding your own phrases and photos. Watch the Intro video below to see how it works and hear some of the available voices. Other videos that show you how to use the app are available on the developer’s website.
There is a helpful review of One Voice on the Autism Epicenter website, highlighting its features and potential for individuals with autism.
Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 4.0 or later.
The Yes/No HD app by Simplified Touch was initially designed for one purpose: to provide an easy way for a person who is non-verbal to express these two messages. While the original app has a simple screen with a yes and no button (see screenshot below), a new feature was recently added that allows users to add pictures to create a simple communication board on up to 24 custom designed pages. This increases the total number of preprogrammed pages to 31.
Requirements: Compatible with iPad. Requires iOS 3.2 or later
TouchChat is an AAC app that is distributed by Silver Kite. It allows an iPod, iPhone or iPad to be used as an AAC device. As described on the product’s webpage, TouchChat gives an individual the ability to navigate through page sets and speak messages. Page sets are linked pages, each of which is divided into a number of buttons. The buttons are programmed to have specific actions. For example, buttons may be programmed to speak a message, navigate to a different page, change the volume, clear the display, etc. Four page sets are included with the TouchChat. Each is designed with a differen type of user in mind. View the 12 minute video below for a complete introduction to this app.
Developed by the father of a young boy, Victor, this app was designed to provide a “voice” to users who have emerging communication skills who can recognize and associate pictures of familiar objects with a message. The user screen can be set up to display two, four, or six buttons at one time. The user can swipe left or right to access more screens. The app is available through iTunes.
View a news story about the development of this app below.
