Tag Archive: Apps
November 12, 2020
by Carole Zangari -
We’re always excited to see innovations in assistive technology and AAC, and today, we welcome Charlie Danger of The Children’s Trust to tell us about one of them. Charlie is an OT and ATP who has been working with people with disabilities for over 20 years. In this post, he introduces us to Google Action Blocks and discusses some of the ways it can benefit those with AAC needs. A Look at Google Action Blocks When most of us consider the use of modern portable devices as communication aids we’re likely to refer to iPads running popular apps such as LAMP Words for Life or Proloquo2go. It is relatively rare that people first consider Android AAC apps, most likely because there are so few of them. Android Worldwide, Android devices outsell Apple by a factor of 3 to 1. In South America and Asia this is as high as 10... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: AAC Apps & Software, Apps, device customization, mobile devices, phones, picture-based communication, SGD/Speech generating devices and AAC systems
February 7, 2019
by Carole Zangari -
As our thoughts turn to Valentine’s Day, we polished up one of Robin’s old posts with lots of resources to explore. Enjoy! ——————————————————————————————————————— Valentine’s Day is a theme that seems to take center stage in February. When we use this theme, we like to focus on it before, during, and after February 14th because then there are a lot of opportunities to talk about it before, during, and after the holiday. This is like a conversation which involves so much more than talking about the ‘here & now’. Core Vocabulary Activities: Check out these fun ideas from teachers and clinicians. Use Candy Heart Generators and Word Clouds Create your own digital candy hearts with your own text with CryptoGram. Word clouds are a fun way to integrate a theme. You can read more about how to use them in AAC lessons here and here. You can also insert your own Valentine’s Day... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Apps, robin parker, Valentine's Day
May 2, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
Looking for apps that can help engage your beginning AAC learners who are developing their communication and literacy skills? CALL Scotland’s Claire Harrison has some wonderful ideas for us. Enjoy!
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: Apps, CALL Scotland
February 14, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
We’re making progress in teaching our little AAC learners. We know the pedagogy and evidence-based strategies. But we still have to figure out how to plan engaging instructional sessions with specific activities and materials. While we like to get kids moving and interacting with toys and other playthings, sometimes we also include play and interaction using educational and recreational apps. But which ones? In today’s featured video, SLP Betsy Furler shares some of her favorites. This video was part of the 2017 AAC in the Cloud Conference and we are grateful to them for making it available. If you liked this and other videos from AAC in the Cloud, you may want to participate in the 2018 AAC in the Cloud Conference this June. Stay tuned for details!
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: AAC activities, activities, Apps, engagement
May 18, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
When we think of AAC apps, expressive communication and voice output generally come to mind. But there are other kinds of AAC apps, too, including those that are used to create printable materials. Today, we hear from a clinician who uses this kind of AAC app on a regular basis. Georgia Karavias is a speech language pathologist whose career has centered around working with school-aged children and adolescents who have physical disabilities and communication difficulties. Georgia is passionate about utilizing alternative access methods and inclusive technologies to enable independent communication using AAC systems. She currently works at Scope’s Communication and Inclusion Resource Centre (CIRC) as part of the communication access team in a community capacity building role. In this post, she talks about how she uses AAC and visual supports created with an app developed at her workplace. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: I am a speech pathologist who has worked with children with complex... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Apps, no tech, visual schedules, visual support
March 28, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
NOTE: Scroll down for the latest update on AAC app discounts and other sales. —————————————- Many of you know the work of Pennsylvania-based SLP Lauren Enders, whose contributions here and on Pinterest, Facebook, and other social media have been invaluable in our clinical and educational work. Lauren does a terrific job of identifying AAC, AT, and related resources and goes the extra mile in sharing them with others. Today, we feature a graphic that she developed to alert us of AAC apps that are discounted in support of Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month in the US app store. The discounts may be available in other areas as well. The graphic is not interactive so if you wish to purchase an app, you’ll need to visit the iTunes App Store and search for the app you’re interested in or visit the company’s website. OR you can scroll down to the bottom... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: acceptance, Apps, Autism Awareness Month
December 16, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
For some learners, AAC is essential in order for them to have access to the curriculum. Access, though, is a bit of a low bar. What we REALLY want is for them to have the supports they need in order to learn and achieve. In this post, we feature a trio of videos to help us look further into apps that will do just that. Thanks to the Center on Technology and Disability, and AT Specialists Diana Petschaue and Luis Perez for these wonderful webinars. http://www.ctdinstitute.org/library/2015-11-06/apps-across-curriculum-and-platforms-support-struggling-learners-series
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: Apps, curriculum, education
November 4, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
Our video for this week features Beth Poss, an SLP and AT consultant, with a wealth of experience. In this video, Beth reviews the many ways in which mobile technology can be used to to support the development of early language and literacy with young children who have disabilities. Many thanks to the Center for Technology and Disability for making this available.
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: Apps, Beth Poss, Center on Technology and Disability, mobile device
October 26, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
“What’s the best AAC app?” I’m starting to think that every AAC SLP has been asked this question at least a dozen times. And with over 200 AAC apps for mobile devices to choose from, it’s no wonder that families and professionals are looking for guidance. So when USSAAC (the US Society for AAC) invited me to participate in their webinar series, I knew just which topic I wanted to tackle. In today’s post, you can see the archived version of that webinar, get the handout, and pose some questions using the ‘Comments’ feature at the bottom of the page. Before we get to that, though, I’d like to encourage those of you with strong interests in AAC who live in the US to become members. USSAAC is our national chapter of the International Society for AAC (ISAAC), and if you are not already familiar with the organization, please consider checking... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Apps, ISAAC, USSAAC
June 29, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
What a wonderful way to start off a summer of learning! Last week, I was fortunate to be able to sit alongside a wonderful group of SLPs, OTs, teachers, and graduate students and participate in two full days of learning from Sean Sweeney, known to many of you as The Speech Techie. Thanks to the generous support of the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Centers for Autism and Related Disabilities (UM-NSU CARD) and the Partnership for Effective Programs for Students with Autism (PEPSA), funded by the Florida Department of Education, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services, we were able to offer this workshop for free. The topic, Apps in Context: Aligning Technology with Methodologies and Clinical Objectives for Students with Autism, is one that is near and dear to my heart. Like many on you, I am always looking for new ways to engage AAC learners, and using fun apps is a great... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Apps, PEPSA, Sean Sweeney, Speech Techie, UM-NSU CARD