Tag Archive: iPad

Video of the Week: AAC Explainers for Parent & Staff Training

May 13, 2020 by - Leave your thoughts

Video of the Week: AAC Explainers for Parent & Staff Training

Looking for materials that you can use for staff and parent training on basic AAC concepts? Rebecca Eisenberg of Language During Mealtime created a set of short explainer videos on several AAC topics that can be used in remote support or in-person training. Take a look.   Using an iPad for Communication Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNGwlKNxLuk&list=PL-VC-d9SJoOS0ZAPnVCX7GV5FSFM_NW-A&index=5   Tips for AAC Device Refusal Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgNo_A8ZtSM&list=PL-VC-d9SJoOS0ZAPnVCX7GV5FSFM_NW-A&index=6   Core and Fringe Vocabulary Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEO6oGxm0Os&list=PL-VC-d9SJoOS0ZAPnVCX7GV5FSFM_NW-A&index=1   Prompting Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNGwlKNxLuk&list=PL-VC-d9SJoOS0ZAPnVCX7GV5FSFM_NW-A&index=5   Communication Functions Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7xjAm-XXP0&list=PL-VC-d9SJoOS0ZAPnVCX7GV5FSFM_NW-A&index=4

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Video of the Week: Guided Access

October 19, 2016 by - Leave your thoughts

Video of the Week: Guided Access

Although guided access has been around on iOS devices for awhile, there are some professionals and families who are just starting to use this wonderful feature. In this post, we share some helpful videos that can be used to familiarize the team with this feature and how to use it. Setting up Guided Access by SENICT  Direct link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34_LqW8xgjs How to exit Guided Access when you forget your passcode by iAgents Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHtshhfhNOE

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Watch It Wednesday: Learn More About iOS 7 with Spectronics

March 12, 2014 by - Leave your thoughts

Watch It Wednesday: Learn More About iOS 7 with Spectronics

The amazing team at Spectronics has been presenting a terrific set of workshops on iPads for education and special needs. In this week’s featured video, Katie Lyons gives a thorough overview of the iPad and iOS 7. While it is great for people just getting started, there are enough handy tips to make it useful to experienced iPad users, too. We already shared it with a few families and colleagues and they’ve given it rave reviews. At the end of the video, Katie references a Spectronics Blog article by Charlene Cullen on switch use in iOS 7. You can get to that article here. Enjoy!    

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Free Text-based AAC Apps for the iPad

July 1, 2013 by - 4 Comments

Free Text-based AAC Apps for the iPad

Looking for an AAC app for someone who reads and writes? Here are a few free ones that you can explore and use in your evaluations. 1.      Verbally (Free): Plus a premium version for purchase that allows for more customization and prestored mesages for things the client may want to say over and over (e.g., What’s going on with the kids? Can you help me with something? I don’t agree with that. I need my pain medicine, It’s too cold in here. etc.) 2.      Locabulary Lite 3.      Phrase Board 4.      Small Talk Conversational Phrases 5.      Small Talk Daily Activities 6.      Small Talk Pain Scale 7.      Talk Assist  Do you use one that didn’t make it onto our list? Please let us know.

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Pillow Talk: Mounting iPads/Tablets for Use in Bed

November 25, 2012 by - Leave your thoughts

Pillow Talk: Mounting iPads/Tablets for Use in Bed

We communicate whenever we’re awake, but sometimes it takes some creativity to find ways to provide AAC access when communicators are not in their main seating systems. It’s always a challenge to figure out mounting strategies so that communication options, whether they are no tech, low tech, or high tech, are always available. This video from the INDATA Project demonstrates an iPad/tablet mount from Charger City that can be used in bed. How cool would it be to use the iPad or Tablet for: Interacting while reading bedtime stories Having a little conversation about the day using the picture schedule app Saying prayers or talking about dreams Watching and listening to some meditation music/images Going over the schedule for the next day Independently reading a book before bed Pleading for ‘just one more’ story, kiss, song, or drink of water We’d love to hear your ideas on other ways to... [Read More...]

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119 Free & Lite Versions of AAC Apps + App Selection Resources

October 2, 2012 by - 5 Comments

119 Free or Lite Versions of AAC Apps + App Selection Resources

If you’ve been following our blog, you know that we have mixed feelings about the AAC app revolution. More specifically, we’ve had concerns about the decision-making process around app selection, the paucity of apps that allow for children to learn true generative language, and a few other things. We continue to advocate for AAC app selection to occur within the context of a feature match process that gives appropriate attention to the full range of AAC options. In this mega-post we’ve included our most recent update of free and lite versions of AAC apps for iOS and Android plus a variety of additional resources related to AAC app selection. Tools to Use In Making Decisions About AAC Apps Feature match form developed by Jessica Gosnell at Boston Children’s Hospital Feature match checklist created by Scott Marfilius and Kelly Fonner Our supplemental rubric covering language and communication features,  RELAAACs Places to... [Read More...]

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72 Free & Lite Versions of AAC Apps

June 17, 2012 by - Leave your thoughts

72 Free & Lite Versions of AAC Apps

There is a more recent version of this post and app list. Click HERE for the updated version. — Here is our most recent update of free and lite versions of AAC apps, including a dozen for the Android platform. As with the previous version, we’re including some additional resources and excerpts from previous posts related to AAC app selection. We’d also like to give a mention to the first draft of RELAAACs, our attempt to quantify some of what we look for when we try to compare AAC apps based on their language and communication features. —————————————————————————————————– Thanks to all who’ve given us great feedback and suggestions on our list of free and lite AAC apps. If you’ve been following our blog, you know that we have mixed feelings about the AAC app revolution. More specifically, we’ve had concerns about the decision-making process around app selection, and have advocated for that... [Read More...]

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5 Charitable Programs that Support Funding for Communication through Mobile Devices

May 23, 2012 by - Leave your thoughts

5 Charitable Programs that Support Funding for Communication through Mobile Devices

– For some people with significant communication difficulties, mobile devices and AAC apps play an important role. When selected after a process of careful evaluation, they can be incredibly useful in building communication, literacy, self-regulation, and other important skills. Here are links to organizations that provide support to families seeking mobile devices and communication apps for their children. – 1. The iTaalk Autism Foundation 2. Babies with iPads 3. Apps for Children with Special Needs 4. Different Needz Foundation 5. Gift a Voice Program from Different Iz Good™: iPhones only –

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