Cool Ideas!

AAC Update

Well the AAC update has gone Ipod, Ipad, I touch. In this clinic we have been using the Ipod for sometime and a few kids are using the Proloquo2go on the Ipod. It is proving very successful if the client can handle a smaller sized device. You should get the speaker attachment and case though. To date I don't believe that the I touch has a camera and boy the camera is really a good idea. If there is a camera built in you can take a picture, grab it at the moment and add it to the proloquo2go and in seconds you are adding pictures real time. We don't believe that one size fits all nor that one AAC device is right for everyone. It needs to be an individualized decision. I have some students that do so much better with the verbal output and those students will need the verbal output devices. Some do better with a communication book that they can point to. I try to get out of the velcro as quickly as possible though. There is a big push for PODD which is a system out of Australia and have good potential for some students. Just evaluate what your client / student /child needs and one size does not fit all. The PODD is always used with a speaking partner but so are the other devices, communication happens with speaking, and receiving. However with PODD the partner turns the pages of the book. In other systems, the communicator is responsible for manipulating through his device. Time will tell how well the PODD program works for everyday communication and how well the student accepts the approach. We will write more later about this issue.

APPS

Here are some cool Apps: Proloquo2go: voice out put device communication device Notes: for students who like to type voice memos: memory reminder for those students who are verbal and older Model Me Kids: Going places: simple social stories--voice output Stories2Learn: create your own stories, import your own pictures too Hidden Curriculum on the Go: teens and adults: must be able to read Look: a little creepy for my tastes isentence: create a sentence about a picture: must be able to slide pictures and read. iquestion: voice output and good questions but must be able to read to choose the correct answer. 123 color: fun coloring and following directions Wheels on the Bus by Duck Duck Moose: awesome interactive song. Love this one. Itsy Bitsy Spider: By Duck Duck moose; also interactive and awesome. iPrompts: good for setting up If.... then.... statements and visual and verbal schedules. Works really well if there is a camera because you can quickly take a picture of the item on the schedule and place it directly into the schedule. Easy to use and change. Fish School by Duck Duck Moose: good teaching tool, ABCs, numbers, colors, shapes, what does not belong. What goes together; free teachig tool Which does not belong: free teaching tool have fun!! most of these were from 99 cents to 2.99. Except for Proloquo2Go which is considerably more :