12/2011

Best of Apps: Education and

Communication
Kati Skulski, M.S. CCC-SLP

Trying to keep up.

SNApps4Kids: Special Needs Apps for Kids
http://www.snapps4kids.com/

Boston Childrens Hospital: feature matching for communication based apps

http://www.childrenshospital.org/clinicalservices/Site2016/mainpageS2016P19.html

Apps for Children with Special Needs: a library of videos exhibiting apps in use
http://a4cwsn.com

Apple: helpful reviews on the site

http://www.apple.com/education/apps/

Spectronics: Supplier of special needs software and technology in Australia

http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/blog/apple/

What about Android?

Not yet competitive with Apple
What I found:
Voice4u
TapToTalk (Apple App too)
Model Me Going Places
AAC Speech Buddy (Apple App too)
Behavior Tracker Pro
iAugComm
JAB Talk

Im sticking with Apple and watching closely!

Cases and Speakers

AMDI www.amdi.net/new-products/

iAdapter 1 and 2 ($265.00)

All in one stand, protective housing, carrying strap, speakers
Feature to hide home button (limit wandering)

Gumdrop Drop Ultimate Series- Costco (59.99)

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Productgroup.aspx?

Prodid=11670386&search=ipad+2
Screen covers
Rubber bumpers
RJ Cooper www.rjcooper.com/index.html

Durable, carrying cases ($79.99 and up)

Stands and mounts
External Speaker ($79.99 and up)
Switch Interface and Bluetooth switches ($99.99 each)

Best of.AAC
TapSpeak
User: Emergent- supplemental tool for entry-advanced users
Price: $24.00
Features:
Record your messages
Use symbols or import pictures
Control tap timing/feedback/movement

More apps in TapSpeak Line

Similar to a Step-by-Step

Best of.AAC
Pictello
User: Emergent-Advanced
Price: $14.99
Features:
Import pictures and program messages or stories
Make stories/Share photos
2 voices (male/female), able to upload 7 additional voices

Similar to a Talking Photo Album

Best of.AAC
Sounding Board
User: Entry
Price: $49.00
Features:
Design your layout: 1-9 location
Icon library and easily add your photos
Recorded voice

Similar to a GoTalk1-9

Best ofAAC
TouchChat (Nancy Innman and Gail VanTatenhove)
User: Intermediate-Advanced
Price: $149.99
Features:
8 premade user areas
Core based (WordPower)
5 synthesized voices
Over 10,000 symbols and import your own
Programmable

Best ofAAC
Verbally
User: Advanced literate user
Price: FREE
Features:
QWERTY keyboard
Core words and phrases
Word Prediction
2 voices (male/female)

Others to Explore.
Alexicom AAC
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/alexicom-aac/id395122088?mt=8
Run from a server
FREE
Multiple access abilities
Predictable
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/predictable/id404445007?mt=8
Text to speech
Multiple access abilities
$159.00
Proloquo2Go 2
Rumors of serious upgrades at ASHA

iDevices and AAC

Pros
A low cost, high-tech SGD option
Several communication apps commercially available
Its cool!
Educational apps available too
Small and light weight
Cons
Not YET covered by insurance because it is not Durable Medical
Equipment (DME)
Limited access modes
Programming limitations- user has access to other apps (iAdapter case
prohibits this)
Limited features

iPad and Access

RJ Cooper Bluetooth Switch Interface
http://www.rjcooper.com/bluetooth-switch-interface/index.html
$99.00
Compatible with any apps programmed with switch access

Switch Box by Therapy Box

Bluetooth pairing
Used with Predictable AAC App
About $100.00

Best ofSpeech Practice

Speech Pairs
Purpose: To improve speech production and the sound and
word level
Price: $9.99
Features:
Visual cards to elicit words/sounds
Based on Minimal Pairs

Uses:
Practice specific sounds at home
Read tips on teaching sounds

Best ofSign Language

Sign 4 Me
Purpose: To provide models of ALS
Price: $12.99 (iPad) $9.99 (iPhone)
Features:
Over 11,500 words
Animated model

Uses:
Learn new signs
Teach your child/student signs

Best ofLanguage
ABA Receptive
Purpose: To teach and increase vocabulary
Price: $.99
Features:
3 apps: labels, class, function
Presented in rote ABA style

Best ofLanguage
Dynavox Mayer Johnson PCS Activities
Purpose: To teach and increase vocabulary and spelling
Price: Free for samples and $2.99 each for additional decks
Features:
Familiar symbols
Activities include:
Vocabulary
BINGO
Word Scramble

Best ofLanguage
Sentence Builder
Purpose: To teach sentence structure
Price: $2.99
Features:
Choose the correct verb, adjective, modifier to make a correct

sentence
Teen versions available for $4.99

Best ofBehavior Intervention

Time Timer
Purpose: To provide visual representation of time
Price: $2.99
Features:
Audible, visual, tactile feedback
Customize clock

Uses:
For transition times between activities
To help transition out of an activity
A visual representation when teaching time

Best ofBehavior Intervention

First Then
Purpose: To provide first then visual boards and visual
schedules.
Price: $2.99
Features:
Use audio and/or visual cues
Determine how the schedule is displayed

Uses:
For transition times between activities
To provide structure to day/activity

Best ofBehavior Intervention

iReward
Purpose: Behavioral chart for a reward
Price: $2.99
Features:
Choose behavior and reward
Picture library, import pictures
Auditory feedback available
Determine amount of positive behavior

Uses:
A tool for encouraging completion of an activity

Best ofBehavior Intervention

Hidden Curriculum
Purpose: Discusses the unwritten social rules
Price: $2.99
Features:
Apps for children and adults based on content
Turn pages to read about new rules
Save topics pertinent to you under favorites

Uses:
Conversation starters for difficult topics
Information guide

Best ofLiteracy
Kindle
Purpose: Download and read books
Price: Free, books are purchased separately
Features:
Highlight text and take notes in book
Set text size and background

Uses:
Library at your hands

Best ofLiteracy
eTextbooks
Purpose: Access to textbooks on iPhone/iPad
Price: Free, textbooks purchases separately
Features:
Purchase or redeems textbooks
Increase font size
Ruler for reading line by line
Take notes

Uses:
To review class content
Highlight and take noted in text

Best ofLiteracy
Read Me Stories
Purpose: Childrens books read aloud
Price: Free with sample library, purchase additional books for

$.99 and up
Features:
Library of books
Reads aloud
Vibrant graphics

Uses:
Story time
Independent reading

Best ofLiteracy
ABC Phonics
Purpose: Teach sounds, letter, and writing
Price: $1.99
Features:
170 words
Write letter/word
Choose color

Uses:
Practice phonics, reading, writing

Best ofCurriculum
KindergartenTeach Me
Purpose: To teach/reinforce skills
Price: $.99
Features:

Reads aloud
Data tracking
Multi-Level
Multiple choice questions for:
Math: Addition/Subtraction
Spelling
Dolch Sight Words

Uses:

To understand kindergarten grade curriculum

Practice skills with your child

Best ofCurriculum
First Grade Skills
Purpose: To teach/reinforce skills
Price: $2.99
Features:
2nd grade skills also available
Data Tracking
Multiple choice questions for:
Vocabulary
Reading
Word Problems
Time
Money

Uses:
To understand 1st grade curriculum
Practice skills with your child

Best ofCurriculum
Montessori Approach to
Purpose: To use a Montessori approach for teaching various
subjects
Price: $2.99 each
Features:
Activities for:
Geography
Opposites
Math- Hundreds Board
Outer Space
And more

Best ofSpelling
Word Match
Purpose: Match pictures to sigh words
Price: $.99
Features:
Drag words to picture
Field of 4
Auditory feedback for correct/incorrect answers
Language:
English
French

Best ofPattern Recognition

Little Pattern (Grasshopper)
Purpose: To teach pattern recognition and completion
Price: $.99 each
Features:

Various pattern themes (shapes, animals, etc) sold separately

Must drag items (Pattern Recognition requires tapping)
Program:
Hints
Difficulty
Number in pattern
Customize objects/sounds
Auditory feedback
Many educational apps by Grasshopper

Best ofMath
123 Numbers
Purpose: To teach numbers symbols, greater than/less than,
1:1 correspondence
Price: $1.99
Features:
1:1 correspondence with cartoons
Counting with games
Songs This Old Man

Best ofMath
Math Series
Purpose: To teach sequencing with sequential or random
patterns
Price: $.99
Features:
Choose number range: 20, 50, 100
Choose number series: 3, 5, 10, 20
Audible feedback
Reward system

Best ofMath
Count and Write
Purpose: To teach counting and writing the numbers 1-30
Price: $.99
Features:
Fun animal pictures
Practice writing the number 3 times
Audible feedback

Best ofMath
Number Line Wizard (looking for an improved number line)
Purpose: Provides a number line for whole numbers
Price: $.99
Features
Set:
Start number
Counting amount
Number range
Font size

Use:
Addition and subtraction problems
Skip counting

Best ofMath/Time
Tell Time Game- Little Match Ups
Purpose: Match analogue to digital clocks
Price: Free
Features
Auditory feedback for time
Set:
# of items to match (1-8)
Audio Hints
Times to be displayed

Use:
Addition and subtraction problems
Skip counting

Best ofFine Motor/Writing

Dexteria
Purpose: To teach/reinforce fine motor skills
Price: $4.99
Features:
Times and takes data
Activities for:
Tapping
Pinching
Writing letters

Uses:
Practice skills with your child

Best ofFUN!
Magic Piano
Purpose: To play songs and hear piano
Price: $2.99
Features:
Play solo
Choose from 45 songs to play
Cool graphics
Good for all ages

Uses:

Have fun with music

Practice hand use (pointer)
Develop cause and effect

Best ofFUN!
Animals HD
Purpose: To explore animal names and sounds in English and

Spanish
Price: $.99
Features:

Auditory feedback in English and Spanish

Choose from 48 animals
Scene array from 1 to 48
Memory Game included

Uses:

Teach animal names and sounds vocabulary

Learn Spanish/English
Play memory

Best ofFUN!
123 Color HD
Purpose: To color and teach colors
Price: $1.99
Features:
Auditory feedback for color choices
English (American, Australian, British)
Spanish
French
German
Music (turn on/off)
Many coloring choices and themes
Paint by number/letter

Uses:
Teach colors, letters, numbers, matching
Learn Spanish/English/French/German colors
Have fun

Best ofFUN!
Sound Touch
Purpose: Explore different sounds
Price: $1.99
Features:
Auditory feedback for various themes
Pets
Wild Animals
Birds
Vehicles
Musical Instruments
Home Appliances
Photograph reinforcement

Uses:
Teach
Cause and effect
Vocabulary development
Classification skills

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