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{App Review} Social Stories Creator for Educators by Touch Autism

Most of the kids on my caseload have Autism or other similar special needs so I am constantly either looking for or creating social stories. With 23 pre-made social stories included this app is a huge time saver and a bargain when compared to how much it would cost to purchase individual social stories. You could easily spend twice the cost of this app. I like how simple the stories are and some include interactive symbol areas. This app also includes several social stories that are not yet available as stand alone apps. It is very easy/intuitive to use and many of my patients are highly motivated by anything presented on the iPad (seriously I could show them the same story in printed format, read it to them and might not get much of a response but somehow recording my voice and presenting the same social story via the iPad got a very different response…. Shhhhh….. don’t tell the kids that it’s Mrs. Angela inside the iPad…. lol!).

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Three video examples of included social stories:

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I have just a few wishes for a future app update:
• being able to copy and then edit the pre-made stories to tweak them as needed for individual needs
• being able to print pre-made stories to send with the parent after a session for carryover at home (my current solution to this is to take screenshots and then either e-mail those to the parent to print at home or to myself to then print and give to the parent – both of which were time consuming)
• to have a small library of clip art of images from the pre-made stories to choose from when creating my own stories in addition to importing images from the Camera Roll. I like the uniform/cohesive look of the included stories so it would be cool to be able to keep some of this “look” in stories that I create.

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Features:
• Includes 23 pre-made social stories (info in parentheses if that story is available as a stand alone app. I am including the price if purchased as a separate app to help folks see the value you would get in this app):
– Asking to play (part of Conversation Social Stories app $3.99)
– Boys potty training (part of Potty Training Social Story app $3.99)
– Compliments ($2.99)
– Divorce (not available as a stand alone app)
– Emotions & feelings ($2.99)
– Girls potty training (part of Potty Training Social Story app)
– Going on an airplane (not available as a stand alone app)
– Going shopping ($2.99)
– Greetings (part of Conversation Social Stories app)
– How to calm down (wording similar to the Calm Counter app $2.99)
– It’s not OK to hurt (not available as a stand alone app)
– Joke telling ($2.99)
– Making conversations (part of Conversation Social Stories app
– Manners ($2.99)
– Personal space (not available as a stand alone app)
– Running ($2.99)
– Stranger & community safety ($2.99)
– Taking care of my device ($1.99)
– Taking turns & playing games ($2.99 – but a visual support/timer for taking turns is included in the stand alone app but is not in this app)
– Using & saving money ($2.99)
– Using my words ($2.99)
– Waiting ($2.99 – but a visual timer is included in the stand alone app but is not in this app)
– Wh questions ($2.99)

• Easily create an unlimited number of your own social stories with pictures, voice recordings and text.
• Share and receive created stories with other users.
• Print PDFs of created stories to have paper copies. The recent update for iOS 10 or later added the option to choose half page or full page.
• Stories can be made in any language.
• Organize stories into categories for particular skills, students or classrooms.
• Lock students into categories or apps to limit access.
• Create and play stories offline (with no internet connection).
• Easy to use, intuitive format.
• Password protected parental controls can be set.

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App Store: https://appsto.re/us/79vG7.i, $24.99, most recent update requires iOS 10 or later, iOS Universal app (works on iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch)

Free version to create 2 of your own social stories and download 1 free pre-made story “Taking Care of My Device” (doesn’t include any other pre-made stories unless purchased as IAPs): Social Stories Creator and Library by Touch Autism, https://appsto.re/us/2XUdJ.i (Tip: If you want all of the stories, it is wiser to purchase the full paid version of an app instead of upgrading a free app via IAPs)

More about the app: http://touchautism.com/app/social-stories-creator-library/
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I’m glad to have this app in my speechie toolbox and highly recommend it 😃
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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness & educational activities for kids of all abilities
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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 27 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.