OMazing Kids AAC Consulting

Personal Professional Facebook Page (linked to OMazing Kids): https://www.facebook.com/angela.moorad (adding “friends” who have a direct role in AAC or Assistive Technology – AAC / AT app or product developers, AAC / AT consultants, SLPs who specialize in AAC, other professionals who specialize in AAC or AT, etc.)

OMazing Kids Business Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/

AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omazingkidsaac/

Comparing Five All-Purpose Articulation Apps for SLPs in 2021

Posted on May 25, 2021 by OMazing Kids

Here’s an updated comparison of five all-purpose articulation apps:

Articulation Station Pro
ArtikPix Full
Speech Tutor Pro
Webber Photo Artic Castle Pro
Articulate It! Pro

My recommendations have changed quite a bit recently due to glitches not being fixed in one app and two apps not being updated. This raises a red flag as to whether or not they will continue to work as new iOS versions are released.

Only two of these apps are still highly recommended: Articulation Station Pro & ArtikPix Full

Two are now designated as “purchase with caution” (Speech Tutor Pro & Webber Photo Artic Castle Pro) and one is no longer recommended for purchase (Articulate It! Pro).

I sent messages to all three app developers to ask about plans to update their app. As of the time of this blog post none of them have replied. All three of those companies have a subscription-based site so it’s likely that they are focusing on that now vs. maintaining existing apps.

See this updated interactive chart for the details: https://bit.ly/3fmCBXG

Note: The PDF is not formatted to be printed. It is best viewed in the free Xodo app or Books app.

Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC OMazing Kids AAC Consulting

Teachers Pay Teachers Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Omazing-Kids-Aac-Consulting

OMazing Kids Business Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/

AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omazingkidsaac/

Anxiety and Autism: Helpful Tools

Posted on May 21, 2021 by OMazing Kids

Unfortunately anxiety is common with Autism. It’s the main reason that I went through training for kids yoga and mindfulness. I needed tools as an SLP to be able to help my patients learn self regulation and self affirmation skills.

Here are several helpful tools:

Two Amazing “Must Have” Books for Teaching Kids Self-Regulation Skills: https://bit.ly/2T36tiR.

Calming Kit Visual Support and Calming Corner:

A self-regulation visual support from the archives on my blog. See the whole thing and instructions in this PDF: https://omazingkidsyoga.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/behavior-thermometer-i-am-feeling-i-will-with-feelings-and-self-calming-choices-with-kids-yoga-bumpidoodle-cushion.pdf

An editable version is out on Boardmaker Share: https://www.myboardmaker.com/Activity/1817562

Visual Supports with Voice Output for the “Win”! – Incredible 5 Point Scale and the GoTalk Now app: https://bit.ly/3v3eq5M

Fingertip Sphere Breathing for Self Regulation & Calming: https://bit.ly/3bHXLNC

https://www.facebook.com/174264525957894/posts/pfbid02aDf9ymGeTPKNi3kBsCchQfa4DuhggcSfpBmG7RWhfSzAZGp2wuVxmBg521FABLj4l/?d=n

Breathing Zone app (like a virtual Hoberman Sphere). https://apps.apple.com/us/app/breathing-zone/id369838631. I post every time I see this app is free for a short time but it’s definitely worth the regular price:

Visual Timers can be very helpful to reduce anxiety.

I just checked and the app versions of the Time Timer are all still currently FREE (7:45am CDT 7/5/22):

iOS – iPhone and Apple Watch: Time Timer by Time Timer LLC, https://apps.apple.com/us/app/time-timer/id332520417

iOS – iPad: Time Timer: iPad Edition by Time Timer LLC, https://apps.apple.com/us/app/time-timer-ipad-edition/id434081367

Android & Google Chromebooks: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.timetimer.android

Another great free option is the MultiTimer app that can be adjusted directly on an Apple Watch as well as an iPhone. See details on this post: https://omazingkidsllc.com/2017/05/30/free-visual-timer-app-adjustable-directly-on-apple-watch/.

Owl & Star plush characters from Super Simple Learning + free printable affirmation coloring pages: https://bit.ly/3fykyfZ. Any stuffed animal or doll can be used with belly breathing. See this video: https://youtu.be/cx9vMHnjpbA

Five Count Breathing Stars visual support: https://bit.ly/2RCD8eT

Smell the Icing – Blow out the Candle visual support: https://bit.ly/2SfCjbD.

Several great apps in this resource guide: https://bit.ly/UltimateAppDigitalResourceGuideSLP

And handouts from a training “Therapeutic Yoga For Kids and Teens with Autism” that I did at the Oklahoma Autism Conference in 2011: https://bit.ly/3402Hci

I’ll update this post to add additional resources as I create or find them.

Disclaimer: Anxiety is very real and can be severe. Please seek the care of an appropriate mental health professional as needed. Any tools shared here may not work for everyone. They are shared as examples and may need to be customized to meet individual needs.

The best way to reach me with any questions is via private messaging on the OMazing Kids Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/. That way important messages don’t get lost among the spam in my e-mail

Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC, OMazing Kids AAC Consulting

• Teachers Pay Teachers Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Omazing-Kids-Aac-Consulting

• YouTube: https://youtube.com/user/amoorad1

• Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/omazingkidsaac

• OMazing Kids AAC Consulting Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/

• AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/

• GoTalk Now AAC & GoVisual Visual Scene Apps – Ideas and Sharing Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/GoTalkNowAACappGroup

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Giveaway: AAC Feature Matching Chart (enter by 11:59pm CDT on 5/16/21, 3 winners)

Posted on May 14, 2021 by OMazing Kids

I’m doing a giveaway to celebrate Better Hearing & Speech Month and the launch of my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

Update: This giveaway is CLOSED. Congratulations to the giveaway winners! I ended up doing 4 instead of 3. The info was sent to each of them in a private message:

• Nikki Stempien – sent via Facebook messaging

• Holly Suszek – sent via Facebook messaging

• Caroline Madsen – sent via Facebook messaging

• Kimberly Hurley – sent via Instagram messaging

The prize:

A copy of the most current version of the Feature Matching Chart for the Top 10 iOS Symbol-Based AAC Apps (5/13/21, a PDF file, only available in English). Note: The giveaway is NOT for a download from my TPT store or for a Ko-fi subscription. It is for access to a link to where you’ll be able to download the PDF from the secret files area on my blog.
You can see a preview video of it on my YouTube channel:

Who can enter:

Speech Language Pathologists (also known as Speech Language Therapists). SLPs / SLTs outside of the USA are also welcome to enter just be aware that the prize is only available in English. This giveaway is limited to those professionals since it is Better Hearing and Speech Month and they are the ones who primarily do these types of evaluations.

How to Enter:

Send a private message to my OMazing Kids Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/. If you are not on Facebook, you can submit your entry via a private message to me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omazingkidsaac/ or Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/amoorad. Include a brief description of your role in AAC evaluations and supporting AAC users. Be sure to adjust your social media settings to allow me to reply to your message since that’s how I will be contacting winners.
WordPress no longer offers the option for e-mail entry forms on the free blog platform so that’s not an option for this giveaway.

Entry Deadline: 11:59pm CDT on Sunday, 5/16/21

3 winners will be selected and announced within 48 hours of the end of the giveaway. They will each receive a message with a link to where the PDF can be downloaded.

Terms of Use for Winners:

• You may not copy any part of the PDF document (including the content, layout, format, ideas or design) and reproduce it or distribute it as your own work. Please do not copy/paste this info onto other blogs or save this PDF in any online groups or files. You can refer colleagues to my TPT store if they would like to purchase a copy: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Feature-Matching-Chart-for-the-Top-10-iOS-Symbol-Based-AAC-Apps-6867853

Questions? The best way to reach me is via private messaging on my OMazing Kids Facebook page but I will also be checking messages on Instagram and Twitter during this giveaway.

Disclaimers:

I assume no liability for app purchases and am not making patient-specific recommendations.
This giveaway is not affiliated with TPT, any social media sites or any AAC app developers.

Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC OMazing Kids AAC Consulting

Teachers Pay Teachers Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Omazing-Kids-Aac-Consulting

OMazing Kids Business Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/

AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omazingkidsaac/

Updated AAC Feature Matching Chart (5/13/21)

Posted on May 14, 2021 by OMazing Kids

*** See this new post for the most current info & a major update: https://omazingkidsllc.com/2021/07/20/feature-matching-chart-for-the-top-11-robust-ios-symbol-based-aac-apps/ ***

Here’s a summary of what’s new in this update for the Feature Matching Chart for the Top 10 iOS Symbol-Based AAC Apps:

• GoTalk Now: 5/11/21, version 5.0.6, updated Export PDF to offer multiple ways to save and share. Online Gallery temporarily closed for renovation. They did not indicate how long it will be closed.

• Grid for iPad: 5/4/21, version 3.0.64.1, update fixed bugs

• Snap Core First: Support of iOS 10 for Snap Core First software ended on May 12th, 2021.  See their post for more info: https://t.e2ma.net/click/btn9ye/3qw8flb/rl4pey

The updated version has been uploaded to my Ko-fi site.

This chart is now also available as a 1x purchase on my Teachers Pay Teachers store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Feature-Matching-Chart-for-the-Top-10-iOS-Symbol-Based-AAC-Apps-6867853

The best way to reach me with any questions is via private messaging on the OMazing Kids Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/. That way AAC related messages don’t get lost among the spam in my e-mail

Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC OMazing Kids AAC Consulting

Teachers Pay Teachers Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Omazing-Kids-Aac-Consulting

OMazing Kids Business Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/

AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omazingkidsaac/