Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP. Over 33 years experience in AAC. OMazing Kids AAC and app consulting. Creator of several AAC Feature Matching resources (https://omazingkidsllc.com/omazing-kids-aac-resource-links/). Includes info about unique features to support Gestalt Language Processors
Check out the newest resource on my Teachers Pay Teachers store. The 6-page PDF includes seven strategies for fostering AAC ownership, links to five free Preference Indicator Assessment Questionnaire forms, ways to add carrying straps to cases and three pages of printable AAC tags (three styles: device, talker, book / two sizes / in color and in black-white). Fostering AAC Ownership + AAC tags: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fostering-AAC-Ownership-AAC-tags-6990346
Have questions? The best way to reach me with any questions is via messaging on the OMazing Kids Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/. That way messages don’t get lost among the spam in my e-mail.
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.)
*** SALE: This item is 50% off from 6/26/21 to 7/4/21 ***
Customizing AAC Apps to Meet Unique Needs – High Contrast Symbols (Webinar)
This recorded webinar covers:
19 ways that AAC apps can be modified with an extra focus on High Contrast Symbols
Reasons for making modifications
Detailed info about 7 iOS AAC apps that include High Contrast Symbols or have them available via extra purchase or by editing buttons
A comparison of High Contrast Symbols vs. using iOS Accessibility Invert Colors
A Case Study of how the GoTalk Now Lite app was customized to be used as a stepping stone to a robust AAC option
Learn how I edited the entire LAMP Words for Life AAC app over a six month period to use High Contrast symbols on a black background. Includes a handout with info about how to find those symbols in the app and the Settings and Pronunciation Exceptions that I used
How this modified LAMP Words for Life Vocab file is different than using LAMP Words for Life – VI on an Accent Speech Generating Device
How you can receive a copy of my modified files for GoTalk Now and LAMP Words for Life as optional free bonus content
What’s included with the purchase of this product:
Recorded Webinar Video (33:53), viewable on the unlisted YouTube link provided in the Supporting Document
Supporting Document (25 page PDF): Link to the unlisted YouTube video, Slides Handout (2 slides per page), How to Find LAMP Words for Life High Contrast Symbols in the iPad App & a Quiz). The Slides Handout portion of the PDF is best viewed the free Xodo app or Books app on an iPad (or similar PDF reader) vs. printing it due to the black background. The free Xodo app can be used on any platform and computers. The links are out on their website: https://www.xodo.com/
Optional Free Bonus Content (see description on TPT for more info):
Vocab File for LAMP WFL FULL – High Contrast [original motor plans (NOT LAMP VI), edited to use High Contrast Symbols, added additional vocabulary]
Communication Book file for GoTalk Now – modified to be similar to LAMP WFL, High Contrast Symbols, pages for videos, toys and snacks
Have questions? The best way to reach me with any questions is via messaging on the OMazing Kids Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/. That way messages don’t get lost among the spam in my e-mail.
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.)
Boom! Take that you darn Wh-questions! One of my 8 year old patients had a HUGE breakthrough in OMazing Kids speech therapy today. After what seems like an eternity of working on Wh-questions, it finally totally clicked today. The QuestionIt? app by Language Learning Apps, LLC has been an integral part of this breakthrough with the scaffolding, symbol enhanced text, multiple repetitions and feedback about the correct answer to a __ (who, what doing, when, where) question. This is a patient who previously could not answer a Wh-question at all. Instead he would either not respond or would respond with some random fact about numbers, maps or Luigi (all high interest areas of his). Guess what he was able to do today?! Sorting (Level 3 – no scaffolding: 95%), Answering Sentence (Level 3 – no scaffolding: 95%), Answering Advanced Sentences (Level 2 – no scaffolding & variations on the word order: 90%). So then I turned my iPad around where he just had to listen to the sentence & question in the Advanced Sentence level. His responses were a little slower but he still rocked it at 85% accuracy. At that point I was on the verge of SLP tears of joy. But it gets even better!
Our conversation as we walked back to the waiting room:
Me: “What are you doing for Spring Break?” Him: “No homework”. Me: “Yeah… No school & no homework! What fun things are you doing this week?” Him: “We are going to a birthday party” Me: “When?” Him: “Today” Me: “Whose birthday is it?” Him: “_ (child’s name)… my brother’s friend” Me: “What did you buy for a present?” Him: ……. (to be honest my brain cut out at this point from the shock of him taking this many conversational turns, maintaining a topic & answering non-structured Wh-questions)
When we arrived to the waiting room, his mom confirmed that all his answers were accurate & we basked in the glory of how far he has come. When I first started seeing him a few years ago, he was minimally verbal & had huge meltdowns at even the mention of the words “birthday” or “party” (tons of sensory issues).
We still have lots more to work on but for today I am enjoying this moment of how far he has come. I share this for all the parents out there & all the therapists who work with their children…. the tunnel may be long but there is definitely hope & light at the end of that tunnel.
(This was originally posted on my OMazing Kids Facebook page on 3/16/15: https://bit.ly/3zNwnrM. I’m in the process of saving some of those posts here on my blog to make them easier to link / share during presentations)
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.)
I’ve seen numerous posts in a variety of Facebook AAC groups over the past week or so regarding folks getting an error message that the developer needs to update the app. But I have all of the apps in question and know that they are all updated and work fine on both iOS 14.5 and iOS 14.6 (the most current iOS).
What to do if you see this error message depends on the type of device you are using:
Regular iPads: For those using the AAC app on a regular (not “managed”) iPad, check to make sure the iOS and the AAC are both updated and then do a forced restart. You may need to check in your Purchased area in the App Store to make sure there isn’t an update that just hasn’t been pushed out to you yet. See this blog post if you need info about how to do a forced restart: https://omazingkidsllc.com/2021/01/01/how-to-do-a-force-restart-on-an-ipad/. This seems to be resolving the issue for those on regular (not “managed”) devices.
Mobile Device Management (MDM) system devices: If you are using a “managed” iOS-based device and are not able to access the areas to update the iOS and app on it, then you’ll need to check with the company that sold that device. Their customer service number should be on the back of the device. If not, see this post for info about companies that sell those: https://omazingkidsllc.com/2021/03/12/fundable-ios-based-aac-devices/. My best guess is there’s something in their management system that’s either preventing an update or triggering that error message. If the school district provided the device and uses their own system to manage them, then you’ll need to check with the department that handles that.
If any of the companies that sell managed devices have additional insights on what to do feel free to message me on my OMazing Kids AAC Consulting Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/) I’ve had several folks asking so I’ll be giving updates on any new info.
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.)
It includes info about app updates done in the past month, info about head tracking and eye gaze capabilities in CoughDrop, a few more tips and time saving features and I added a row about backup/share/restore via a USB flash drive.
Have questions? The best way to reach me with any questions is via messaging on the OMazing Kids Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/. That way messages don’t get lost among the spam in my e-mail.
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.)
AAC Tutorial: Backup / Restore / Share Customized Programming in the Top 10 iOS Symbol-Based AAC Apps (includes 2 videos & a PDF handout). Covers several options including detailed instructions on how to use an external USB drive and USB Camera Adapter with Apple Files. Now available on my Teachers Pay Teachers store: https://bit.ly/3zj41FG
Have questions? The best way to reach me with any questions is via messaging on the OMazing Kids Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/. That way messages don’t get lost among the spam in my e-mail.
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.)
Looking for resources to support use of AAC in Early Intervention? Here’s my curated list of resources, handouts and webinars. I’ve only shared things that I’ve personally used, read and watched. There’s no “perfect” one-size-fits-all resource. So that’s why I use bits and pieces from lots of things.
Have questions? The best way to reach me with any questions is via messaging on the OMazing Kids Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/. That way messages don’t get lost among the spam in my e-mail.
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.)
Have questions? The best way to reach me with any questions is via messaging on the OMazing Kids Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/. That way messages don’t get lost among the spam in my e-mail.
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.)
This is what the LAMP Words for Life app looks like on my iPad modified to use High Contrast symbols:
Want to know more? Check out this short recorded webinar on my Teachers Pay Teachers store: https://bit.ly/2Rd430G
Have questions? The best way to reach me with any questions is via messaging on the OMazing Kids Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/. That way messages don’t get lost among the spam in my e-mail.
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 AAC Consulting 