GoTalk Now AAC App – Ideas and Sharing Facebook group

AAC Awareness Month starts tomorrow 😊 I started a new Facebook group called “GoTalk Now AAC App – Ideas and Sharing”.

The group has only been up for 18 hours and it’s been exciting to already have almost 300 folks join and share their ideas / creations.

See this post for a roundup of several posts that I’ve done over the years showing lots of creative ways to use this fabulous app:

I anticipate a ton of folks purchasing the full version of the GoTalk Now app during the unprecedented $10 sale on 10/10/21 and then needing a spot for ideas and support.

Since there isn’t an official group for this app, I decided to start one from my OMazing Kids AAC Consulting Facebook page.

Here’s the link in case you are interested in joining: https://bit.ly/GoTalkNowAACappGroup

It is a private group that can only be joined from a personal Facebook profile.

The focus of this group is specifically for ideas and sharing related to the following GoTalk Now AAC apps:

  • GoTalk Now Lite
  • GoTalk Start
  • GoTalk Now
  • GoTalk Now Plus

Posts will be in English. You can view the Group Rules on Facebook prior to joining.

*** Note: This group is not affiliated with Attainment Company. I am offering this as informal networking via my OMazing Kids Facebook page ***


Have a question? The best way to reach me is via Facebook messaging over on my OMazing Kids page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/


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/

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

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/amoorad

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/amoorad1

TherAPPy Tools: iPad Apps for Pediatric SLPs (Recorded Webinar & Handouts)

Now available on my TPT store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/TherAPPy-Tools-iPad-Apps-for-Pediatric-SLPs-Recorded-Webinar-Handouts-7283613

I’m an SLP with over 30 years of experience who has used thousands of iOS apps on my iPads since 2012. Come learn from my extensive experience in using apps to target specific SLP goals.

This recorded webinar covers:

• General iPad tips

• iPad and iPad case recommendations

• How to improve iPad battery life

• Cautions about iOS updates and app updates

• Reasons to use apps in therapy

• Things to consider when using apps in therapy

• Guided Access & Screen Time

• Organizing apps

• How to find great apps

• Great free PDF viewer app

• What to look for in well-designed apps

• AAC resources

• Combining apps with toys, books, games & traditional SLP materials

• Suggested apps for over 50 SLP goal areas / needs with links to 29 app demo videos


Expected Learner Outcomes:

1. List at least three characteristics of high quality apps for use in therapy.

2. Select apps based on the unique needs of individual patients / students.

3. Use Guided Access & Screen Time to lock areas within apps, prevent exiting an app, prevent accessing specific apps, etc..

Expected Takeaways:

1. Access a current list of apps for SLPs sorted by goal areas.

2. Identify at least 5 apps to use with current patients / students on their caseload.

3. Know how to incorporate apps with traditional SLP materials, games, toys & books.


What’s included with the purchase of this product:

Recorded Webinar Video (1 hour, 9 minutes), viewable on the unlisted YouTube link provided in the Handout PDF

Handouts (87 page PDF): 1 slide per page, link to recorded webinar video, links to 29 app demo videos

If you want links to be clickable, please view the PDF in the free Xodo app (https://www.xodo.com), Books app or other PDF viewer.


Have a question? The best way to reach me is via Facebook messaging over on my OMazing Kids page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/


Thanks for taking a look at this product on my TPT store 😊

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

Big AAC app sales in October 2021… includes GoTalk Now on sale for only $10.00

Wow 🤩 Check out all the AAC app sales coming up. Thanks to Lauren S. Enders, MA, CCC – SLP for having it all in one graphic. Be sure to mark your calendars. Some of the sales are very short. In particular the one for GoTalk Now is just a one day sale. What a deal for only $10 (or less for those who purchase apps in bulk).

New to AAC app sales?

  • Have your iPad ready to install apps. Some of these apps are “iPad only” which means you cannot purchase them via an iPhone. Make sure you have plenty of memory available on that iPad.
  • Look closely at all the info on Lauren’s post.
  • Mark your calendar and when the sale begins for the app that you want head over to the Apple App Store to check the price.
  • Make sure the sale price shows up before you purchase it. Prices may change at different times depending on your time zone.
  • Don’t wait until the end of a sale timeframe to get the app that you want. You don’t want to miss out.
  • Some of the deals are only available through the app developer. See Lauren’s graphic for all of those details.
  • Once a sale starts there’s nothing you have to do to get that price. That sale price will be what shows up in the App Store.

(Note: Prices vary outside of the USA based on the exchange rate)

New GoTalk Now AAC App Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/GoTalkNowAACappGroup

Here are the answers to questions about the upcoming GoTalk Now app sale that I received directly from my contact at Attainment Company, Inc.:

  • Yes the sale price will be available through the Apple VPP program.
  • Yes the sale price will be available worldwide for GoTalk NOW on 10/10/21.
  • No other versions or in-app purchases are part of the sale. The sale is specifically for GoTalk NOW as we are celebrating it’s ten year anniversary.
    ——————————————————-
    Hope this helps 😊 Be sure to set your reminders / write your post-it notes. The sale is only for 1 day (10/10/21). Also join the GoTalk Now AAC App – Ideas and Sharing group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/355075249651423/?ref=share

Head over to the post on her Facebook page for tappable links: https://bit.ly/3Axe6PA


Have a question? The best way to reach me is via Facebook messaging over on my OMazing Kids page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/


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/

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

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/amoorad

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/amoorad1

Ultimate App and Digital Resource Guide for SLPs

Want info about hundreds of apps and digital resources at your fingertips? Check out this brand new item on my TPT store: Ultimate App and Digital Resource Guide for SLPs, https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ultimate-App-and-Digital-Resource-Guide-for-SLPs-7267356.

It’s on sale for 25% off for its debut in my store. It will go up to full price on 10/22/21.

It includes:

• Interactive PDF (239 pages with linked Table of Contents) full of hundreds of apps and digital resources organized by goal areas and themes

• App Demo Videos (29 unlisted YouTube videos)

See the full product description on TPT for more info.


Have a question? The best way to reach me is via Facebook messaging over on my OMazing Kids page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/


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/

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

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/amoorad

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/amoorad1

Preparing for iOS 15: How to Turn Off Automatic Download & Installation of iPadOS / iOS Updates


Update: As anticipated there are problems with iOS 15. See this info https://www.imore.com/storage-almost-full-bug-affecting-ios-15-users


https://www.facebook.com/299529220125194/posts/4392644337480308/?d=n


https://www.facebook.com/730240590364759/posts/4341214415934007/


Preparing for iOS 15: How to Turn Off Automatic Download & Installation of iPadOS / iOS Updates

It is anticipated that Apple will be releasing iOS 15 very soon.

Historically the whole number iOS updates tend to cause problems. Several years ago I had an iPad “brick” and it had to be restored to factory settings. Almost every whole number iOS release has caused issues with AAC apps and therapy apps.

It is wise to wait for awhile for kinks to be worked out and for app developers to have time to release updates to fix any problems. And Apple often releases secondary iOS updates to fix issues. I typically wait several months and watch for posts from app developers indicating that it’s safe to install the new iOS.

Unfortunately the “default” setting on an iPad is usually for the iOS updates to be automatically downloaded and automatically installed. In order to prevent that from happening, please check the settings on any iPad or iPhone being used for AAC or as a therapy tool. Even if you have toggled it off in the past please take the time to check it again. I found that a recent iOS update had toggled it back on.

  • Go to Settings (grey gear) – General – Software Update – Automatic Updates – toggle off Download iPadOS (iOS) Updates

While you’re on that device now would also be a good time to make sure you have backed up all customized programming.


If you’re in a very large school district that has hundreds of students using iPads for AAC, then I’d check with your IT department to see what the options are for temporarily toggling off the automatic download and installation of iOS updates. If that’s not feasible in your district, then take this as a “heads up” that you may need to have paper-based AAC options on hand just in case they are needed.


What to do if you have an iPad on an older iOS: Unfortunately on very old versions of iOS there’s not a way to prevent the iOS update from downloading. But it should ask for permission before installing it. A sign that an iOS update has downloaded is a sudden large drop in available memory. To find that file to delete it on an older iOS, go into Settings – General – Storage & iCloud Usage – Storage – Manage Storage. Wait for the app list to populate and then delete the one with the grey gear. For example, I have an iPad Pro 9.7” that I purposefully kept on iOS 10.3.3 in order to avoid losing a bunch of apps when iOS 11 rolled out. By deleting that iOS update file I am freeing up 3.7GB of memory and helping to prevent an accidental update. I periodically get a notification asking me to update the iOS. I am very cautious to tap “Details” and then close out of it. Also go to Settings – iTunes & App Store – and toggle off Updates under Automatic Downloads.


Why am I concerned? As I’ve been working on an update for my large app resource guide I’ve run across numerous apps that have disappeared from the App Store. I haven’t seen this many apps disappear in mass like this since iOS 11 rolled out. That particular iOS caused problems with several AAC and therapy apps. Of course I have no way to know what will happen with iOS 15 but am seeing enough red flags to be concerned and to post about it. It’s heartbreaking when AAC users lose their voice when a new iOS rolls out and causes glitches. Now is the time to prevent that from happening.


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.


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/

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

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/amoorad

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/amoorad1

Updated AAC Feature Matching Chart (9-7-21)

Updated Feature Matching Chart for the Top 11 iOS Symbol-Based AAC Apps

Did you know that Coughdrop has a cool new “Focus Words” feature? Focus Words offers a quick way to highlight a list of targeted words while dimming the rest of the buttons slightly (but all of the buttons are still active).

Want to stay up to date on all the newest features in the most commonly used AAC apps?

Check out this month’s update for the Feature Matching Chart for the Top 11 iOS Symbol-Based AAC Apps. The update has been uploaded onto my TPT store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Feature-Matching-Chart-for-the-Top-11-Robust-iOS-Symbol-Based-AAC-Apps-6867853.


Ko-fi subscribers can access it on this post: https://ko-fi.com/post/Updated-Feature-Matching-Chart-9721-H2H564ELO


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.


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/

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

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/amoorad

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/amoorad1