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
The Feature Matching Chart for the Top 12 Robust iOS Symbol-Based AAC Apps has been updated to add new rows related to the new iOS 16/iPadOS 16 child and adult voices, use of Google Maps to communicate, apps that can be used in Split View, updated features in these apps over the past month, etc…
Jennifer from N of 1 recently shared a story in a Facebook group about how a child used Google Maps to communicate. Mind blown 🤯 I had several students/patients/clients who LOVED maps, addresses, countries and flags. At the time I knew that those served a purpose for self-regulation and pleasure. It makes my heart sad though to think that I may have missed communication via what they were looking up on Google Maps or Google Earth. There are definitely times I wish I had a time portal to go back with knowledge that I have now.
After sharing this on my OMazing Kids AAC Consulting Facebook page and subsequent shares on other pages and groups, I’ve seen LOTS of parents & SLPs share stories about their kids doing this to communicate very specific things. Totally amazing!
This got me digging through all of my AAC apps to see which ones either have a button action or opening a website URL to allow Google Maps to be opened within the app and/or that app supports use of Split View or Slide Over to allow this. If you have a specific model of iPad Pro or iPad Air with M1 chip you might also be able to use othermultitasking options in Stage Manager (my iPad Pro 9.7” is still on iOS 10.3 so that’s too old for the most current versions of most AAC apps or to use Stage Manager)
CoughDrop (in the app: via URL; used in Safari browser: could also use Split Screen)
Dialogue AAC (specific button action for this or via Split Screen)
GoTalk Now (via URL)
LAMP Words for Life (specific button action for this)
Niki Talk 2 Pro (via URL)
Proloquo2Go (via Split Screen)
Speech Assistant AAC (via Split Screen)
TouchChat with WordPower (specific button action for this or via Split Screen)
Etc…
Here are screenshots showing the two different ways to do this in TouchChat with WordPower:
TouchChat with WordPower (WP60 Basic) in Split View with Google MapsTouchChat with WordPower (WP60 Basic) where I added a button for Google Maps under Places and used the specific button action to open the Google Maps app.Speech Assistant AAC in Split View with Google Maps
The easiest option was Split Screen and it allows Google Maps and the AAC app to be on the screen at the same time but only a few AAC apps support use of Split Screen. Split Screen will alter the size of the buttons in that AAC app so it might be tricky when using large grid sizes.
The second easiest option was the specific button action within the three AAC apps by PRC-Saltillo.
Apps that allow you to program a button to open a website URL were a bit finicky / tricky to get it to work. I’ll be adding tips in the feature matching resources.
Another alternative is to use a second iPad or tablet or laptop with Google Maps / Google Earth that can be viewed alongside their AAC device or iPad or tablet being used for AAC.
In-depth details about this will be coming soon. I’m working on this month’s update for my AAC feature matching resources and am adding that info in two new rows. So be watching for it in a few days.
Important Notes:
I’m exploring these as ways to supplement (not replace) how an individual is already using Google Maps. It’s likely that a Gestalt Language Processor already has a well established “gestalt” for how they like to do that but it’s likely that adding this to their AAC system might be something that would spark interest and resonate with them.
I’d only explore this for individuals who have an interest in this. There is no “one size fits all” to anything about AAC. I’m NOT suggesting that we need to add access to Google Maps for every AAC user or even for every GLP who uses AAC.
Guided Access will likely block these methods of using more than one app on an iPad.
AAC Feature Matching Resource Bundle (includes all three, save 10%): https://bit.ly/aacFeatureMatchingBundle. If you are looking to purchase resources for several staff / team members, take a look at the Multiple Licenses discount (saves 20%)
Super excited to be beta testing the new Motor Plan pagesets (Motor Plan 30 & Motor Plan 66) for TD Snap. The two main designers behind it at Tobii Dynavox contacted me and asked if I’d like to see it. So I got my first peek at it during a video conference call over Teams on Thursday (10/20/22) and then received the beta files on Friday (10/21/22). I promised not to share those files but they were fine with me posting on social media about it.
So here are my first videos. I’m sure I’ll be sharing more as I continue to explore it. Very impressed with what I’m seeing.
These new pagesets will be coming to the UK in November 2022 and then coming to the USA in January / February 2023).
Videos (watch this area, I’ll be adding more videos as I explore features. Note: What you see in these videos may not match the final version of these pagesets. I’m sure they will continue to tweak things. That’s what “beta testing” is for 😊):
Motor Plan 30 & Motor Plan 66 pagesets
Setting up a new user for the Motor Plan 30 or Motor Plan 66 pageset. These new pagesets will be an addition to (not replacing) those already available. TD Snap is like a “library” and the pagesets are like “books” available within it.
AAC Feature Matching Resource Bundle (includes all three, save 10%): https://bit.ly/aacFeatureMatchingBundle. If you are looking to purchase resources for several staff / team members, take a look at the Multiple Licenses discount (saves 20%)
I took the plunge today and updated my iPhone 11 to iOS 16 specifically to try out the two brand new USA English child iOS voices: Joelle & Noelle.
It has been over a month since iOS 16 was released and Apple had rolled out a few bug fixes and several app developers had released updates for AAC apps. The chatter online about problems surrounding iOS 16 seemed to have lessened. So I decided that I wanted to go ahead and update. Heads up… it took quite awhile to download and then install iOS 16.0.3 so be sure to have your iPhone plugged in and on a consistently strong WiFi connection the entire time. After that was done I had several apps that needed to be updated. Most app developers had to add a way for these new voices to be selected. These are the only 2 child voices that I know of.
Why am I so excited about these new iOS child voices?
Many free and affordable iOS AAC apps rely on iOS voices since there is a pretty significant licensing cost to include premium voices in apps. That’s why some apps have those as in-app purchases.
Having child iOS voices means that many free and affordable apps will now have these two new child voice options. As you’ll see in my video, some apps automatically detect and use the child voice that I set under Accessibility – Spoken Content – Voices – English – listened to previews and then downloaded the voices that I wanted. Keeping in mind that everything you download takes up memory so I only downloaded what I knew I would use. For most AAC apps I had to go into the settings within that app and set it to the child voice that I wanted to use.
I hope this is just the beginning and hopefully Apple will add child voices for other languages in the future.
Note: It is anticipated that iPadOS 16 *might* be rolled out next week. I’m going to wait a few weeks to make sure Apple and app developers have time to work out any bugs before I update my iPads to that.
AAC Feature Matching Resource Bundle (includes all three, save 10%): https://bit.ly/aacFeatureMatchingBundle. If you are looking to purchase resources for several staff / team members, take a look at the Multiple Licenses discount (saves 20%)
Thinking about developing a new AAC app? I do quite a bit of beta testing and am asked pretty frequently for my feedback on AAC app development. Here are my thoughts…
The top 3 needs that I see for AAC apps:
1. Relevant: There is a need for robust AAC apps in a wider variety/diversity of languages and dialects (content, symbols & voices). Ideally these need to be developed in conjunction with native speakers of that language to insure accuracy and cultural relevance of the content, symbols and voices.
2. Portable: There is a need for more AAC apps to be usable on an iPhone & Android phone. I get numerous requests every month for info about the options. Sadly more than half of the robust iOS symbol-based AAC apps can only be used on an iPad. I had several older kids, teens and young adults that preferred the portability and the “look” of pocket-sized AAC on their phone. Some used it as an alternative to their larger device. Others used it as their primary AAC.
Some app developers claim that it would be impossible to offer their app on an iPhone because it would “mess with the motor plan” or “the buttons would be too small”. Hmm… somehow Speak for Yourself did this way back in 2016 and their app has 120 buttons per page and is a “motor planning” based app. In the years since then I’ve seen several posts from AAC users, parents, SLPs, teachers, etc. who all appreciate the flexibility that this offers. The screen on the largest iPhones are only a couple of inches smaller than an iPad Mini. Even on my iPhone 11 with its 6.1” screen I’m able to use this app well enough to do some modeling and use it all the time to take a look at the Settings area to answer questions about the app when I don’t have my iPad with me.
Read these posts on the Speak for Yourself website: https://speakforyourself.org/does-aac-button-size-really-matter/ & https://speakforyourself.org/tiny-speak-coming-soon-iphones/. A quote from the second post: “The buttons are small, BUT they are twice the size of the keyboard buttons that we all use, including our students who flawlessly use mom or dad’s phone to search for videos on YouTube. Many of our users will be able to access Tiny Speak for Yourself (Tiny SfY), but even if they are not able to access it, having the app on an iPhone also puts the ability to model seamlessly into the hands of parents, professionals…and siblings. That may be the biggest game changer of Tiny SfY.”
Look at the data and the button size comparisons. Look at the pictures and video of it in use. Read the linked blog posts about the impact of having this option.
It’s doable. Not saying it’s easy for developers to reprogram an app to make it iOS Universal. I’m sure it takes a lot of work. But if you listen to your customers it’s one of the biggest needs. So listen, roll up your sleeves and make it happen.
3. Affordable: We need more robust AAC options that can be used on the more affordable tablets (Amazon Fire & Android). I’ve been getting numerous messages from folks who don’t have access to getting an AAC device funded or are tired of professionals saying their child isn’t “ready”. In these instances the total cost of an Amazon Fire tablet or basic Android tablet + case + AAC app = affordable enough for the parent to purchase it themselves. Not everyone can afford an iPad.
Here are my other thoughts based on over 30 years of experience in AAC and using lots of AAC apps across all of the platforms:
• Any new AAC app needs to support robust communication for a wide variety of functions. There are already several simple choice making apps on the market. Robust AAC contains many different types of words (verbs, nouns, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, articles/determiners & interjections), includes Core Vocabulary & Fringe Vocabulary (relevant to that user’s culture, interests and needs), includes Prestored Phrases (to support quick participation), Word Forms (verb tenses, word endings), allows editing to add new vocabulary and customize existing vocabulary, and a way to backup customizations.
Most robust AAC apps offer a Search/Word Finder. The lack of a Search/Word Finder can be a significant issue for those supporting lots of AAC users across multiple systems since they may not use that particular app everyday.
There needs to be a balance between safeguards to help insure an AAC app is used as designed to provide robust AAC & flexibility in editing. When AAC apps are too restrictive in editing it makes it difficult to make sure the content and symbols are culturally relevant, honor that user’s and their family’s customs and religious beliefs and that they are not racially biased. It’s difficult to do that when much/most of the app can’t be edited.
There also needs to be flexibility to allow editing in order to allow use of robust elements like verb tenses and word endings even if that individual is using a low cell count grid size in order to support access for fine motor and visual needs.
• Take a good look at the major AAC apps on the market and determine what specific features your new app would offer that are not already available.
• Get input from AAC users regarding features they think would be helpful.
• Do lots of beta testing to insure the app is intuitive / easy to use.
• You should only offer an AAC app that is truly worth having and meets needs. There are several free or very cheap AAC apps on the market. But you rarely see them mentioned or recommended because they are so poorly designed.
• Offer a fully featured free trial for at least 30 days (preferably at least 60 days) & include access to any extra pagesets / vocab files / grid sets / board sets during that trial. This access needs to be available on the device that the individual might actually be using (as an example, having a free trial on Windows isn’t really going to be totally helpful if they will be using an iPad). SLPs/SLTs and others supporting AAC use can typically get access to the full apps to trial but there are often waiting lists and not everyone has access to an SLP or access to getting an AAC eval. (Note: The various app platforms pose barriers to app developers for some of the options to offer free trials or free promo codes so there are constraints to what they can do regarding this. There would also be a need for companies licensing voices and premium vocab files to allow for these types of free trials)
• Offer purchasing flexibility. Subscriptions offer easier access for individuals (but don’t work well for schools, state run facilities and funding sources). The option to purchase a multi-year subscription can be helpful in some situations. If it will have a subscription, also offer a 1x purchasing option for those who can’t do subscriptions. If it’s an in-app purchase, also offer an option that will work for schools and state run facilities.
• Price your app where it is affordable & sustainable.
• Beyond the initial costs of developing the app, make sure that you also have a very well thought out long term plan and finances for supporting and keeping an AAC app updated.
I’ve received numerous messages over the years on my OMazing Kids AAC Consulting page from parents and therapists with very heartbreaking stories of AAC users losing their voice when Apple released a new iOS and the app wouldn’t work as expected. Several AAC app developers have not updated apps in 5 years or more. It’s one thing to lose a favorite game or therapy app but a whole different thing to lose an AAC app.
Want to read more about affordable AAC and/or pocket sized AAC? See these blog posts:
AAC Feature Matching Resource Bundle (includes all three, save 10%): https://bit.ly/aacFeatureMatchingBundle. If you are looking to purchase resources for several staff / team members, take a look at the Multiple Licenses discount (saves 20%)
It was an honor to be invited to participate on a “Recommender Panel” at the Tobii Dynavox Power to be You (P2BU) conference today (10/11/22). Thankful for the power of technology via Zoom to be able to do that remotely. It was cool to hear the other panelists perspectives and experiences in doing AAC evals and supporting AAC implementation in various settings. Although we each had varied experiences we had similar feedback for what we’d like to see in the future.
Common themes in recommendations included making AAC accessible on iPhones and pocket-sized devices, expanding to additional platforms, supporting use in more languages, offering more premade bilingual pagesets, offering premade pagesets with high contrast symbols, making it easier to find resources on their website, streamlining the funding process and communication regarding the status, enhancing access to customer support via instant messaging, FaceTime, etc., more transparency regarding the status of support for their older AAC apps and other products, and more support via their Tobii Dynavox Community Facebook group, etc…
It’s amazing how much AAC has changed over the past 33 years. Can’t wait to see what the future holds 😊
The sales on Amazon + the AAC app sales = an opportunity for very affordable AAC. Here are a few examples…
$44.99: Limited-time deal: Fire HD 8 tablet, 8″ HD display, 32 GB, latest model (2020 release), designed for portable entertainment, Twilight Blue https://a.co/1jbEW50
$59.88: Samsung Galaxy A03s, 32GB, Black – Prepaid Tracfone Smartphone (you don’t have to “activate” it) https://a.co/ccrm6PU
$249.00: SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 10.4″ 64GB Android Tablet w/ Long Lasting Battery, S Pen Included, Slim Metal Design, AKG Dual Speakers, US Version, Angora Blue https://a.co/iSA07vZ
The update for the Android version of Avaz on 10/4/22 added access to setting Acapela as a Speech Engine. This allows you to use any Acapela voices that you have purchased and installed.
Super excited to have access to child voices again in the Android version of this app. The iOS version already has child voice options.
See my video:
There’s an extra step to get those to work side loaded on an Amazon Fire tablet.
OMazing Kids AAC Consulting 