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
Updated resource: Basic Feature Chart for Affordable and Free AAC apps & AAC-Related Apps (iOS, Android Google Play, Amazon Fire, Windows + a few Web-Based options). Now also includes info about apps available for Chromebook.
Looking for in-depth up to date info to compare features in AAC apps for iOS, Android, Amazon Fire and Windows? Check out my 5 AAC Feature Matching resources:https://bit.ly/5aacFeatureMatchingResources
Decisions about when and how to secure devices need to be made based on individual needs, age of the user, how long they have been using AAC, etc… The needs of a young child first learning how to use AAC are very different from the needs of an older teen or adult who uses tech to multitask.
I would never hand a young child a totally unlocked / unsecured iPad, tablet, smartphone, laptop or any other tech that then could access all of the internet. There are several reasons why that could be very risky.
You also need to consider financial risks. Several years ago I had a patient who had run up over $1,000 in credit card charges making app purchases and in-app purchases on the parent’s unsecured iPad. Fortunately they were eventually able to get it refunded but that’s not always the case.
There are ways to choose how secure a device needs to be by using a combo of options. It doesn’t have to be “all or nothing”.
Let the battery drain. When it gets low enough Guided Access *should* turn off
Additional possible hacks can be found in this post. Number 3 looks interesting. I haven’t tried it yet but I’m guessing that it would only work if Location Services and Find My are both toggled on and set up: https://convergeddevices.net/iphone-stuck-in-guided-access-mode/
And there are a few important settings to adjust in order to prevent the AAC app (or any other apps) from being deleted. This is also where you need to toggle off the ability to download apps and the ability to make in-app purchases. Be sure to set a strong password.
Use Screen Time alongside Guided Access to provide even more control.
Note: iPads on a “managed” system will have even stronger ways to lock down the device. Check with the IT department in charge of that managed system to determine the options.
If you have a Samsung Android tablet, also look at Samsung Kids as a way to create a secured area where you can add any combination of apps:
Can use the included My Camera to take pictures and videos and then view them within My Gallery. The included Bobby’s Canvas app has a fun drawing area. Exiting Samsung Kids is secured with a PIN. More info: https://www.samsung.com/us/apps/samsung-kids/
The YouTube Kids app (https://bit.ly/3O0FpIT) or the Video Collections app (https://bit.ly/3zEuW1k or on Samsung Galaxy Store: https://bit.ly/3zGG7q7 ) can be used as a way to save links to specific YouTube videos or channels. Adding one of these apps within the secured Samsung Kids area would allow Gestalt Language Processors to access videos as part of their communication system in a secured way.
Windows: Set up a single-app kiosk on Windows 10/11: https://bit.ly/3Ocxdo3 (applicable for Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education & Windows 11. Unfortunately you can not set Kiosk mode for Windows 10 Home edition (the operating system on my AWOW AiBook 10 Windows tablet / mini laptop: https://bit.ly/3IJRBf8).
Terms of Use: You may not copy any part of this blog post or 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. It is available for free on my TPT store: https://bit.ly/OKonTPT.
Looking for in-depth up to date info to compare features in AAC apps for iOS, Android, Amazon Fire and Windows? Check out my 5 AAC Feature Matching resources:https://bit.ly/5aacFeatureMatchingResources
It has been a pleasant surprise to discover how many of my Android AAC and AAC-related apps can be installed via the Google Play App Store and used on my Pixelbook Go Chromebook.
Of course a Chromebook is not my top pick for an AAC device but I get pretty frequent questions about AAC options for it.
Here are some AAC apps that you *might* be able to use on a Chromebook while working towards getting that student a more portable & durable AAC device. The most robust apps are denoted in bold with an (*)
Note: These all work on my Pixelbook Go. These apps may or may not be an option for your model of Chromebook. The Google Play App Store shows compatibility info. It seems to vary quite a bit depending on the type and brand of device.
• Acapela TTS (this is where you can purchase high quality Acapela synthesized voices. It was cool that the voices that I had already purchased were also available for use on my Chromebook without having to repurchase them. They worked within several AAC apps. I wish Apple offered this type of option for purchasing voices.)
• AAC Keyboard with Friends
• All the FeelZzz
• AlphaTopics
• Articuloud
• AsTeRICS Grid
• Avaz (*)
• BuzzCards
• Card Talk
• Cboard
• CoreVoice (*)
• CoughDrop (*)
• Deaf Note
• Emergency Chat
• Expressia
• HelpTalk
• I Can Communicate!
• iTalkDoc
• JABtalk
• Kids Story Builder
• Leeloo
• Niki Talk
• Passy-Muir Trach Tools
• Patient Communicator
• Search on ARASAAC
• Speak It
• SpeakEasy
• Speech Assistant AAC (*)
• SymboTalk
• Talkie
• Talking Button
• Twinkl Symbols
• Weave Chat
• Yes / No Button
• YesNo AAC
Most of these are affordable or free apps. Info about them and links can be found in the Basic Feature Chart for Affordable and Free AAC apps & AAC-Related Apps (iOS, Android Google Play, Amazon Fire, Windows + a few Web-Based options): https://bit.ly/BasicAffordableAACchart.
In depth info about the Android versions of Avaz, CoreVoice, CoughDrop and Speech Assistant AAC can be found in the Feature Matching Chart for Robust Android AAC Apps (Android Google Play & Amazon Fire):https://bit.ly/RobustAndroidAACappChart.
Terms of Use: You may not copy any part of this blog post or 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. It is available for free on my TPT store: https://bit.ly/OKonTPT.
For use with the Guess Who? Meet the Crew app:https://apps.apple.com/us/app/guess-who/id1624777523 (iOS Universal, iOS 11.0 or later. $2.99, prices vary outside of USA based on exchange rate). There isn’t an Android version of this app yet.
Update 2/25/23: An Android version is now available in the Google Play App Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.playdatedigital.guesswho (freenium – the app is free with the first three levels included then an IAP (in app purchase) of $2.99 is required to unlock the rest of the app. I was able to use a $2.00 off coupon that was available when I went to purchase it so I got it for $0.99). Note: This app was not compatible for download on my Amazon Fire tablet that I have the Google Play App Store side loaded on. I did not find this app in the Amazon Appstore.
The 2.0 app update incorporated my suggestion of offering a way to toggle off the background music. Love it!
So excited that they incorporated my feedback! The 2.0 update added a way to toggle off the background music while still allowing the voiceovers and sound effects. I just a submitted an update for my review to say “thanks” ⬇️
Update: I decided to purchase the in-app purchase for the Transformers themed card deck. It is more challenging but would be fun for kids who have a high interest in Transformers. Update 2: I didn’t purchase this additional deck on Android since I already have it on iOS and prefer the original deck vs. this add on deck.
OMazing Kids AAC Consulting 