About OMazing Kids

Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP. Over 36 years experience in AAC. Experience using almost every AAC app on iOS, Android, Amazon Fire, Chromebook and Windows devices + traditional Speech Generating Devices (SGDs). Creator of AAC-Related Resources & App-Related Resources. AAC Consulting & App Consulting.

{App Deals} Better Hearing & Speech Month ~ May 2016

Posted on May 1, 2016 by OMazing Kids

{App Deals} May is Better Hearing and Speech Month. It’s a great time to watch for app deals! Therapy app developers often offer great discounts and even occasionally a few freebies. I will leave this post pinned to the top of my OMazing Kids Facebook page as a place for folks to stop by and check the comments to find app deals & for app developers to announce deals. I will also be doing individual posts throughout the month but then will post a link to those posts in the comments here to make them easier to find: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga/photos/a.1039368119447526.1073741892.174264525957894/1136145599769777/?type=3&theate

Here are a few tips:

App prices often change at 10:00pm CST (adjust for your time zone) but can change at any time with no notice. So it’s always wise to get the apps you want quickly and always verify the price before downloading an app.
I always verify app prices in the USA App Store at the time I do a post. But I typically don’t know how long an app will be free or on sale or what prices are outside the USA (they are different in other countries based on the exchange rate) unless an app developer has shared that info.
If you don’t have an iPad yet or don’t have one running the iOS required to download a particular app, you can download that app on iTunes on a computer and have it in your cloud to install later.
I only post about iOS (Apple) apps since I only have an iPad & iPhone.
I only post about apps that I have actually downloaded and tried out. There are LOTS of apps out there but only a handful earn a spot in the limited real estate on my iPad. Even with a 128GB iPad Air I am still constantly playing the “app shuffle”.

#BHSM #BHSM2016 #SLPeeps #SLP2b
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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness & educational activities for kids of all abilities
Home E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com
Facebook Messaging for OMazing Kids: https://www.facebook.com/messages/17426452595789
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110305433538768736741
Boardmaker Share: http://www.boardmakershare.com/Community/FriendsProfile/10916/Angela-Moorad
Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com
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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 26 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.
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{please ignore any ads that may appear below. This is a free blog and I don’t have any control over ads nor do I profit from them}

{Product Review} Q’s Race to the Top Bundle: Boardgame, On the Go Pack, Read-Along Storybook & CD, Coloring & Activity Book, and Q-Time Buddy weighted plush doll

Posted on April 30, 2016 by OMazing Kids

I am SUPER excited to have these amazing products to use in OMazing Kids speech-language therapy and kids yoga classes! EQtainment generously sent me the Q Toys Bundle to try out and review. They have been a HUGE hit with my patients. The bundle includes the Q’s Race to the Top Boardgame, Q’s Race on the Go Pack, Q’s Wild Ride Read-Along Storybook & CD, Q’s Coloring & Activity Book, and the Q-Time Buddy weighted plush doll. [price: $59.99 (an $8.00 savings over purchasing all of the items separately): http://shop.eqtainment.com/products/q-toys-bundle].

Here’s what I LOVE about these amazing products:

The Q’s Race to the Top Boardgame has an oversized dice and game pieces (both nice for younger kids or for those with fine motor challenges) and a sturdy colorful game board that is easy to understand and short enough to get to the end within a typical speech-language therapy session.
The cards in the game have a wide degree of difficulty and social skills targeted. The game was designed and tested with kids ages 3-12 years old. Younger kids or those with special needs may need the therapist or parent to preselect cards before the start of the game to best suit their kids needs. The adult could also simplify the wording as they read the cards. The “Do” cards contain a mix of physical actions ranging from simple to pretty challenging. Some also incorporate emotions and facial expressions. Again I would suggest preselecting the ones that will best suit your kids physical abilities and developmental level. The adult may need to simplify these activities or modify them for kids with special needs. For kids that need a visual support to help them understand what the motion would look like, I will incorporate video modeling and pictures. The selfie camera mode on my iPad will also come in handy.
The Q’s Wild Ride book included with the game is fun to read to introduce kids to the loveable yet quirky character Q before playing the game. (Q is “a dusky leaf monkey”…. thanks for including the specifics! The first question my patient with ASD asked was “what kind of monkey is that?”). The Read-Along Storybook & CD is exactly the same story but in a larger book format and includes a CD with two tracks (with and without page turn signals). The narration and sound effects are very well done in the CD and the illustrations in the book depict emotions well through exaggerated facial expressions and body language. I took a couple of pics of interior pages since none seemed to be available online and this will help folks make purchasing decisions.
The Q’s Race to the Top – On the Go Pack are the same cards as contained in the board game but are sized a little smaller and are in a durable metal tin.
The Q-Time Buddy weighted plush doll is super soft, is wearing a cute green hoodie and is the perfect weight and size to be used in belly breathing. I had several patients who immediately relaxed, closed their eyes and began belly breathing when laying on their back with the Q-Time Buddy on their belly. The instructions are printed on the back of the box. My only suggestion for improvement would be to include a separate card with the belly breathing instructions since most folks usually don’t keep the box when they get a stuffed animal. I am including some pics below that I found on the Kohl’s website so I will be able to share the instructions with parents later.
The Q’s Coloring & Activity Book is filled with great tie-ins to the book & game. It also includes several pages that are unique to just the coloring book and also includes fun activity pages (dot-to-dot, finish the picture, maze, find the same, drawing emotions on faces, etc…). I scanned a couple of interior pages since none seemed to be available online and this will help folks make purchasing decisions.
All of the products are very well designed and of high quality materials. Is is very obvious that a lot of thought went into the design of these products. I love that they offer them as individual items so parents and therapists can pick and choose the ones to best fit their needs or get the entire set as bundle.

These are definitely destined to become “faves” in OMazing Kids speech-language therapy and my kids yoga classes!

See this video for more info about this relaxation technique.

Interior page samples from the storybook:

Interior page samples from the coloring book:

See this video for info about the game:

Where can I purchase these amazing products? (plus a discount code!)

All of the products are available for purchase on their website at: http://shop.eqtainment.com/ & they are offering a 20% off discount for OMazing Kids fans (the discount is only available only when purchasing directly through their website. Enter “QFRIEND20” when you checkout on their website. This discount code is set to expire one month from this post. Please contact the company directly with any questions you may have about the discount code: http://eqtainment.com/contact-us/ or on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/eqtainment/)

A few additional purchasing options:

I’m including links from Amazon.com for those who like to take advantage of free shipping through their Amazon Prime membership and for Kohl’s for those who may have some Kohl’s cash they’d like to spend…..

Board game with book:

http://www.amazon.com/Race-Educational-Board-Game-Book/dp/B00NH9E4LW

http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-2465260/qs-race-to-the-top-board-game.jsp

Q-time weighted plush buddy:

http://www.amazon.com/Q-Time-developing-attention-emotional-control/dp/B00ZQ2J9M2

http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-2466048/q-time-buddy-plush-monkey.jsp

Coloring book:

http://www.amazon.com/Qs-Coloring-Activity-Book-behavior/dp/B00ZPYAK3S

For more ideas for fostering emotional intelligence and teaching social skills, be sure to check out their social media sites:

Website: http://eqtainment.com/

Disclaimer: I received a free sample of this product to facilitate my review. Opinions expressed are my own.

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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness & educational activities for kids of all abilities
Home E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com
Facebook Messaging for OMazing Kids: https://www.facebook.com/messages/17426452595789
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110305433538768736741
Boardmaker Share: http://www.boardmakershare.com/Community/FriendsProfile/10916/Angela-Moorad
Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com
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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 26 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.
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{please ignore any ads that may appear below. This is a free blog and I don’t have any control over ads nor do I profit from them}

{FREE printable} Story props for The Squeaky, Creaky Bed

Posted on April 27, 2016 by OMazing Kids

The Squeaky, Creaky Bed - free printable story props from OMazing Kids

I love using books with great repeated lines & funny sounds in OMazing Kids speech therapy so I couldn’t resist a great deal on a used copy of The Squeaky, Creaky Bed by Pat Thomson on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Squeaky-Creaky-Bed-Pat-Thomson/dp/038574630X.

I was surprised that I couldn’t find any free story props for the book online. So I made some and am sharing them with you for FREE ’cause that’s how this SLP rolls. {I guess I come from an era before TPT when SLPs shared things more freely with each other.}

3-page PDF:

The Squeaky, Creaky Bed story props – free printable from OMazing Kids

Click to access the-squeaky-creaky-bed-story-props-free-printable-from-omazing-kids.pdf

{App Review} My PlayHome: Hospital

Posted on April 23, 2016 by OMazing Kids

Totally LOVE this new app from My PlayHome! So many areas to explore: reception desk, wheelchairs, elevator, gift shop, waiting area with a TV & vending machine, treatment area with oxygen masks, vital signs monitors, syringes, saline and blood bags, privacy screens and a computer with realistic typing and clicking. In the private patient rooms the curtains can be shut to darken the room. The doctor’s office has a functioning stethoscope to hear the heartbeat. The X-ray area is amazing. Love how the X-ray machine responds accurately to the part of the body being scanned and then you can “print” a copy and view it.

Love the arrows that make it clear how to navigate to other areas. Also love the intuitive way that the apps in the series link to each other and it’s especially cool that you can drive the ambulance from the hospital to the school, stores and home. The sound effects are very realistic. Unless you press the “tidy the hospital” button on the opening screen, the items & people remain where they are the next time you open the app.

Only a few wishes for a future app update to make the app even more accurate: it would be nice to be able to change the TVs to a couple of different channels, when a tray is placed in the sink in the upstairs break area it partially shows through in an odd way, the soda in the bottle from the vending machine needs to disappear as it’s being consumed, the characters need to be able to hold the phone to their ear, it would be cool to have an overhead paging system microphone at the reception desk and the doctor’s office needs a biohazard disposal can for the needles. Being a SLP, it would be super cool to see an option added to the X-ray area to do a dysphagiagram (swallow study).

See the App Trailer: http://youtu.be/v91tMkFAFPc

This app is a bargain for only $2.99: My PlayHome Hospital by PlayHome Software Ltd
https://appsto.re/us/FAksbb.i

I highly recommend SLPs have all the apps in this series. Lots of opportunities for language, following directions, spatial concepts, etc. plus this particular app could be used as part of a social story to help prepare a child for an upcoming medical procedure or hospital stay.
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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness & educational activities for kids of all abilities
Home E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com
Facebook Messaging for OMazing Kids: https://www.facebook.com/messages/17426452595789
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110305433538768736741
Boardmaker Share: http://www.boardmakershare.com/Community/FriendsProfile/10916/Angela-Moorad
Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com
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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 26 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.
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{please ignore any ads that may appear below. This is a free blog and I don’t have any control over ads nor do I profit from them}

{FREE Printable} 24 verbs for the Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Piggy Bank

Posted on April 23, 2016 by OMazing Kids

Since so many folks were excited about the {FREE Printable} 60 early vocabulary cards for the Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Piggy Bank, I decided to make a few verb picture cards.

Circle cards: http://br.boardmakershare.com/Activity/1912891/24-verbs-for-Fisher-Price-Piggy-Bank-round
Square cards (2.5″): http://br.boardmakershare.com/Activity/1912892/24-verbs-for-Fisher-Price-Piggy-Bank-25-inch-sq

Don’t have Boardmaker? Here are the PDF versions:

Data collection sheet: 24 Verbs for the Fisher Price Piggy Bank – Data Collection Sheet

I am NOT planning on attaching these to the plastic coins that come with the piggy bank. That would be fun but would require several extra sets of those coins and would not fit well to the rapid pace I often use to keep kids with Autism, ADHD and other special needs engaged. These are sized to fit the slot at the top of the original version of this toy….. (see more details on the original post with a free printable for 60 nouns: https://omazingkidsllc.com/2016/04/20/free-printable-60-early-vocabulary-cards-for-the-fisher-price-laugh-learn-piggy-bank/).

{FREE Printable} 60 early vocabulary cards for the Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Piggy Bank

Posted on April 20, 2016 by OMazing Kids

I have several patients who have meltdowns at the sight of typical flashcards but magically participate in naming pics as we feed them into the Fisher Price Piggy Bank. So I made these in Boardmaker today so I’ll have an easy grab-and-go set of early vocabulary cards / coins without having to dig through the materials closet at work. I saved them out on Boardmaker Share so they are free for anyone who has Boardmaker to download as a free printable:

Circle cards: http://br.boardmakershare.com/Activity/1912790/60-early-vocabulary-for-Fisher-Price-Piggy-Bank
Square 2.5″ cards: http://br.boardmakershare.com/Activity/1912791/60-early-vocabulary-for-Fisher-Price-Piggy-Bank

Don’t have Boardmaker? Here are PDF versions:

Circle cards: 60 early vocabulary for Fisher Price Piggy Bank (round) – PDF
Square 2.5″ cards: 60 early vocabulary for Fisher Price Piggy Bank (2.5 inch square) – PDF

Here is the data collection sheet that I made:

Data Collection sheet PDF: https://omazingkidsllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/60-vocabulary-cards-for-fisher-price-piggy-bank-data-collection-sheet.pdf

I am NOT planning on attaching these to the plastic coins that come with the piggy bank. That would be fun but would require several extra sets of those coins and would not fit well to the rapid pace I often use to keep kids with Autism, ADHD and other special needs engaged. These are sized to fit the slot at the top of the original version of this toy. Not sure why Fisher Price keeps messing with restyling this toy…. The original version is nice and sturdy. I’ve had mine about 10 years and it has withstood constant use with patients with pretty extreme behaviors. Definitely worth looking for at garage sales or thrift shops.

UPDATE: Head over to this new post for 24 verb cards: https://omazingkidsllc.com/2016/04/23/free-printable-24-verbs-for-the-fisher-price-laugh-learn-piggy-bank/

Don’t have the Fisher Price Piggy Bank? You could really use any toy that has a large enough slot or opening. I also have a Fisher Price Cookie Jar and call the cards “cookies” when I use it. There is a vintage Playskool mailbox still hanging around in the toy closet at work. When I’ve used it, I call the cards “letters”. And the Woozle from the Feed the Woozle game is fun to use with older kids. Be creative. You likely already have old toys that you can re-purpose to entice kids into participating 🙂

repurpose other toys

Woozles Galore: Romping into Speech-Language & Kids Yoga with the Feed the Woozle Game by Peaceable Kingdom

A word about using props like this in therapy….. Of course I don’t want kids to only name pics in the context of having a specific toy or prop present. So I may use a variety of props and then have a well thought out plan for how I will fade out the props. This is especially important when working with kids with Autism. It is also important to use a variety of examples. So these would not be the only pictures I would use to teach this vocabulary.
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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness & educational activities for kids of all abilities
Home E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com
Facebook Messaging for OMazing Kids: https://www.facebook.com/messages/17426452595789
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110305433538768736741
Boardmaker Share: http://www.boardmakershare.com/Community/FriendsProfile/10916/Angela-Moorad
Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com
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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 26 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.
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{please ignore any ads that may appear below. This is a free blog and I don’t have any control over ads nor do I profit from them}

{OMazing Kids Book Review} “Hoot and Peep” by Lita Judge

Posted on April 10, 2016 by OMazing Kids

I’m a huge fan of Lita’s books so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review this new one. Here’s what I LOVE about it:
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Gorgeous rich illustrations in deep calming colors.
Great message of learning to see things from another point of view and experiencing the joy of new adventures. While this book depicts a sibling relationship it could be easily expanded to topics on friendships.
Large easy to read text on each 2-page spread. I love that some pages have minimal text so the focus can be on the details in the illustrations.
Peep’s sounds are fun for kids to attempt to imitate (schweep, schweeepty peep, schweepity peep oooo ding dong boing, dingity dong, slippity slap, etc…).
The facial expressions and body language of Hoot and Peep lend themselves well to use in speech therapy sessions targeting social skills, feelings & inferencing.
As an added bonus, there are a few opportunities for kids yoga activities based on the illustrations and text: owl, rooftop partners, cross crawl hike, crescent moon, bell mindfulness activity, bird, mouse, gargoyle (dragon breath), up dog, bridge.
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About the book: In the night skies above Paris, an adorable young owl teaches her older brother about the power of imagination—and the unconditional love between siblings. Hoot the owl is very excited for his little sister, Peep, to join him on the cathedral rooftops. She’s finally old enough to learn all his big brother owly wisdom: First, owls say hooo. Second, they always say hooo. Lastly, they ONLY say hooo! But why would Peep say hooo when she could say schweeepty peep or dingity dong? Why would she speak when she could sing? As she explores the breathtaking Parisian cityscape, Peep discovers so many inspiring sights and sounds—the ring of cathedral bells, the slap of waves on stone—that she can’t help but be swept up in the magic of it all. Hoot doesn’t understand Peep’s awe, until he takes a pause to listen . . . and realizes that you’re never too old to learn a little something new.

Age Range: 3 – 5 years
Grade Level: Preschool – Kindergarten
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Dial Books (March 1, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0525428372
ISBN-13: 978-0525428374
Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 0.2 x 10.2 inches
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Here are a few pics to show you a sneak peek inside the book:

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See more at: http://www.litajudge.net/hoot-and-peep/
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Get 3 free printable coloring pages in this PDF on the author’s website: http://www.litajudge.net/_downloads/HP_ColoringPages.pdf
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Another free coloring page:

See the story behind the making of the book: https://vimeo.com/130139656

Author’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lita.judge

Available for purchase on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Hoot-Peep-Lita-Judge/dp/0525428372/. Other purchasing option links on the author’s website.
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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness & educational activities for kids of all abilities
Home E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com
Facebook Messaging for OMazing Kids: https://www.facebook.com/messages/17426452595789
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110305433538768736741
Boardmaker Share: http://www.boardmakershare.com/Community/FriendsProfile/10916/Angela-Moorad
Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com
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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 26 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.
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{please ignore any ads that may appear below. This is a free blog and I don’t have any control over ads nor do I profit from them}

2016 Autism Awareness Month: AAC App Sale Roundup & Tips

Posted on March 31, 2016 by OMazing Kids

Here is a round up of the AAC app sales that have been announced so far for Autism Awareness Month. I have been announcing them in individual posts on my OMazing Kids Facebook page but thought a post listing them all might be helpful. AAC app sales are pretty rare. So this is a great opportunity to get an app that you have been considering:

aacorn AAC by aacorn: https://appsto.re/us/dA9PR.i, 50% off, 3/30-4/5/16
Avaz Pro – AAC App for Autism (Augmentative Picture Communication Software for Children with Special Needs) by Avaz, Inc.: https://appsto.re/us/19nrH.i, 52% off, 3/30-4/5/16
ChatAble – symbol and scene based communication app by Therapy Box Limited, https://appsto.re/us/mfo3V.i (50% off, 4/1-4/5/16)
LAMP Words For Life by Prentke Romich Company, https://appsto.re/us/maU2G.i, 50% off, 4/1-4/2/16
Proloquo2Go – Symbol-based AAC by AssistiveWare, https://appsto.re/us/Kmvys.i, 50% off, 4/2-4/4/16
Proloquo4Text – Text-based AAC by AssistiveWare, https://appsto.re/us/KItZS.i, 50% off, 4/2-4/4/16
Scene & Heard – Augmentative Communication by Therapy Box Limited, https://appsto.re/us/uDOpz.i (50% off, 4/1-4/5/16)
Speak for Yourself by Speak for Yourself LLC, https://appsto.re/us/M2NWC.i, 50% off, 4/2-4/4/16
Tobii Dynavox Compass by Tobii Dynavox LLC, https://appsto.re/us/y-lf2.i (According to the the company’s press release, the Compass with PODD, Compass with Gateway, and Compass with Eyetracking are NOT included in the sale), 50% off 4/1-4/3/16
Total Talk by Panther Technology, https://appsto.re/us/Ei-uab.i, special intro pricing 33% off, 3/30-4/4/16

FYI…
* Always verify an app price BEFORE purchasing it. App prices often change at 10:00pm CST (adjust for your time zone) but can change at any time without any notice.
* These app sales and prices will be in the USA App Store. Some apps may be on sale in other countries but I have no means of verifying that since I only have access to the USA App Store.
* If you plan on purchasing an app during a sale, it is wise to get it early in the sale to insure you don’t miss the sale pricing.
* Occasionally app developers decide to start a sale early or extend a sale but you can’t count on that happening.

Additional important info:

* Most app developers have a Facebook group for that app. I highly suggest joining these groups for an incredible amount of support from the app developers as well as other parents, therapists & teachers. Every group has it’s own “culture”. Some are very open to discussing any topic. Others are pretty strict about only posting info or questions directly related to that particular app. Here is a list of the FB groups:

I have suggested to the developers of the GoTalk Now app that a group be started but so far I’ve only seen a parent led one in Swedish. I have also suggested to the developer of the new Total Talk AAC app that they start a group. He was very open to the idea so I hope to see that soon.

There are also numerous other AAC-related Facebook groups. Again each having it’s own culture and dynamic. I’m not going to list all of those here…. but if you are a SLP, I definitely suggest joining the AAC for the SLP group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1539830846285663/.

* All states in the USA are supposed to have an Assistive Technology Lending Library program where parents & professionals can borrow AAC devices, iPads with AAC apps & other AT for short-term trial. It’s a great way to try various options out before making purchasing decisions. There are lots of great AAC apps…. but like anything there is no magical solution that meets every child’s specific needs. That’s why doing a good feature-match and trial of options is critical. I highly suggest an AAC eval with a SLP. The AT Lending Library in your area should know of folks in your area who do them.

Find the AT Lending Library in your state: http://www.ataporg.org/states.html. Also can look on: http://www.resnaprojects.org/allcontacts/statewidecontacts.html

* If you are a parent of a child with special needs and you are either tired of waiting on professionals being the gatekeepers for your child’s AAC options or have decided that don’t want to wait on an AAC evaluation, I still highly suggest doing a little “homework” to help you consider whether or not a particular AAC is a good match for your child before purchasing it. You can make informed purchasing decisions by watching videos of that app in use, reading parent blogs, joining the Facebook groups I listed above, find someone in your area who has the app, etc.

* Before commenting that these AAC apps are “so expensive” even on sale, please consider that “expensive” is a relative term. Compared to traditional AAC devices that cost thousands of dollars, these apps even at full price are a bargain and many parents end up purchasing an app themselves rather than continuing to wait for someone else to meet their child’s needs. The developers of these AAC apps have continued to invest their time and $$$ to add improvements to the app and pay licensing fees for high quality voices and symbol sets so we should not ever expect one of these apps to be free or cheaper than these sale prices. That being said, if the sale price is still out of reach for your budget then you may want to look for funding assistance. The AT lending programs I mentioned above are typically good resources for info about grant options for AT / AAC in that state.

* To find the pricing history of any app in the USA App Store, search for that app on this website, tap on the name of the app and then scroll down to the bottom of the page: http://appshopper.com

* Disclaimer: I do not have a financial relationship with any app developer or AAC company. I am only sharing this info to help spread the word to get more AAC options into the lives of kids who need it. My “favorite” AAC app is the one that has the features that best match that individual child’s needs at that particular point in time.

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There may be other AAC apps go on sale. For the most current info, be sure to “like” my OMazing Kids Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga – see this post for details on adjusting your settings to see all the posts: https://omazingkidsllc.com/2015/12/09/tip-how-to-get-all-the-facebook-posts-from-omazing-kids-and-other-pages/) & join my AppPeeps Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/)
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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness & educational activities for kids of all abilities
Home E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com
Facebook Messaging for OMazing Kids: https://www.facebook.com/messages/17426452595789
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110305433538768736741
Boardmaker Share: http://www.boardmakershare.com/Community/FriendsProfile/10916/Angela-Moorad
Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com
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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 26 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.
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{please ignore any ads that may appear below. This is a free blog and I don’t have any control over ads nor do I profit from them}

OMazing Kids Book Review: “Raybot: Every Robot Needs A Friend” by Adam F. Watkins

Posted on March 26, 2016 by OMazing Kids

Check out this fun new addition to the OMazing Kids library…. Raybot: Every Robot Needs a Friend by Adam F. Watkins!

Raybot doesn’t have a best friend. Actually, he doesn’t have any friends at all. After learning that puppies make good best friends. Raybot decides to go find one…. but what does a puppy look like? Raybot has never seen one before. All he knows is that they go “bark!” And where does a robot find himself a puppy? The country? The jungle? Deep in the ocean? Somewhere in the world there must be an animal that goes “bark!”

I love the cool full-page illustrations, lots of opportunities for vocabulary, animal sounds, inferences and more! The book is also full of lots of opportunities for kids yoga: robot, gate, cross crawl hike, horse, goat, chicken, cow, pig, gyan mudra looking glasses, duck, bear, moose, goose, beaver, hippo, tree, giraffe, elephant, lion, monkey, lazy eights vines, whale, penguin, seal, shark, fish, waterfall, snake, parrot, puppy.

I’ve added this book to my post on robot-themed kids yoga lesson plans: https://omazingkidsllc.com/2013/02/02/robot-themed-kids-yoga-lesson-plan-ideas/
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http://www.amazon.com/Raybot-Adam-F-Watkins/dp/0843183004
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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness & educational activities for kids of all abilities
Home E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com
Facebook Messaging for OMazing Kids: https://www.facebook.com/messages/17426452595789
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110305433538768736741
Boardmaker Share: http://www.boardmakershare.com/Community/FriendsProfile/10916/Angela-Moorad
Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com
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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 26 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.

BalloonMaker Cause & Effect App: a current fave at OMazing Kids!

Posted on March 24, 2016 by OMazing Kids

A current fave at OMazing Kids… this cause & effect app is worth it’s weight in gold! I have a young patient with an extremely short attention span (typically under 5 seconds) who usually just mouths and throws toys. I created choices on the GoTalk Now AAC app and within one session he activated “iPad” several times to get to play this app. He maintained sustained joint attention to it for over 5 minutes at a time and vocalized more than I’ve ever heard in a session (pop, bubble, bi (big), ge ih (get it) & yeah). His mom was so excited she videoed a bit of it on her phone.

iTunes App Store: BalloonMaker by TegTap, LLC
https://appsto.re/us/9E-lv.i, a bargain for $.99, iOS Universal app.

I was initially leery since the app hasn’t been updated since 2011. Usually not a good sign. Since it was only $.99, I decided to buy it. It works fine on my iPad running iOS 8.4 and on my iPad Mini that I just updated to iOS 9.3. Best $.99 I’ve ever spent 🙂

There is an Android version…. but since I don’t have any of those devices I can’t verify how well the app works on that platform: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.domainname.BalloonMaker. It’s only $.99 there too so worth trying.

These were the choices on the GoTalk Now AAC app on my other iPad. It’s a dedicated “talker” and my other iPad has the fun stuff like this BalloonMaker app and other therapy apps.

Of course I still use “real” bubbles & lots of real toys with kids in therapy sessions…. but the incredible results with this app in this particular session with this particular child were amazing and the giggles were priceless.

Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness & educational activities for kids of all abilities
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Facebook Messaging for OMazing Kids: https://www.facebook.com/messages/17426452595789
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110305433538768736741
Boardmaker Share: http://www.boardmakershare.com/Community/FriendsProfile/10916/Angela-Moorad
Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com

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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 26 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.

{please ignore any ads that may appear below. This is a free blog. I have no control over the ads nor do I profit from them}

OMazing Kids AAC Consulting

Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP. Over 36 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

Author Archives: OMazing Kids