Comparing Five All-Purpose Articulation Apps for SLPs in 2021

Posted on May 25, 2021 by OMazing Kids

Here’s an updated comparison of five all-purpose articulation apps:

Articulation Station Pro
ArtikPix Full
Speech Tutor Pro
Webber Photo Artic Castle Pro
Articulate It! Pro

My recommendations have changed quite a bit recently due to glitches not being fixed in one app and two apps not being updated. This raises a red flag as to whether or not they will continue to work as new iOS versions are released.

Only two of these apps are still highly recommended: Articulation Station Pro & ArtikPix Full

Two are now designated as “purchase with caution” (Speech Tutor Pro & Webber Photo Artic Castle Pro) and one is no longer recommended for purchase (Articulate It! Pro).

I sent messages to all three app developers to ask about plans to update their app. As of the time of this blog post none of them have replied. All three of those companies have a subscription-based site so it’s likely that they are focusing on that now vs. maintaining existing apps.

See this updated interactive chart for the details: https://bit.ly/3fmCBXG

Note: The PDF is not formatted to be printed. It is best viewed in the free Xodo app or Books app.

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

Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/omazingkidsaac

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 Business Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/

AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/

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

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Linktree: https://linktr.ee/amoorad1

Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com

Giveaway: AAC Feature Matching Chart (enter by 11:59pm CDT on 5/16/21, 3 winners)

Posted on May 14, 2021 by OMazing Kids

I’m doing a giveaway to celebrate Better Hearing & Speech Month and the launch of my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

Update: This giveaway is CLOSED. Congratulations to the giveaway winners! I ended up doing 4 instead of 3. The info was sent to each of them in a private message:

• Nikki Stempien – sent via Facebook messaging

• Holly Suszek – sent via Facebook messaging

• Caroline Madsen – sent via Facebook messaging

• Kimberly Hurley – sent via Instagram messaging

The prize:

A copy of the most current version of the Feature Matching Chart for the Top 10 iOS Symbol-Based AAC Apps (5/13/21, a PDF file, only available in English). Note: The giveaway is NOT for a download from my TPT store or for a Ko-fi subscription. It is for access to a link to where you’ll be able to download the PDF from the secret files area on my blog.
You can see a preview video of it on my YouTube channel:

Who can enter:

Speech Language Pathologists (also known as Speech Language Therapists). SLPs / SLTs outside of the USA are also welcome to enter just be aware that the prize is only available in English. This giveaway is limited to those professionals since it is Better Hearing and Speech Month and they are the ones who primarily do these types of evaluations.

How to Enter:

Send a private message to my OMazing Kids Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/. If you are not on Facebook, you can submit your entry via a private message to me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omazingkidsaac/ or Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/amoorad. Include a brief description of your role in AAC evaluations and supporting AAC users. Be sure to adjust your social media settings to allow me to reply to your message since that’s how I will be contacting winners.
WordPress no longer offers the option for e-mail entry forms on the free blog platform so that’s not an option for this giveaway.

Entry Deadline: 11:59pm CDT on Sunday, 5/16/21

3 winners will be selected and announced within 48 hours of the end of the giveaway. They will each receive a message with a link to where the PDF can be downloaded.

Terms of Use for Winners:

• You may not copy any part of the PDF 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. You can refer colleagues to my TPT store if they would like to purchase a copy: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Feature-Matching-Chart-for-the-Top-10-iOS-Symbol-Based-AAC-Apps-6867853

Questions? The best way to reach me is via private messaging on my OMazing Kids Facebook page but I will also be checking messages on Instagram and Twitter during this giveaway.

Disclaimers:

I assume no liability for app purchases and am not making patient-specific recommendations.
This giveaway is not affiliated with TPT, any social media sites or any AAC app developers.

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

Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/omazingkidsaac

OMazing Kids Business 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

Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com

{Free Printable} Simple Problem and Solution Puzzle Pairs

Posted on May 28, 2016 by OMazing Kids

Simple Problem and Solution Puzzle Pairs - post

Ever look and look for materials to target a goal for a patient but just not find what you are looking for? Happens to me frequently so that’s why I end up making so many materials. I have a 6 year old patient with Autism who amazes me every week with his progress so I am constantly writing new goals. I recently added a goal for very basic problem solving since the ability to do that ties into the ability to function in social situations. But all the materials I found were way too complex as a starting point. So here is a printable with a set of 12 simple problem and solution puzzle pairs that I made to use with him. I purposefully made the puzzle shapes the same so he can’t just guess based on which ones fit together correctly (yup… I’ve had numerous patients do that with self-correcting puzzle pairs). Sharing it here since I’m sure other SLPs could benefit from having these 🙂

Free 2-page PDF:

simple problem and solution puzzle pairs – free printable — made by Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, OMazing Kids

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} Puppy’s Pronouns & Sentence Building Cards

Posted on May 25, 2016 by OMazing Kids

Puppy's Pronouns and Sentence Building - Free Printable - made by Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP at OMazing Kids

{Teaching Pronouns} Most of the kids on my caseload have Autism or other special needs that tend to make understanding and using pronouns very challenging. I use a combination of visual supports, role playing with people, AAC and apps when tackling these goals. Some kids have a hard time hearing the difference between “he” and “she” so I add visual cues for lip shape as needed. The Fisher Price Puppy’s Home was such a huge hit in OMazing Kids speech therapy that I bought two more items to go with it to target the pronouns “he” and “she”. Of course I had to make visual supports to go along with that. I also included cards for prepositions, a few actions, three colors, etc. so we can build sentences. Here are the free printables:

Boardmaker: http://br.boardmakershare.com/Activity/1913823/Puppys-Pronouns-and-Sentence-Building-made-by-A

PDF: Puppy’s Pronouns and Sentence Building – made by Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, OMazing Kids

After comparison shopping, I found the best deals on Walmart.com. I love how wide and low profile the cars are and the size of the puppy characters. Several of my patients who usually have difficulty playing with toy cars have been able to “push” these with just a flick of the fingers. There are sound effects when you push the car (but those can also be turned off).

Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Puppy’s Learning Car

Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Sis’ Learning Car

In case you missed it, here is my previous post with the free printable Puppy’s Prepositions & Spatial Concepts cards.

{App Review} Speech That Works app by Sunshine Cottage School For Deaf Children

Posted on May 21, 2016 by OMazing Kids

{App Review} Speech That Works by Sunshine Cottage School For Deaf Children is a fabulous app designed by a team of speech-language pathologists. It has several features that make it particularly useful when working with kids with apraxia, hearing impairment or those needing to target vowels, consonants in single syllables or other areas not typically included in most artic apps. This app was developed with strategies to enhance motor speech planning and automaticity. It’s definitely a blessing to have this as part of my SLP toolkit!

What’s unique that I love about this app:

Suprasegmental targets for duration, intensity, and pitch.
Vowels in isolation, repetitions, alternations, and words.
Consonants in isolation, single syllables, repetitions and alternations in addition to all positions in words, phrases & sentences.
The phrase generator allows you to select a person+’s (or “my”), a color and then a word containing the target phoneme.
The sentences contain two words with the target phoneme.
Includes all of the types of vocalic /r/.
Each blend can be targeted separately.
Includes final consonant clusters formed when words have grammatical marker endings.
Nursery rhymes loaded with each consonant target sound.
Data can be sorted for a patient by date or by sound goal and can be filtered with a start and end date (great for quickly being able to find data for a specific reporting period) and e-mailed.
Elicitation techniques and carryover activities are provided for some sounds.

The only wish I have for a future app update would be the addition of a section for minimal contrast pairs for vowels at the word level since I have had a couple of patients with very funky vowel errors and in my quest to find materials to target this in therapy found very little (only a few cards from the Contrasts for Auditory and Speech Training (CAST) (http://www.linguisystems.com/products/product/display?itemid=10229) and a couple of reading apps targeting short vowels).

App Tutorial:

A few screenshots:

App Store: https://appsto.re/us/Y6Fu3.i, iOS 6.0 or later, Universal app, $49.99 -> currently on sale for $29.99 until 5/31/16 for Better Hearing & Speech Month.

Here are a few tips:
* iOS App Store 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. Prices in other countries will vary depending on the exchange rate. I have no way to verify prices or whether or not an app is available in other countries.
* 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”.

There is also an Android version. Since I don’t have any Android devices I can’t comment on how well the app works on that platform but am including the link here for folks who want to check it out. Appears to be priced the same: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.sunshinecottage.sscapps.STW&hl=en

Website: http://www.sunshinecottage.org/stwapp.php

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SSCEducationalProducts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SSCEdProducts

Disclaimer: I received this app via a promo code from the developer. No compensation was received to review it and my opinions are strictly my own.
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{Book + AAC} Wild About Us! and the GoTalk Now Plus AAC app

Posted on May 15, 2016 by OMazing Kids

Excited to have a fun activity prepared for OMazing Kids speech therapy this week! Wild About Us! by Karen Beaumont has a wonderful message of diversity and loving who you are plus it’s full of lots of great descriptive language and animal vocabulary:

Warty Warthog
Toothy Crocodile
Wrinkly Rhino
Long-Nosed Elephant
Lanky Tall Giraffe
Pink Flamingo
Plump Potbellied Pig
Slow Tortoise
Spiky Porcupine
Spotted Leopard
Wiggly Hippo
Big-Eared Chimp
Huge-Footed Kangaroo
Tiny Pesky Fly
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I bought my new hardcover copy of the book on Amazon for less than $5.00: http://www.amazon.com/Wild-About-Us-Karen-Beaumont/dp/0152062947

I programmed a communication page in the GoTalk Now Plus AAC app & will be using this free printable: http://lovetolearn2012.blogspot.ca/2015/06/wild-about-us-freebie.html

I’m trying to upload the communication page as a template to the GoTalk Now Online Gallery…. in the meantime here is a temporary link to a PDF: http://share.gotalknow.net/Temp-PDF-D7B120AE-6520-4CAF-9D55-711171B82C9B-6633-000001B297F47F66.pdf

{Update: It finally uploaded to the Online Gallery. Search for “wild” and you’ll find it}

Love using the GoTalk Now Plus AAC app to make communication pages to use with books! It’s amazing to have access to the PCS Boardmaker symbols, SymbolStix symbols, GoTalk symbols and easily search online for pictures all within one app. Plus it’s easy to export the whole page as a PDF to then print and cut apart the symbols to add to kids PECS books. Thanks Attainment Company, Inc.! The kids I serve at our non-profit hospital and I greatly appreciate it 🙂
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GoTalk Now Plus AAC app: GoTalk NOW PLUS by Attainment Company
https://appsto.re/us/LlfpS.i

This app is super easy to program and is full of other great features such as being able to link buttons to music or videos on your iPad, link to YouTube videos, transmit pages over WiFi to another device, scanning, backup/restore with DropBox, upload/download pages via the GoTalk Now Online Gallery, each page can have a different grid size (choices of 1, 2, 4, 9, 16 or 25 buttons per page), and more.
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{Dear ASHA} With all due respect…..

Posted on May 7, 2016 by OMazing Kids

Dear ASHA, in response to your “with all due respect” reply, a poll of 3,000 of 186,000 ASHA members and only 307 respondents does NOT reflect the opinions of the majority of us. Instead of providing an unbiased opportunity for members to express our thoughts on the top concerns facing our profession and the families we serve, this poll had a slant towards the negative aspects of tech. What about all the fabulous possibilities of tech such as AAC use, adapted play & therapeutic use of an iPad with high quality apps?
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Instead of just repeating the standard advise parents receive regarding limiting tech from the American Academy of Pediatrics, Consumer Technology Association, National PTA or reporters, ASHA is the position to provide important information about how we can support parents in developing communication, language and play skills with their children through appropriate uses of technology such as:
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Ideas on how to support play and language acquisition through technology for toddlers with special needs.
The importance of early access to robust AAC options and information about how to find the Assistive Technology Lending Library programs and SLPs who specialize in AAC in each state.
Ideas on how to incorporate technology and social language skills/small talk interventions for adults and teens who use AAC.
Ideas on how to incorporate video modeling into language interventions for children who are keen video fans/youtube enthusiasts.
Ideas on how technology can be used to support emergent readers and writers who cannot use traditional materials such as paper books and lead pencils.
Ideas on how parents can talk with their children as they actively engage in interactive play with apps such as Toca Boca Tea Party, My PlayHome, Sago Mini Friends, etc.
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These ideas were inspired by this fabulous comment by Mary-Louise Bertram on your post: https://www.facebook.com/asha.org/posts/10153650304700318?comment_id=10153650653710318&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R3%22%7D

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As I stated previously, many parents and SLPs who see your posts and videos don’t differentiate between the “purposes” for the technology. I have seen countless posts in a variety of Facebook groups where SLPs and parents have commented about not pursuing AAC for young children due to needing to “limit screen time”. This misperception is extremely concerning!
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On your Facebook page you encouraged members to “speak up” during BHSM yet when we voiced concerns about our own organization we were redirected to e-mail. The canned reply you get when you take the time to submit your concerns to ASHA formally via the e-mail they provided can be seen in the image at the top of this post and here: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga/photos/a.433610663356611.117461.174264525957894/1138548532862817/?type=3&theater

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Wow. Thanks for dismissing those of us who work in the trenches with kids with complex communication needs and their families everyday. I think I’ll stick with public forums and social media.
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The slogan of BHSM 2016 is “Communication Takes Care“. One of the definitions of “care” is “serious attention or consideration applied to doing something correctly or to avoid damage or risk.”. Kind of ironic since you seem to be taking very little care in how your BHSM campaign is being perceived and the potential damage that it may do.

The solution isn’t difficult. You just need to be more thoughtful, balanced and inclusive in your posts and videos. Please “take care” by doing posts that highlight kids with complex communication needs and innovative ways of using tech to meet those needs for AAC, adapted play or therapeutic uses of an iPad with high quality apps. There are several parent authored blogs that are well respected and have huge followings who I’m sure would be more than glad to share their stories.

Please listen. It’s far past time for the voice of ASHA to speak for kids of ALL needs & abilities.

~ from a concerned ASHA certified SLP & dues paying member for 26 years

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The poll that you mentioned: http://www.asha.org/uploadedFiles/BHSM-Member-Poll-Results.pdf

No mention of AAC or appropriate uses of tech in any of these BHSM posts:
* http://www.asha.org/bhsm/ten-tips-blog-post/
* http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7802751-asha-risks-of-tech-overuse-poll/
* http://www.asha.org/uploadedImages/BHSM-Infographic.jpeg

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FYI – For those who may not know, 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 devices and apps. It’s important to do a good feature-match and trial of options. 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. They may also have helpful info about SLPs in your area who specialize in AAC and any funding resources that may be specific to your state.

This website has good info regarding potential funding sources: http://ectacenter.org/topics/atech/funding.asp

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In case you missed it, OMazing Kids blog post:

https://omazingkidsllc.com/2016/05/04/what-were-they-thinking-again-ashas-misguided-assault-on-kids-technology-for-better-hearing-speech-month-2016/
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#CommunicationTakesAACcess #GiveThemAllTheWords #SeeMeSeeMyAAC #SLPblogger #SLPeeps #BHSM #BHSM2016
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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}

{What Were They Thinking…. AGAIN!?!} ASHA’s misguided assault on kids & technology for Better Hearing & Speech Month 2016

Posted on May 4, 2016 by OMazing Kids

OMazing Kids blog post in response to ASHA BHSM 2016 anti tech campaign

Dear ASHA, this ASHA certified SLP (dues paying member for 26 years) had prayed that you would have a better campaign in mind for this year’s Better Hearing & Speech Month…. ’cause we are still dealing with the fallout from last year’s fiasco. But unfortunately here we are again in 2016 with a tech shaming focus for BHSM.

I know you didn’t intend to do harm with last year’s campaign or this year’s but you have. The issue is that your posts and videos don’t include any caveats for appropriate uses of tech such as AAC, adapted play or therapeutic uses of an iPad with high quality apps. They just convey a black and white “tech is bad and needs to be swapped” message. Many parents and SLPs who see your posts and videos don’t differentiate between the “purposes” for the technology. I have seen countless posts in a variety of Facebook groups where SLPs and parents have commented about not pursuing AAC for young children due to needing to “limit screen time”. This is a ridiculous battle. What’s silly is that in the era when all we had was traditional dedicated SGDs nobody ever called that “screen time” yet an iPad with an AAC app locked in Guided Access is a dedicated SGD.

The solution isn’t difficult. You just need to be more thoughtful, balanced and inclusive in your posts and videos. Please consider doing posts that highlight kids with complex communication needs and innovative ways of using tech to meet those needs for AAC, adapted play or therapeutic uses of an iPad with high quality apps.

There are several parent authored blogs that are well respected and have huge followings who I’m sure would be more than glad to share their stories. Please listen. It’s far past time for the voice of ASHA to speak for kids of ALL needs & abilities.

***********

Interesting post about tech shaming: http://www.sunshineandhurricanes.com/please-stop-saying-technology-is-ruining-childhood/

Dear OMazing Kids peeps – You can join us in voicing concerns using the #CommunicationTakesAACcess hashtag and by commenting on this post on the ASHA FB page: https://www.facebook.com/asha.org/photos/a.187128960317.137733.26971470317/10153646225275318/?type=3&theater

You can also followup with an e-mail to bhsm@asha.org. Based on ASHA’s responses to the FB comments so far, we may not be able to do much about the tone of this year’s BHSM but hopefully can prevent a “threepeat” in 2017.

And feel free to post comments on this video on ASHA’s YouTube channel:

Update: Well it looks like all of our posts and comments have at least caused The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association to mention that their new infographic excludes tech used for AAC. But the issue is that statement is only visible in the text of their FB post so this infographic viewed outside that context can still do great harm. I left a comment asking that they update the infographic itself. Several others have now commented asking that they also remove the stipulation about “severe” communication disorders. Also…. Not sure what they mean by polling their members. I’m a member and I never received info about this poll.

Love this comment posted by Mary-Louise Bertram: https://www.facebook.com/asha.org/posts/10153650304700318?comment_id=10153650653710318&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R3%22%7D

My OMazing Kids FB post in late April: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga/posts/1134222826628721

& my blog post voicing concerns in 2015: https://omazingkidsllc.com/2015/05/16/what-were-they-thinking-ashas-misguided-assault-on-kids-technology-for-better-hearing-speech-month-2015/

Check out these posts from others who have spoken out. I will be updating this blog post to add more throughout the month:

Hold My Words: https://www.facebook.com/HoldMyWords/photos/a.841100355997445.1073741829.824970217610459/971098362997643/

Uncommon Sense Blog: https://www.facebook.com/123130417730793/photos/a.124083530968815.9496.123130417730793/1067490493294776/?type=3&theater and Dana has boldly posted several comments in the post over on ASHA’s FB page: https://www.facebook.com/asha.org/photos/a.187128960317.137733.26971470317/10153646225275318/?type=3&comment_id=10153646803975318&comment_tracking={%22tn%22%3A%22R9%22}, https://www.facebook.com/asha.org/photos/a.187128960317.137733.26971470317/10153646225275318/?type=3&comment_id=10153647772650318&reply_comment_id=10153647794580318&comment_tracking={%22tn%22%3A%22R9%22} & https://www.facebook.com/asha.org/photos/a.187128960317.137733.26971470317/10153646225275318/?type=3&comment_id=10153647772650318&reply_comment_id=10153649462875318&comment_tracking={%22tn%22%3A%22R9%22}

Rachael Langley is a fellow SLP and AAC enthusiast who creates fabulous memes: https://www.facebook.com/RachaelLangleyAAC/photos/a.1593847960833847.1073741828.1593841367501173/1734541580097817/?type=3&theater

Speak for Yourself is the only AAC company that I’ve seen so far speak out against the BHSM 2016 campaign. I love Heidi’s boldness to speak up: https://www.facebook.com/SpeakForYourselfAAC/posts/1019817461386869 (one of several posts) & https://www.facebook.com/asha.org/photos/a.187128960317.137733.26971470317/10153646225275318/?type=3&comment_id=10153647815075318&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R9%22%7D

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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}

{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
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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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{What Were They Thinking?!} ASHA’s misguided assault on kids & technology for Better Hearing & Speech Month 2015

Posted on May 16, 2015 by OMazing Kids

I received yet another e-mail from The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association in their Better Hearing & Speech Month attack on technology. I’ve been a SLP for over 25 years and I have never been as disappointed in ASHA as I am right now.

I totally get that too much technology for young kids is not a good idea but I worry that this assault on it by ASHA during BHSM is going to cause parents & SLPs to want to banish all use of iPads or other similar technology.

What about the good side of technology?

The era of iPads, tablets & smartphones has caused AAC to become affordable & therefore accessible to those who need it. Those who use augmentative communication need unrestricted access to it in all settings without judgement or misconceptions from others.

This technology has also given SLPs powerful new tools in their therapy toolbox to help kids make progress who hadn’t responded to traditional materials, toys or techniques. I have had numerous patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder or similar diagnoses who just stimmed or had meltdowns with traditional speechie materials, toys & techniques but made jaw-dropping progress when I incorporated my iPad with high-quality apps as a tool and then gradually expanded from there into off iPad activities. Wish I had been part of a research study. I would not have believed it if I hadn’t witnessed it with my own eyes. Truly life-changing for those kids.

So far none of ASHA’s media blitz on this has contained info about use of technology for these purposes. In my opinion ASHA is running the risk of causing harm and further strengthening the myths that we all battle against in trying to get appropriate AAC in place for our kids and may discourage SLPs from using new technology in therapy sessions.

Great post by Barbara at GeekSLP / Smarty Ears: “Children: Too much technology is not the same as just enough”: http://www.geekslp.com/2015/05/children-too-much-technology-is-not-the-same-as-just-enough/

Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, IAYT, RCYP-2

Speech-Language Pathologist

Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness activities for kids of all abilities

Radiant Child Yoga Certified – Levels 1 & 2

E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga

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Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com

OMazing Kids LLC is an organization that promotes inclusive wellness activities for kids of all abilities. The blog and social media pages share information about books, DVD’s, CD’s, games and other products specifically designed for kids wellness, mindfulness and relaxation, product reviews & giveaways, lesson plan & activity ideas, research, kids wellness in the news and a connection corner with listings of individuals doing adapted yoga and those offering trainings.

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OMazing Kids AAC Consulting

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

Category Archives: Better Hearing & Speech Month

Comparing Five All-Purpose Articulation Apps for SLPs in 2021

Giveaway: AAC Feature Matching Chart (enter by 11:59pm CDT on 5/16/21, 3 winners)

{Free Printable} Simple Problem and Solution Puzzle Pairs

{Free Printable} Puppy’s Pronouns & Sentence Building Cards

{App Review} Speech That Works app by Sunshine Cottage School For Deaf Children

{Book + AAC} Wild About Us! and the GoTalk Now Plus AAC app

{Dear ASHA} With all due respect…..

{What Were They Thinking…. AGAIN!?!} ASHA’s misguided assault on kids & technology for Better Hearing & Speech Month 2016

Dear OMazing Kids peeps – You can join us in voicing concerns using the #CommunicationTakesAACcess hashtag and by commenting on this post on the ASHA FB page: https://www.facebook.com/asha.org/photos/a.187128960317.137733.26971470317/10153646225275318/?type=3&theater

And feel free to post comments on this video on ASHA’s YouTube channel:

Check out these posts from others who have spoken out. I will be updating this blog post to add more throughout the month:

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

{What Were They Thinking?!} ASHA’s misguided assault on kids & technology for Better Hearing & Speech Month 2015