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
Looking for in-depth AAC feature matching resources? See this blog post: https://bit.ly/5aacFeatureMatchingResources. That post also includes videos comparing the best AAC apps on various devices on various platforms.
* Updated with info about new features in apps, updated pricing info and updated lists of free apps.
Those who have previously purchased it on TPT can download the most current version for no additional cost: https://bit.ly/AAC-At-a-Glance.
Looking for in-depth AAC feature matching resources? See this blog post: https://bit.ly/5aacFeatureMatchingResources. That post also includes videos comparing the best AAC apps on various devices on various platforms.
A voice is a very personal thing. It represents the essence of who we are and how we are heard. All AAC users should have the opportunity to be involved in choosing a voice for their AAC system, adjusting it (rate, pitch and volume), adding intonation or tone, and choosing different voices for different situations.
Watch the preview video:
The 34 page printable PDF includes:
Basic info about why this is important.
Options for custom personalized voices and ways to add intonation and tone of voice.
Use of unique accents.
Visual supports for choosing the age of voice, speed, pitch & volume.
Visual supports for choosing child, teen and adult USA English voices (Acapela, Almagu, Cereproc, Ivona & iOS). Includes all voice choices on one page for each age category and larger cards that can be cut apart and used on choice boards.
Visual support for choosing another type of English voice for those who may prefer a unique voice with a UK, Australian or Canadian accent.
Tips for use + a link to a 6 minute unlisted YouTube video where I do an overview of the resource and give additional ideas for involving AAC users.
Notes: This resource is specifically about voices and options available for USA English in robust iOS AAC apps available in the USA App Store. This printable resource does NOT contain any sound or voice output. It is intended to be used as a visual support alongside an AAC device or AAC app as you explore voice options and voice customization settings with that AAC user. Please keep that individual’s preferences in mind as to whether or not visuals would be helpful.
Looking in-depth AAC feature matching resources? See this blog post: https://bit.ly/5aacFeatureMatchingResources. That post also includes videos comparing the best AAC apps on various devices on various platforms.
Have you ever considered using AAC on an Apple Watch but weren’t sure about the options or how to set it up? I’ve made it simple.
Check out my brand new resource “Feature Matching Basics & Tips: AAC Apps for the Apple Watch”: https://bit.ly/AppleWatchAAC.
This resource contains a 6 page PDF handout & exclusive access to three unlisted YouTube videos with easy to understand information about :
An overview of things to consider when deciding to use AAC apps on an Apple Watch
How to pair the Apple Watch with a wearable Bluetooth speaker (simple demo video)
How to use the Apple Watch app on a paired iPhone to set up apps on the Apple Watch
How to find info about setting up an Apple Watch for a family member who doesn’t have their own iPhone, tech safety considerations & parental controls
Two recommended watch face options well-suited for AAC users (using one app or using multiple apps)
Apple Watch face “Complications” made simple: What these are on an Apple Watch and how to set them up (simple tutorial video)
Basic info about features of 33 apps and features available for the Apple Watch (8 apps and a feature specifically designed for AAC + 25 AAC-related apps and features that can be used to communicate in a variety of creative ways… including some that allow you to play short video and audio clips. Particularly helpful for Gestalt Language Processors)
✅ Designation of particularly helpful apps as “top picks”
🔎 Designation of AAC apps that are robust with many more features when used on an iPhone or iPad
Exclusive access to an unlisted YouTube video where I demo these “top picks” and show what the robust apps look like on an Apple Watch
9 other apps that I explored and reasons that I ruled those out
Exclusive access to those three unlisted YouTube videos (2:30 min, 3:18 min, 48:27 min – with time stamped chapters to quickly jump to info)
The PDF handout is formatted to be printed or viewed on a PDF reader or in the Apple Books app where you can tap on blue underlined text that links directly to additional or related information.
The 48:27 demo video of the “top picks” and robust AAC apps has time-stamped chapters to help you quickly jump to the info about a particular app.
See my list on AppRaven: AAC and AAC related apps for Apple Watch
Looking for other in-depth AAC feature matching resources? See this blog post: https://bit.ly/5aacFeatureMatchingResources. That post also includes videos comparing the best AAC apps on various devices on various platforms.
Updated Resource 8/5/24: AAC Apps and Features At-a-Glance (Single Page Handouts):https://bit.ly/AAC-At-a-Glance. This 90 page PDF resource has been updated to add Weave Chat AAC, to reflect new features in apps and to update info about pricing. See the new Table of Contents: https://bit.ly/-TOC-AACAppsandFeaturesAt-a-Glance. Those who have previously purchased it on TPT can download the most current version for no additional cost: https://bit.ly/AAC-At-a-Glance.
Looking for other in-depth AAC feature matching resources? See this blog post: https://bit.ly/5aacFeatureMatchingResources. That post also includes videos comparing the best AAC apps on various devices on various platforms.
Resource Updated: The Feature Matching Chart for the Top 13+ iOS Symbol Based AAC Apps (6/12/24).
It includes information about new features in several apps + info related to the changes in TD Snap becoming a subscription-based app.
The “Unique Features in Symbol-Based AAC Apps to Support Gestalt Language Processors” supplemental handout linked within it has also been updated.
I also updated the Table of Contents in the TPT resource description for those who want more info about the types of things covered: https://bit.ly/TOC-iOSaacSBfmc-06-12-24.
Those who have previously purchased this resource on TPT can download the newest version for no additional cost: https://bit.ly/SymbolBasedAACapps.
Looking for other in-depth AAC feature matching resources? See this blog post: https://bit.ly/5aacFeatureMatchingResources. That post also includes videos comparing the best AAC apps on various devices on various platforms.
Looking for other in-depth AAC feature matching resources? See this blog post: https://bit.ly/5aacFeatureMatchingResources. That post also includes videos comparing the best AAC apps on various devices on various platforms.
Are you looking for a way to add short videos and visual scenes with hotspots to TD Snap? Come learn how to use Boardmaker 7 to create these and then use them in the integrated Boardmaker Activities. Don’t have a Boardmaker 7 subscription? No worries… you’ll also learn how to sign up for a free trial to create what you want.
• The importance of honoring Multimodal Communication
• Involving the individual in the process of customizing their AAC
• How to access a free trial of Boardmaker 7 / Boardmaker 7 Editor
• Tips for saving videos and images in Boardmaker 7 Editor
• How to use Boardmaker 7 Editor to create short videos and visual scenes with hotspots “activities” for use in TD Snap on an iPad
• How to upload what you create to the Snap Activities folder in your account on myBoardmaker
• How to access Boardmaker Activities in TD Snap
• How to create a button to open a specific Boardmaker Activity in TD Snap
• How to find training resources from Tobii Dynavox about learning to use Boardmaker 7
Note: This resource was updated on 5/29/24 to reflect changes that Tobii Dynavox made to TD Snap. As of 5/21/24, they no longer offer the general public the option to do a 1x app-only purchase of this app. It switched to a subscription-based model. The 1.35.1 app update for TD Snap on 12/4/24 added an integrated YouTube player. This is a nice option for teens and adults who need the alternative access of their Speech Generating Device to play YouTube videos for leisure. Playing YouTube videos requires an internet connection and that player is not secured. This is very different from those who want to use short video clips for communication and/or self regulation and need a way to play them reliably offline in a secure way. For those purposes creating Boardmaker Activities will continue to be the best solution at this point in time
Notes:
Boardmaker 7 Editor can only be used to create these Boardmaker Activities on a Chromebook, Windows computer or tablet, or a Mac. Unfortunately there is NOT a way to use Boardmaker 7 Editor to create activities on an iPad (there’s no Boardmaker 7 Editor iOS app and it won’t work in a browser on an iPad). See this website for device compatibility: https://goboardmaker.com/pages/boardmaker-7-help?tab=1.
You must be connected to WiFi in order to initially load a Boardmaker Activity in TD Snap. Then you’ll have the option to toggle on Offline Use for each activity. Offline activities are downloaded per device. If the Page Set is synced or shared to a different device, the download process must be repeated on that device to make the activities available offline.
My demo shows these being added in the Motor Plan 66 pageset in TD Snap. You can add buttons to open a Boardmaker Activity in any of the pagesets within that app.
My demo videos are Boardmaker 7 Editor on my Pixelbook Chromebook and TD Snap on my iPad 9th gen. If you are using a Mac or Windows device what you see on your screen may be a bit different than mine.
The ability to play the videos may vary based on the available memory & RAM on that device.
This research article has helpful considerations for selecting media for use in Visual Scenes and Video Visual Scenes: “Visual Scene Displays for Children and Adults: Using Case Studies to Bridge Research and Clinical Practice”, https://pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/2022_PERSP-22-00162
Looking for in-depth AAC feature matching resources? See this blog post: https://bit.ly/5aacFeatureMatchingResources. That post also includes videos comparing AAC apps on various devices on various platforms.
Image ID: Screenshot of the cover image for this resource in my TPT (Teachers Pay Teachers) Store. Includes the icon for each app in the Apple App Store, the OMazing Kids logo and logos for TPT and Ko-fi. Date updated: 2/4/24.
Resource Expanded & Updated: The Feature Matching Chart for the Top 13+ iOS Symbol Based AAC Apps (2/4/24).
Weave Chat AAC has been added, it has a deeper dive into specific types of vocabulary within AAC apps, new features in these apps, etc…
Looking for other in-depth AAC feature matching resources? See this blog post: https://bit.ly/5aacFeatureMatchingResources. That post also includes videos comparing AAC apps on various devices on various platforms.
Those who have previously purchased it on TPT can download the most current version for no additional cost: https://bit.ly/AAC-At-a-Glance.
Looking for in-depth AAC feature matching resources? See this blog post: https://bit.ly/5aacFeatureMatchingResources. That post also includes videos comparing AAC apps on various devices on various platforms.