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
One of my favorite uses for the GoTalk Now app by Attainment Company, Inc. is to create boards to use as an adapted means of access to play music.
This video shows how to create a music player board (play/pause, next song, previous song), how to create a song board with buttons to play specific songs, and using the Expanded Quick Buttons as a means to comment or request and as a means to go between the two boards (instead of swiping or using paging buttons)
Why I prefer to save videos to the iPad vs. linking to YouTube when using the GoTalk Now app:
I had too many patients’ highly preferred videos disappear from YouTube. That typically triggered a meltdown or they lost interest as I attempted to find a different version of it on YouTube.
Saved videos play immediately (no delay = immediate reinforcement of that request). I had several patients who had been seen multiple times by various SLPs over the years at the facility where I worked and they never appeared to understand cause/effect or be motivated to communicate when in fact the issue was the reinforcement wasn’t immediate enough for them to form that connection.
See a side by side comparison in this video.
Also added the video to YouTube:
I used the Screen Recording feature in the iPhone Control Center to take a screencast video while I was playing the YouTube video to save it. Then I edited the video to crop off a little at the beginning and end. My iPad Pro running iOS 10.3.3 doesn’t have a Screen Recording option in the Control Center. My iPad Mini 2 running iOS 12.4.8 could record but didn’t have sound. I was able to do this via my iPhone 11 running iOS 13.5.1 and then used AirDrop to send it to my iPad Pro to use in the GoTalk Now Plus app. My guess is an iPad running at least iOS 13 would have sound in the screen recording but have no way to know for sure 🤷🏼♀️
Update 12/15/20: It is also possible to play saved and play linked YouTube videos within the TouchChat AAC app.
Here’s some differences between playing a “linked” YouTube video in GoTalk Now vs. playing a “linked” YouTube video in TouchChat:
In GoTalk Now, a button programmed to link to a YouTube video exits the app and takes you to YouTube on Safari (that would be blocked if using Guided Access or on a managed dedicated iOS based device). It would be difficult for most AAC users to get back to the GoTalk Now app (have to tap a tiny thing in top left corner of screen and if they play other videos that might disappear).
In TouchChat, a button programmed to link to a YouTube video opens it on a screen within the TouchChat app. It’s easy to tap “done” to return to the previous TouchChat screen. The linked YouTube video will play within TouchChat even when Guided Access is active. But you’d still have issues if YouTube is down or that linked video disappears from YouTube. I’ve used “linked” videos in both of those apps if it’s something I wanted to program on the fly in the middle of a session. If it turned out to be a highly preferred video then I went through the process of saving it to the camera roll and then programming to open it that way 😊
When using either app for this purpose I consider this to fall under the category of “Assistive Technology for Adapted Leisure”. So this is giving them an adapted means of accessing videos. I also use it as an adapted means of accessing music.
An alternative to using Screen Recording is to download free software onto your laptop that will allow you to download and save videos from YouTube and several other sources. I just tried out the YouTube ByClick software and it worked very well. The resulting video was a little larger on the screen than the one made via screen recording. But it involves having to use your laptop to download the video, e-mailing the video to your iPad and then saving that video to the Camera Roll. https://www.youtubebyclick.com.
Update 11/5/20: Here’s another option that worked directly on my iPhone: https://qdownloader.io
Update 11/4/21: Here’s an option that Lauren Enders shared: YT1s YouTube Downloader, https://yt1s.com/en65
[Note: Many of these websites or app disappear pretty quickly so that’s why I just use screen recording on my iPad instead. ]
I can see using YouTube ByClick when I want to save several videos ahead of time to prep for a session. But the Screen Recording method would be my “go to” for the convenience.
In a pinch you could even just use the iPad to video a YouTube video being played on a computer or TV. I’ve done that before. The quality isn’t nearly as good but the patient still enjoyed watching it.
Reminder: GoTalk Now & GoTalk Now Plus are both on sale through the end of October 2020. Extremely rare sale so if you’ve been wanting either of these apps NOW is the time to get it.
Update 9/30/21 – GoTalk Now Facebook Group – informal networking via the “GoTalk Now AAC App – Ideas and Sharing” group that I started on 9/29/21: https://bit.ly/GoTalkNowAACappGroup
Listen to & purchase their great music. This beautiful album honors kids of all abilities with themes that resonate particularly well for kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders or Sensory Processing Disorder:
April is Autism Awareness & Acceptance Month.Inclusion, acceptance & love should be practiced every day…. but months like this are a good opportunity to raise awareness & then go beyond awareness to building programs, services & communities that support individuals of ALL abilities and needs ♥
Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, IAYT, RCYP-2
Speech-Language Pathologist at the JD McCarty Center for Children with Developmental Disabilities (http://www.jdmc.org/)
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness activities for kids of all abilities
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.
NOTE: Please ignore any ads that appear below the crayons divider bar. This is a free blog site & I have no control over ads appearing here.
I have always loved the song “The 12 Days of Christmas”, especially the version by John Denver & The Muppets (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MX43ynMvm0) ….. the part where Beaker sings “me-me-me-me-me” makes me smile 🙂
So I thought it would be fun to find yoga poses to go with it. In my search for ideas I came across this fun video by Malissa Schwamm, E-RYT; RCYT at Northwest Yoga Studio & Peace.Love.Yoga. in Las Vegas, NV. I saw a few other video ideas online but this was one was my fave!
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.
NOTE: Please ignore any ads that appear below the gingerbread men divider bar. This is a free blog site & I have no control over ads appearing here.
Here are links to my presentation & handouts for “OMazing Kids Yoga – Therapeutic Yoga For Kids and Teens with Autism” at the Oklahoma Autism Conference 11-19-11 –
About 60-65 folks (parents, teachers, OT’s, SLP’s, PT’s, psychologists, behavior therapists, music therapist, etc.) attended my presentation at the Oklahoma Autism Conference! It was SO fun to share my passion for kids yoga and give away all the great products 🙂
Special “thanks” to the following 35 companies that donated a total of 163 kids yoga & relaxation products with a total retail value of over $2,500 that were given away as door prizes to folks who attended my presentation:
If you want details about what each company donated & links to where to purchase those items, see the individual “thank you” posts I did on the OMazing Kids Yoga Facebook page each day in the week leading up to the conference:http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
I was glad I had taken the time to read/watch/review all the products before giving them away (I watched the last DVD as I was getting ready that morning!). This allowed me to give each participant a couple of items to best fit their needs based on age of the kids, their role, the setting, etc…. 🙂
NOTE: Please ignore any ads that appear below the blue divider bar. This is a free blog site & I have no control over ads appearing here.
Cool Updates to the blog: Check out the “video clips” page and the Vodpod video player on the bottom of the right sidebar 🙂 Doing some tweaking to the blog in preparation for my big presentation on “Yoga for Radiant Kids” at the Oklahoma Childcare Conference tomorrow. I found out yesterday that it was one of the most requested sessions when folks pre-registered for the conference. Expecting around 50 people. Can’t wait to share my love for kids yoga!
Laurie Berkner (http://www.facebook.com/LaurieBerknerBand) collaborated with Brady on the song “Soft Things” on this album and very eloquently described the album in her FB post “This beautiful album honors kids of all abilities, with themes that resonate particularly well for kids on the autism spectrum.”.
One of my favorite YouTube clips of little kids doing yoga is from Lani Rosen-Gallagher of Full of Joy Yoga. Being inspired to try it out, I made some suns and used them in my OMazing Kids Yoga group at the JD McCarty Center. It was OMazing how a prop as simple as a paper sun helped the kids get both arms up, to imitate breathing out “loud/fast” vs. “soft/slow”, and to stretch by moving their suns in different directions. Here is a PDF of the suns I used : small and large suns printable for Sun Stretch & Breath – yoga or you could have kids draw & cut out their own.
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.
NOTE: Please ignore any ads that appear below the crayons divider bar. This is a free blog site & I have no control over ads appearing here.
Need visual supports for yoga groups?
Cool Updates to the blog: Check out the “video clips” page and the Vodpod video player on the bottom of the right sidebar 🙂 Doing some tweaking to the blog in preparation for my big presentation on “Yoga for Radiant Kids” at the Oklahoma Childcare Conference tomorrow. I found out yesterday that it was one of the most requested sessions when folks pre-registered for the conference. Expecting around 50 people. Can’t wait to share my love for kids yoga!
I absolutely love the new 
One of my favorite YouTube clips of little kids doing yoga is from Lani Rosen-Gallagher of Full of Joy Yoga. Being inspired to try it out, I made some suns and used them in my OMazing Kids Yoga group at the JD McCarty Center. It was OMazing how a prop as simple as a paper sun helped the kids get both arms up, to imitate breathing out “loud/fast” vs. “soft/slow”, and to stretch by moving their suns in different directions. Here is a PDF of the suns I used : 
OMazing Kids AAC Consulting 
