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
It includes info about app updates done in the past month, info about head tracking and eye gaze capabilities in CoughDrop, a few more tips and time saving features and I added a row about backup/share/restore via a USB flash drive.
Have questions? The best way to reach me with any questions is via messaging on the OMazing Kids Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/. That way messages don’t get lost among the spam in my e-mail.
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.)
AAC Tutorial: Backup / Restore / Share Customized Programming in the Top 10 iOS Symbol-Based AAC Apps (includes 2 videos & a PDF handout). Covers several options including detailed instructions on how to use an external USB drive and USB Camera Adapter with Apple Files. Now available on my Teachers Pay Teachers store: https://bit.ly/3zj41FG
NOTE: I deactivated this resource on TPT on 11/2/23 when I learned that iOS 17 / iPadOS 17 made some significant changes to how AirDrop works. Prior to this you could AirDrop and the AAC file that you sent would go straight to that AAC app on the receiving device with a confirmation message to tap to import it. As of iOS 17/ iPadOS 17 this is no longer the case. One of the developers of Speak for Yourself shared the following information in a comment in the AAC for the SLP group: “AirDrop now uses the Files app to receive vocabulary. If it’s a managed device (through an MDM or third party insurance-covered device), it may have the files app removed. It’s going to affect any of the apps and any files that you’re trying to AirDrop. It’s doesn’t affect photos, only files.”
Info from Apple: https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/737971?page=1#767265022 (On iOS 17, the behavior of saving an AirDropped file to the Downloads folder (and then launching Files.app) is intended. That is part of the effort to avoid directly passing a file to an app that declares itself as a handler of the file type but isn’t really the file handler that the user expects.)
At this point I’m going to see if AAC app developers come up with a work around or if Apple rolls back this process before deciding whether or not I will update this resource.
Have questions? The best way to reach me with any questions is via messaging on the OMazing Kids Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/. That way messages don’t get lost among the spam in my e-mail.
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.)
Looking for resources to support use of AAC in Early Intervention? Here’s my curated list of resources, handouts and webinars. I’ve only shared things that I’ve personally used, read and watched. There’s no “perfect” one-size-fits-all resource. So that’s why I use bits and pieces from lots of things.
Have questions? The best way to reach me with any questions is via messaging on the OMazing Kids Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/. That way messages don’t get lost among the spam in my e-mail.
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.)
Have questions? The best way to reach me with any questions is via messaging on the OMazing Kids Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/. That way messages don’t get lost among the spam in my e-mail.
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.)
This is what the LAMP Words for Life app looks like on my iPad modified to use High Contrast symbols:
Want to know more? Check out this short recorded webinar on my Teachers Pay Teachers store: https://bit.ly/2Rd430G
Have questions? The best way to reach me with any questions is via messaging on the OMazing Kids Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/. That way messages don’t get lost among the spam in my e-mail.
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.)
• 19 ways that AAC apps can be modified with an extra focus on High Contrast Symbols
• Reasons for making modifications
• Detailed info about 7 iOS AAC apps that include High Contrast Symbols or have them available via extra purchase or by editing buttons
• A comparison of High Contrast Symbols vs. using iOS Accessibility Invert Colors
• A Case Study of how the GoTalk Now Lite app was customized to be used as a stepping stone to a robust AAC option
• Learn how I edited the entire LAMP Words for Life AAC app over a six month period to use High Contrast symbols on a black background. Includes a handout with info about how to find those symbols in the app and the Settings and Pronunciation Exceptions that I used
• How this modified LAMP Words for Life Vocab file is different than using LAMP Words for Life – VI on an Accent Speech Generating Device
• How you can receive a copy of my modified files for GoTalk Now and LAMP Words for Life as optional free bonus content
Expected Learner Outcomes:
1. List at least three modifications that can be made to AAC apps
2. List a reason for using High Contrast Symbols besides CVI / Vision Impairment
3. List at least two differences between LAMP WFL – VI & LAMP WFL modified with high contrast symbols
4. Give an example of how to use one AAC app as a stepping stone towards a more robust option
Expected Takeaways:
1. Have info about symbol-based AAC apps that include High Contrast Symbols or have them available via extra purchase or by editing buttons
2. Have info about how to find High Contrast Symbols in the LAMP Words for Life app on an iPad
3. Identify at least 3 modifications to use with current patients / students on their caseload
What’s included with the purchase of this product:
• Recorded Webinar Video (33:53), unlisted YouTube link provided in the Supporting Document
• Supporting Document (25 page PDF): Link to unlisted YouTube video webinar, Slides Handout (2 slides per page), How to Find LAMP Words for Life High Contrast Symbols in the iPad App & a Quiz). The Slides Handout portion of the PDF is best viewed the free Xodo app or Books app on an iPad (or similar PDF reader) vs. printing it due to the black background. The free Xodo app can be used on any platform and computers. The links are out on their website: https://www.xodo.com/)
Optional Free Bonus Content (see more info below):
• Vocab File for LAMP WFL FULL – High Contrast [original motor plans (NOT LAMP VI), edited to use High Contrast Symbols, added additional vocabulary]
• Communication Book file for GoTalk Now – modified to be similar to LAMP WFL, High Contrast Symbols, pages for videos, toys and snacks
AAC apps featured in the slides and screencast video:
Info & Tech requirements for optional bonus content:
• In order to receive the free bonus content, send your 4 quiz answers along with proof of purchase of this course (screenshot from Purchases area in TPT) in a private message to my OMazing Kids Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/). I’ll reply with a Google Drive link where you can download the file for LAMP WFL & the file for GoTalk Now
• There is no guarantee that the modified AAC files will work on your iPad. These are being provided as FREE bonus content for those who complete and submit the quiz and are NOT part of the purchase of this training. Purchase of this training is for the content of the training itself and the knowledge gained about how to customize AAC apps
• These files can only be accessed on an iPad running the required minimum iOS for the LAMP Words for Life and GoTalk Now apps (preferably the most current iOS)
• That iPad needs to have plenty of free memory. The file for use in the GoTalk Now app contains 8 videos. Most AAC apps need at least 1GB of free memory to run smoothly
• Be sure to backup customized programming BEFORE attempting to install a file
• The AAC app needs to be fully installed and updated on that iPad before attempting to open the file to install it
• The GoTalk Now file can only be opened on GoTalk Now or GoTalk Now Plus (not the Lite or Starter versions)
• Occasionally edited symbols disappear when installing a file. If this happens, try downloading it again on a strong WiFi connection. You can also use my list of how to find the high contrast symbols to add it in edit mode. There are a few buttons where I used imported symbols. Those should also be in the symbol library. If you need additional help after trying these, feel free to send me a message on my OMazing Kids Facebook page
See the product description on TPT for more info and Terms of Use.
Have questions? The best way to reach me with any questions is via messaging on the OMazing Kids Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/. That way messages don’t get lost among the spam in my e-mail.
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.)
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.
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.)
Unfortunately anxiety is common with Autism. It’s the main reason that I went through training for kids yoga and mindfulness. I needed tools as an SLP to be able to help my patients learn self regulation and self affirmation skills.
Here are several helpful tools:
Two Amazing “Must Have” Books for Teaching Kids Self-Regulation Skills: https://bit.ly/2T36tiR.
Owl & Star plush characters from Super Simple Learning + free printable affirmation coloring pages: https://bit.ly/3fykyfZ. Any stuffed animal or doll can be used with belly breathing. See this video: https://youtu.be/cx9vMHnjpbA
And handouts from a training “Therapeutic Yoga For Kids and Teens with Autism” that I did at the Oklahoma Autism Conference in 2011: https://bit.ly/3402Hci
I’ll update this post to add additional resources as I create or find them.
Disclaimer: Anxiety is very real and can be severe. Please seek the care of an appropriate mental health professional as needed. Any tools shared here may not work for everyone. They are shared as examples and may need to be customized to meet individual needs.
The best way to reach me with any questions is via private messaging on the OMazing Kids Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/. That way important messages don’t get lost among the spam in my e-mail
Here’s a summary of what’s new in this update for the Feature Matching Chart for the Top 10 iOS Symbol-Based AAC Apps:
• GoTalk Now: 5/11/21, version 5.0.6, updated Export PDF to offer multiple ways to save and share. Online Gallery temporarily closed for renovation. They did not indicate how long it will be closed.
• Grid for iPad: 5/4/21, version 3.0.64.1, update fixed bugs
The best way to reach me with any questions is via private messaging on the OMazing Kids Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/. That way AAC related messages don’t get lost among the spam in my e-mail
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.)
Updated 9/17/22: Added a section with links to social media pages and groups that frequently share great examples of literacy strategies for AAC users, a website with free printable story props & more. Also includes info about a free PDF reader that can be used on any platform to view and search within the document. In order to easily find all instances of a particular Core Word in this list, open it in the free Xodo app. It works on any platform (even computers) and has a fabulous Search feature. https://www.xodo.com
Note: This resource started as a blog post in April 2018 where I documented core words in picture books that I was selling when I retired from clinical practice. I remember sitting in my living room surrounded by piles of over 1,200 kids picture books and Post It notes. Later I expanded it to include more books that I had used digitally and offered it here on TPT after I had received numerous requests for it.
OMazing Kids AAC Consulting 