Tag Archives: AAC features

Why AAC Customization Matters for Gestalt Language Processors / Gestalt Language Learners (updated 4/2/25)

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This is a page from my “AAC Apps and Features At-a-Glance (Single Page Handouts)”:
https://bit.ly/AAC-At-a-Glance

The power of truly embracing and incorporating individual interests into an AAC system and AAC implementation plus customizing for unique needs cannot be overstated.

It is a respectful neurodiversity affirming practice that

  • builds connections
  • fosters AAC ownership
  • resonates with them
  • allows for authentic communication

AAC systems and many AAC implementation strategies were designed with Analytic Language Learners in mind.

There are things that can be done to personalize an AAC user’s device that don’t involve changing any of the layout. I’ve seen way too many kids, teens and young adults who were deemed “unable” or “not ready” to use AAC or who showed little to no interest in using it until we involved them in choosing and in customizing an AAC system that resonated with them. What sparks that interest and joy is highly individualized but when you experience that it’s magical.

While we don’t yet have “scientific research” related to AAC for Gestalt Language Processors, we do have Clinical Expertise and Client/Patient/Caregiver Perspectives.

Combine good AAC practices (presume potential, form authentic connections, engage in fun child-led activities based on their unique interests, accommodate sensory needs, model AAC use without demands, etc.) with a Natural Language Acquisition approach.

Read this post by a parent on the Neuromess Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/101795887897310/posts/pfbid02d4EL2x9CQ4iivQu1BCzM6wKiWoPEhpom49eeMvwhZmpmDHcFD2EirioDKBJgsBrrl/?d=n

And read this The North Star and the Compass Facebook post with Canva links: A year in the life of one creative communicator (Speak for Yourself, Pictello, Spotify, Proloquo2Go as AAC). How do you truly follow a kid’s lead when they do unexpected things with their AAC?

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?id=100084827601023&story_fbid=433678696136380

And watch their videos about how much thought they put into designing a variety of AAC tools specifically for their son:

Proloquo2Go:

Speak for Yourself:

Pictello: (Facebook video)

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?id=100084827601023&story_fbid=769205125160666

AAC Customization “Do”:

  • Involve the AAC user in the customization process
  • Only add things that are meaningful to that individual
  • Consider the function of the gestalts, the contexts in which they are used & the organization/design of that app when adding content
  • Consider the opportunity to embrace the interests of that individual in customizing an AAC system that resonates with them. Some things might be added for self-regulation and the pure joy that they bring. Individuals with some speech may script for these reasons. AAC users deserve the opportunity to do this via AAC
  • Be open to using more than one AAC option to meet the needs. We all use “multimodal communication”

AAC Customization “Don’t”:

  • Don’t alter the inherent structure or features of an AAC app unless it’s to meet specific sensory or access needs
  • Don’t replace Core Words or other items on the Home Screen with gestalts
  • Don’t add things just because you saw someone post about adding a particular phrase or video. There is no “standard set” of gestalts
  • Don’t delete a gestalt/button once that gestalt has been mitigated
  • Don’t switch to a different AAC system unless an AAC eval with feature matching and trial of options has been completed and there is a specific reason to change. There is no one “best” AAC option for anyone regardless of whether they are a Gestalt or Analytic Language Processor
Another page from my AAC Apps and Features At-a-Glance (Single Page Handouts)”: https://bit.ly/AAC-At-a-Glance

Want to learn more about AAC feature matching (comparing features and matching them to an individual’s needs)? Check out the three feature matching resources: https://bit.ly/3aacFeatureMatchingResources. The feature matching resource for the symbol-based AAC apps includes a free supplemental handout “Unique Features in Symbol-Based AAC Apps to Support Gestalt Language Processors”. It has info related to all 12 apps + additional info about features in 8 free and affordable symbol-based AAC apps (mainly iOS, some Android and a couple of Windows) priced $2.99 or less.

Looking for a customizable non-tech printable AAC flip book? See my resource “TD Snap: a visual guide to getting started”. It includes free Bonus Content: access to a 10 page printable AAC flip book specifically designed with Gestalt Language Processors in Stage 1 – Stage 2 of the Natural Language Acquisition (NLA) process in mind + the option to request an editable version in TD Snap. The free bonus handout includes instructions for printing, cutting out and assembling + a video): https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/TD-Snap-a-visual-guide-to-getting-started-more-bonus-AAC-flipbook-7445593

Free handout: Resource Roundup: Gestalt Language Processing & AAC, https://bit.ly/GLPandAAC

The 2022 AAC in the Cloud free online conference has two sessions related to GLP & AAC:

https://presenters.aacconference.com/videos/UWpRNVFUSXk=

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.

Looking for more AAC resources? Check out the Resource Links page here on my blog: https://omazingkidsllc.com/omazing-kids-aac-resource-links

Have a question? The best way to reach me is via Facebook messaging over on my OMazing Kids page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/

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

• YouTube: https://youtube.com/user/amoorad1

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

• OMazing Kids AAC Consulting Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/

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

• GoTalk Now AAC & GoVisual Visual Scene Apps – Ideas and Sharing Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/GoTalkNowAACappGroup

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

• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/amoorad

• Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/

• Linktree: https://linktr.ee/amoorad1

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelamooradomazingkidsaac

• Blog: https://omazingkidsllc.com / Resource Links page: https://omazingkidsllc.com/omazing-kids-aac-resource-links

Updated Feature Matching Chart for the Top 12 Robust iOS Symbol-Based AAC Apps (6-13-22)

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🎉 Resource Update Alert 🎉 6/13/22 Updated Feature Matching Chart for the Top 12 Robust iOS Symbol-Based AAC Apps

Those who have previously purchased this resource can download the latest version for no additional cost on TPT: https://bit.ly/SymbolBasedAACapps. Current Ko-fi subscribers can access the latest update on today’s post: https://ko-fi.com/post/Updated-Symbol-Based-AAC-Feature-Matching-Chart-6-Z8Z5D968O

Info about all three Feature Matching Resources for AAC Apps (comparing features in AAC apps) + TPT bundle and multiple license discounts: https://bit.ly/3aacFeatureMatchingResources

Have a question? The best way to reach me is via Facebook messaging over on my OMazing Kids page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/

Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC, OMazing Kids AAC Consulting

Updated Feature Matching Chart for the Top 13 iOS Text-Based AAC Apps – 5-14-22

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5/14/22 Updated Feature Matching Chart for the Top 13 iOS Text-Based AAC Apps. Those who have previously purchased this resource can download the latest version for no additional cost on TPT: https://bit.ly/TextBasedAACapps. Current Ko-fi subscribers can access the latest update on today’s post. https://ko-fi.com/post/51422-Updated-Text-Based-AAC-App-Chart-S6S7CP0CM

Info about all three Feature Matching Resources for AAC Apps (comparing features in AAC apps) + TPT bundle and multiple license discounts: https://bit.ly/3aacFeatureMatchingResources

Have a question? The best way to reach me is via Facebook messaging over on my OMazing Kids page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/

Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC, OMazing Kids AAC Consulting

5/12/22 Updated Feature Matching Chart for the Top 12 Robust iOS Symbol-Based AAC Apps

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5/12/22 Updated Feature Matching Chart for the Top 12 Robust iOS Symbol-Based AAC Apps

Those who have previously purchased this resource can download the latest version for no additional cost on TPT: https://bit.ly/SymbolBasedAACapps. Current Ko-fi subscribers can access the latest update on today’s post: https://ko-fi.com/post/51212–Updated-symbol-based-AAC-feature-matchin-D1D5CNZ7N

Info about all three Feature Matching Resources for AAC Apps (comparing features in AAC apps) + TPT bundle and multiple license discounts: https://bit.ly/3aacFeatureMatchingResources

Have a question? The best way to reach me is via Facebook messaging over on my OMazing Kids page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/

Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC, OMazing Kids AAC Consulting

Resource Update Alert 🎉: Feature Matching Chart for Visual Scene and Video Visual Scene Display AAC Apps

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An update for the Feature Matching Chart for Visual Scene and Video Visual Scene Display AAC Apps has been uploaded to Teachers Pay Teachers. More info has been added about the EasyVSD Android app. FYI… the ChatAble app is not currently available for purchase while it is in the process of being updated.

Those who have previously purchased this resource either individually or as part of the bundle can go download the new PDF for no additional cost over on TPT: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Feature-Matching-Chart-for-Visual-Scene-and-Video-Visual-Scene-Display-AAC-Apps-7811258, Bundle: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/AAC-Feature-Matching-Resource-Bundle-7849416

Current Ko-fi subscribers can find the links in today’s post (4/20/22): https://ko-fi.com/post/Updated-Feature-Matching-Chart-Visual-Scene-Displ-I2I7C9CSX

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 AAC related messages don’t get lost among the spam in my e-mail.

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

• YouTube: https://youtube.com/user/amoorad1

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

• OMazing Kids AAC Consulting Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/

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

• GoTalk Now AAC & GoVisual Visual Scene Apps – Ideas and Sharing Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/GoTalkNowAACappGroup

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

• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/amoorad

• Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/

• Linktree: https://linktr.ee/amoorad1

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelamooradomazingkidsaac

• Blog: https://omazingkidsllc.com

Three Feature Matching Resources for AAC Apps (comparing features in AAC apps) + TPT bundle and multiple license discounts

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Looking for info to compare AAC apps? Check out these three feature matching resources:

• Symbol-Based: https://bit.ly/SymbolBasedAACapps. More info: https://bit.ly/SymbolBasedAACblogpost

• Text-Based: https://bit.ly/TextBasedAACapps. More info: https://bit.ly/TextBasedAACblogpost

• Visual Scenes & Video Visual Scenes: https://bit.ly/AACvsd. More info: https://bit.ly/VSDaacBlogPost

TPT Preview Videos:

Symbol-Based

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Thanks SO much to Lauren S. Enders for this shout out for my AAC Feature Matching Chart in her presentation on 6/24/21 at AAC in the Cloud! See the whole presentation and get her handouts for “Personalizing AAC – A Deep Dive into Vocabulary Customization”: https://presenters.aacconference.com/videos/UVRRd1FUSXg=?. Be sure to also check out her Waklet with links to resources: https://wke.lt/w/s/7ldtJE.

Thanks Vicki Clarke / Dynamic Therapy Associates Inc (aacchicks)! The shoutout for the AAC feature matching chart in your IG Stories on 7/20/21 made my day 🥰

See the awesome reviews for it on TPT. Thanks to everyone who has written a review and helped spread the word about this resource 😊

Text-Based

Visual Scenes & Video Visual Scenes:

Each chart includes info about features that are being explored as potentially being helpful for Gestalt Language Processors. The easiest way to find that info is to open each PDF in the free Xodo PDF reader and enter “gestalt” into the Search. See this blog post for more info about Xodo: https://bit.ly/XodoApp.

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As of 4/15/22, the symbol-based feature matching resource now includes a supplemental handout “Unique Features in Symbol-Based AAC Apps to Support Gestalt Language Processors”. That handout includes info related to all 12 apps + additional info about features in 8 free and affordable symbol-based AAC apps (mainly iOS, some Android and a couple of Window) priced $2.99 or less. This supplemental handout is exclusive content that is only available as part of this resource.

See a preview of the new supplemental handout: Unique Features in Symbol-Based AAC Apps to Support Gestalt Language Processors

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Want more info about Gestalt Language Processing & AAC? See this FREE handout: https://bit.ly/GLPandAAC

Looking for resources to compare features in a wide variety of AAC apps? I added a bundle on TPT includes all three of my AAC feature matching resources at a discounted price compared to purchasing them individually (saves about 10%). If you are looking to purchase resources for several staff / team members, take a look at the Multiple Licenses discount (saves 20%): https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/AAC-Feature-Matching-Resource-Bundle-7849416

Please read the full description, the reviews and watch the TPT preview on each individual resource prior to purchasing the bundle

I’ve also set the Multiple Licenses discount on the individual resources to 20% off since I’ve been receiving some inquiries about discounts for bulk purchasing.

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 AAC related messages don’t get lost among the spam in my e-mail.

Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC, OMazing Kids AAC Consulting