Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP. Over 34 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
Resource Update: The Basic Feature Chart for Affordable and Free AAC apps & AAC-Related Apps (iOS, Android Google Play, Amazon Fire, Windows + a few Web-Based options) has been updated (11/11/23).
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.
Weave Chat AAC has added quite a bit more content and features and is now a fairly robust AAC app that’s totally free. They offer apps on three major app stores: iOS, Google Play (Android) & Amazon.
Want basic info about this app? Check out “Affordable and Free AAC apps & AAC-Related Apps (iOS, Android, Amazon Fire, Windows & a few web-based options)”: https://bit.ly/BasicAffordableAACchart.
Want an in-depth look at the Android and Amazon Fire versions of Weave Chat AAC? Check out this expanded resource: “Feature Matching Chart for Robust Android AAC Apps (Google Play & Amazon Fire)”: https://bit.ly/RobustAndroidAACappChart.
Updated this blog post on 8/12/23: That Android phone is still available on Amazon and is even a little less expensive now ($49.88). The case is still also available and is less expensive ($11.99). If you put the free Android version of Weave Chat AAC on it (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.weavechat.weavechat) you can have fairly robust pocket-sized symbol-based AAC for under $62 (+tax). The adult text-to-speech voices from Samsung & Google are pretty good. If you want Acapela voices, the Weave Chat AAC app and a few others allow use of the one you have purchased and set as a default within the Acapela app. That would be a way to add high quality child voices. Prices vary. I just purchased the child African American English voices (Tiana and Malik) for $7.99 each. The great thing is you only have to purchase the Acapela voices once and then can use them in any AAC app that supports use of them. I have previously purchased Ella & Josh (USA English) + Valeria & Emilio (USA Spanish). That app has voices available to purchase in several languages.
So for under $70 (+tax) you can have fairly robust pocket-sized symbol-based AAC with Weave Chat AAC using a high quality Acapela voice.
Resource Update: The Basic Feature Chart for Affordable and Free AAC apps & AAC-Related Apps (iOS, Android Google Play, Amazon Fire, Windows + a few Web-Based options and Chromebook) has been updated (5/31/23).
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 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.
This new FREE handout has info about how individuals can access a free trial of several robust AAC apps to try out on their own iPad, Android tablet, Amazon Fire tablet, or Windows tablet. Or use online.
If you are an SLP/SLT making funding/purchasing recommendations or another professional supporting AAC users and need ongoing access to robust AAC apps, see this blog post: AAC Test Drive & Getting Access to Robust AAC Apps,https://bit.ly/AACtestdrive. It has links to four FREE handouts with the details on how to get access to these apps.
Notes:
Each app has its own minimum spec requirements. You can find those either in that app store or on the website where you download it.
Some of these apps could also be trialed via a loaner AAC device from that company, via a company that sells a fundable iOS-based or Android-based device or a loaner from your state’s AT Lending Program.
Terms of Use: You may not copy any part of this 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. It is available for free on my TPT store: https://bit.ly/OMazingKidsAAConTPT.
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.
New resource: Feature Matching Chart for Pragmatic Vocabulary Organization AAC Apps
Watch the TPT preview video where I’m viewing the PDF on my iPad in the free Xodo app. You’ll get a feel for how much info will be at your fingertips in this chart.
Watch the Intro video. It provides info about the intent of this resource:
This feature matching resource includes information about the following options:
• CoughDrop – Sequoia board set – multi platform
• PODD for Grid for iPad
• simPODD – iPad
• TD Snap PODD – iPad
• Voco Chat in Grid for iPad
• PODD for Grid 3 – Windows
• PODD for Mind Express 5 – Windows
• TD Snap PODD – Windows
• Voco Chat in Grid 3 – Windows
There are 122 rows in the chart. But it’s super easy to use the “search” option to find what you want quickly.
This resource includes free access to over 3 hours of unlisted YouTube videos where I highlight some of the most unique features in each option and discuss the flexibility in customization, options for alternative access, etc…
Why this might be helpful to you is I have done all the heavy lifting of digging through websites and deep into app settings, testing everything out extensively and then distilling all that info into one PDF with all of the features that you’d need to compare all of these options.
This is a VERY deep dive beyond just vocabulary organization… it’s also an in depth look at the flexibility or limitations of the app platforms, customization and alternative access options plus includes detailed info about three different Bluetooth switch interfaces (Blue2, iSwitch & Cosmo).
You can search to find exactly what you’re looking for and can copy wording from this chart and paste it into your AAC reports to save time.
** All info is comprehensive, 100% up to date and verified by app developers **
I will be maintaining and updating this chart to help meet the need for current and comprehensive info to be used in feature matching.
Includes info about features in these particular apps that may be helpful as folks are exploring ways to modify AAC for 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 AAC apps on various devices on various platforms.
Updated resource: Basic Feature Chart for Affordable and Free AAC apps & AAC-Related Apps (iOS, Android Google Play, Amazon Fire, Windows + a few Web-Based options).
This 90 page PDF resource was inspired by the numerous requests that I’ve received for simple “at a glance” info about features in AAC apps and single page handouts that could be used with parents, caregivers and anyone involved in the AAC decision making process.
Table of Contents:
A Preview Sample PDF is available for this resource on TPT. It includes the Table of Contents and a few sample pages.
This resource includes:
• A hyperlinked Table of Contents to jump straight to a page. Tap in the top left corner to jump back to the Table of Contents (when being used digitally)
• 11 Features At-a-Glance Handouts
• 36 AAC App Summary At-a-Glance Handouts (see Table of Contents for a list)
• 12 Gestalt Language Processing & AAC Handouts
• 4 Just-a-List Lists of Free AAC apps Handouts
• 2 unlisted videos (5 min demo of how to view 2 pages side-by-side using Split View & a 20 min Resource Overview)
• Links to additional resources
• How to contact me with questions (includes my email address exclusive to TPT)
These will be helpful on either side of an AAC evaluation that involves feature matching and trials of a few options:
• Beforehand to help simplify the process of knowing which apps and/or features you might want to consider during an AAC eval
• Afterwards to place at-a-glance sheets side by side as a reminder of apps that were included in the trials and help simplify the process of deciding which ones warrant a longer term trial or which one might be selected for submission in a funding request.
• These can also be helpful during the feature matching process to help provide simple explanations about some of the features and why they might be important.
It would be impossible to include all of the features in a particular AAC app on a single page handout. These are just “highlights”. These handouts should be used alongside (not instead of) in-depth up to date feature matching resources.
This resource is optimized for both printed and digital use:
Printed:
• Print a single page first to see if you need to choose “shrink to fit” on your printer. Print pages and place them side-by-side to compare features or apps.
• In order to keep the aesthetic of single page handouts the pages are not numbered. If you want to add page numbers, either write them or use a PDF editing app to add them.
Digital:
• The Table of Contents has hyperlinks to tap a page number to jump straight to that page. Tap the top left corner on any page to return to the Table of Contents.
• There a few other underlined hyperlinks in this resource to take you straight to additional information. I purposefully did not include App Store links since those can vary by country and aren’t always redirected.
• There are several options to view two pages side-by-side to compare features or apps:
• Use two iPads or tablets or open on two windows on a laptop.
• On iPadOS 13.0 or later, save the PDF in two different PDF viewer apps and use Split View to view them. The demo video included in the resource shows how.
• The PDF Expert and GoodNotes 5 apps offer a way to view two documents side-by-side within that one app
Looking for in-depth info about features AAC apps? Check out these resources:
• AAC Feature Matching Resource Bundle (includes all three, save 10%): https://bit.ly/aacFeatureMatchingBundle. If you are looking to purchase resources for several staff / team members, take a look at the Multiple Licenses discount (saves 20%)
• Affordable and Free AAC apps & AAC-Related Apps (iOS, Android, Amazon Fire, Windows & a few web-based options): https://bit.ly/BasicAffordableAACchart
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.
OMazing Kids AAC Consulting 