{Free Printable} Simple Problem and Solution Puzzle Pairs

Posted on May 28, 2016 by OMazing Kids

Simple Problem and Solution Puzzle Pairs - post

Ever look and look for materials to target a goal for a patient but just not find what you are looking for? Happens to me frequently so that’s why I end up making so many materials. I have a 6 year old patient with Autism who amazes me every week with his progress so I am constantly writing new goals. I recently added a goal for very basic problem solving since the ability to do that ties into the ability to function in social situations. But all the materials I found were way too complex as a starting point. So here is a printable with a set of 12 simple problem and solution puzzle pairs that I made to use with him. I purposefully made the puzzle shapes the same so he can’t just guess based on which ones fit together correctly (yup… I’ve had numerous patients do that with self-correcting puzzle pairs). Sharing it here since I’m sure other SLPs could benefit from having these 🙂

Free 2-page PDF:

simple problem and solution puzzle pairs – free printable — made by Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, OMazing Kids

Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness & educational activities for kids of all abilities
Home E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com
Facebook Messaging for OMazing Kids: https://www.facebook.com/messages/17426452595789
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/
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Boardmaker Share: http://www.boardmakershare.com/Community/FriendsProfile/10916/Angela-Moorad
Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com
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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 26 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.
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{please ignore any ads that may appear below. This is a free blog and I don’t have any control over ads nor do I profit from them}

{App Review} Speech That Works app by Sunshine Cottage School For Deaf Children

Posted on May 21, 2016 by OMazing Kids

{App Review} Speech That Works by Sunshine Cottage School For Deaf Children is a fabulous app designed by a team of speech-language pathologists. It has several features that make it particularly useful when working with kids with apraxia, hearing impairment or those needing to target vowels, consonants in single syllables or other areas not typically included in most artic apps. This app was developed with strategies to enhance motor speech planning and automaticity. It’s definitely a blessing to have this as part of my SLP toolkit!

What’s unique that I love about this app:

Suprasegmental targets for duration, intensity, and pitch.
Vowels in isolation, repetitions, alternations, and words.
Consonants in isolation, single syllables, repetitions and alternations in addition to all positions in words, phrases & sentences.
The phrase generator allows you to select a person+’s (or “my”), a color and then a word containing the target phoneme.
The sentences contain two words with the target phoneme.
Includes all of the types of vocalic /r/.
Each blend can be targeted separately.
Includes final consonant clusters formed when words have grammatical marker endings.
Nursery rhymes loaded with each consonant target sound.
Data can be sorted for a patient by date or by sound goal and can be filtered with a start and end date (great for quickly being able to find data for a specific reporting period) and e-mailed.
Elicitation techniques and carryover activities are provided for some sounds.

The only wish I have for a future app update would be the addition of a section for minimal contrast pairs for vowels at the word level since I have had a couple of patients with very funky vowel errors and in my quest to find materials to target this in therapy found very little (only a few cards from the Contrasts for Auditory and Speech Training (CAST) (http://www.linguisystems.com/products/product/display?itemid=10229) and a couple of reading apps targeting short vowels).

App Tutorial:

A few screenshots:

App Store: https://appsto.re/us/Y6Fu3.i, iOS 6.0 or later, Universal app, $49.99 -> currently on sale for $29.99 until 5/31/16 for Better Hearing & Speech Month.

Here are a few tips:
* iOS App Store prices often change at 10:00pm CST (adjust for your time zone) but can change at any time with no notice. So it’s always wise to get the apps you want quickly and always verify the price before downloading an app.
* I always verify app prices in the USA App Store at the time I do a post. Prices in other countries will vary depending on the exchange rate. I have no way to verify prices or whether or not an app is available in other countries.
* If you don’t have an iPad yet or don’t have one running the iOS required to download a particular app, you can download that app on iTunes on a computer and have it in your cloud to install later.
* I only post about iOS (Apple) apps since I only have an iPad & iPhone.
* I only post about apps that I have actually downloaded and tried out. There are LOTS of apps out there but only a handful earn a spot in the limited real estate on my iPad. Even with a 128GB iPad Air I am still constantly playing the “app shuffle”.

There is also an Android version. Since I don’t have any Android devices I can’t comment on how well the app works on that platform but am including the link here for folks who want to check it out. Appears to be priced the same: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.sunshinecottage.sscapps.STW&hl=en

Website: http://www.sunshinecottage.org/stwapp.php

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SSCEducationalProducts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SSCEdProducts

Disclaimer: I received this app via a promo code from the developer. No compensation was received to review it and my opinions are strictly my own.
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{Teaching Prepositions & Spatial Concepts} Free Printable Preposition and Spatial Concept Activity Cards for the Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Puppy’s Activity Home and GoTalk Now Plus AAC Template

Posted on May 18, 2016 by OMazing Kids

{Teaching Prepositions & Spatial Concepts} Most of the kids on my caseload have Autism or other special needs that tend to make understanding spatial concepts and using prepositions very challenging. I use a combination of visual supports, real objects, movement, AAC and apps when tackling these goals.

I uploaded a template to the Attainment Company, Inc.‘s GoTalk Now AAC Online Gallery for “Prepositions & Spatial Concepts for the Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Puppy’s Activity Home”. Includes front, back, side, in front, behind, beside, through, in & out. Search for “puppy” in the public gallery from within the app to find it.

free printable preposition and spatial concept cards - OMazing Kids

I made a set of 30 two-sided printable activity cards for the Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Puppy’s Activity Home inspired by ones in the Positional Words Resource Box by Lakeshore Learning and the Hello Sunshine Game by Think Fun (both are fabulous visual ways to teach kids about prepositions & spatial concepts). The cards are color coded (10 brown for the puppy, 10 purple for the monkey, 5 orange for the car & 5 green for the frog) and the preposition is in that same color to make it stand out from the rest of the text.

Boardmaker version: http://br.boardmakershare.com/Activity/1913675/Puppys-Home-Prepositions-and-Spatial-Concepts-O
PDF version: Puppy’s Home Prepositions and Spatial Concepts – made by Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, OMazing Kids

Tip: Leave the cards attached in the middle, fold on the line, put a tiny dab of glue stick under the edge and then laminate the cards.

I bought my Puppy’s Activity Home during a recent online sale at Toys ‘R Us: http://t.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=30499426 and bought the monkey & car set on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Laugh-Learn-Monkeys-Learning/dp/B00FNMNLD8

I am continuing to share FREE printable resources like this on my blog in the hopes that I inspire other speechies to do the same. There are tons of SLP blogs now but most are primarily geared towards selling their TPT products.

A peek at the apps currently in the “prepositions” folder on my iPad.

I love the Hello Sunshine game. Unfortunately it appears that it is no longer readily available …. definitely worth adding to your list of things to look for at garage sales or thrift shops.

The Positional Words Resource Box is a “must have” for any SLP working with kids. It briefly went off the market so I grabbed mine as soon as I saw it was back.

UPDATE: Head over to this new post for free printable Puppy’s Pronouns & Sentence Building Cards.

‪#‎SLPbloggers‬ ‪#‎BHSM‬ ‪#‎BHSM2016‬

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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness & educational activities for kids of all abilities
Home E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com
Facebook Messaging for OMazing Kids: https://www.facebook.com/messages/17426452595789
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110305433538768736741
Boardmaker Share: http://www.boardmakershare.com/Community/FriendsProfile/10916/Angela-Moorad
Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com
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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 26 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.
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{please ignore any ads that may appear below. This is a free blog and I don’t have any control over ads nor do I profit from them}

{Free Printable} Irregular Past Tense Cards & Research on Developmental Sequence

Posted on May 11, 2016 by OMazing Kids

I stumbled across research on the developmental sequence for irregular past tense verbs as I was writing new goals for one of my 6 year old patients. I had always found myself a bit frustrated with the existing card decks available to target irregular past tense when first introducing them to young kids. Now I realize why. There is a wide range of ages in which these develop. So I created cards in Boardmaker to target the earliest developing ones. I am also sharing a data collection sheet with the norms included.

Click here for a 3-page PDF of the cards & data collection sheet: Free printable cards and data collection sheet for Irregular Past Tense Verbs – ages 3.5 to 6.5

Click here to read the research article: Irregular Past Tense – research on developmental sequence

More info on how I used these:

I paired these cards with some video clips so I could pause and comment about the action before it happened, during the action and then in the past tense after it happened. I purposefully used videos that tied into his high interest areas. Having these cards paired with videos provided enough visual support for it to click for him. Once the concept made sense to him he was able to quickly memorize irregular past tense.

Updated contact info (9/6/22)

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

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{Articulation Testing Apps} Reviews and Comparison of Articulation Test Center, Sunny Articulation Phonology Test Kit & Test of Articulation and Phonology (iTap)

Posted on May 7, 2016 by OMazing Kids

This review is a comparison of 3 articulation testing apps based on full versions of each app updated to most current versions in the USA App Store on 5/7/16:

Test of Articulation and Phonology (iTap) – FULL by Smarty Ears
https://appsto.re/us/4DCKab.i, regularly $74.99, on sale for $44.99 on 4/30-5/8/16. App video tutorial:

Full info about this app has not been posted yet on the company’s website.

Sunny Articulation Phonology Test Kit by Smarty Ears
https://appsto.re/us/xNuiw.i, regularly $49.99, on sale for $29.99 on 4/30-5/8/16. In depth info: http://smartyearsapps.com/service/sunny-articulation-phonology-test/. App video tutorial:

UPDATE: Articulation Assessment ToolKit by Smarty Ears (formerly called Sunny Articulation Phonology Test Kit) is no longer available for purchase in the App Store. For those who already own it, you can find it in your “Purchased” area. The app will continue to work on your iPad but no future updates are anticipated since the company has released a new version. They replaced it with the Articulation Assessment ToolKit Plus app that allows you to complete 3 tests for free and afterwards has IAPs (purchase 5 tests for $5.99, Monthly Unlimited Testing subscription for $5.99 per month, Yearly Unlimited Testing subscription for $37.99 per year). AAT Plus by Smarty Ears, https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aat-plus/id1527491925, iPad only, iOS 11.0 or later. I compared this new app side-by-side with the older fully paid version and only noticed one difference (the background color on a screener is now blue instead of yellow…. which I found to be an improvement with the blue being easier on my eyes). I suggest trying out the R Screener as one of your free tests since I used it quite a bit when working on /r/ and found it helpful.

Articulation Test Center by Little Bee Speech
https://appsto.re/us/C59VP.i, regularly $49.99, will be on sale for $39.99 on 5/10-5/13/16. In depth info: http://littlebeespeech.com/articulation_test_center.php.

App video tutorials:

So here are my thoughts in comparing all 3 apps:

I like the exporting options in iTap & Sunny. It’s nice to have the option to export the results as a PDF as well as editable text. Articulation Test Center just exports it as editable text (adding a PDF option would be a wish for a future update for this app).
I like more of the features in Sunny vs. iTap. In particular, the info that shows x of x is helpful to know where you specifically are in the test (also used in Articulation Test Center) vs. the progress dots at the bottom of iTap. I also like the testing options available in Sunny: quick consonant screener, r screener and full test with or without scoring vowels. The scoring seemed to be a little more intuitive in Sunny vs. iTap.
There are even more testing options available in Articulation Test Center: Screener (quickly test sounds based on age: 2 yrs, 3-4yrs, 5 yrs, 6+ yrs) & Full Test (within that you can do the entire test or specify what subareas to target: initial sounds, medial sounds, final sounds, initial blends, vowels, r sounds and speech sample). And based on your selection, the app tells you how many stimulus cards will be included.
In iTap and Articulation Test Center, I like that you can add a photo or avatar for the student. This is not an option in Sunny.
In iTap and Sunny, the scoring is initially more intuitive but Articulation Test Center is also very easy to score after watching the in app tutorial. Articulation Test Center provides additional info that makes scoring vowels and phonological processes easier.
Articulation Test Center allows you to fully score each part of a blend separately. This is helpful when you have a patient who exhibits errors on both parts.
All 3 apps have a way to adjust the setup when a patient is seated across from you vs next to you. In iTap and Sunny, test probe word can flipped. In Articulation Test Center, the test probe picture can be flipped.
Articulation Test Center includes 3 options for speech sample scenes (Mountain Adventure, Beach Day & Fun At The Park). Each scene has the option to toggle the background sounds off/on, swipe to explore the scene, discussion prompts that pop up when you tap items in the scene, in-app recording to record a speech sample and the option to rate intelligibility. It is especially cool that you can choose to just use this portion of the app. The scenes are filled with great details that would lend themselves well to speech-language therapy. It would be really cool if the app developer added them to their Articulation Station App in a future update.
Sunny has 11 sentence scenes with in-app recording, the option designate the production as reading or repetition & the option to enter notes. Targeted sounds can be scored as correct or incorrect but no other specific scoring of errors is available in this portion of the test (which makes sense since you would lose the flow of the sentence if detailed scoring was attempted).
Articulation Test Center includes suggestions for sounds to target based on developmental norms and the age at the time of testing.
Sunny is a “universal” app that works on an iPad, iPhone or iTouch. iTap and Articulation Test Center only work on an iPad. This is not an issue for me since I only use my iPad in therapy (the facility where I work prohibiting us from carrying cell phones in areas where patients are present). I would imagine that scoring might be difficult on an iPhone unless it was the largest size. But folks who don’t have access to an iPad but do have an iPhone may want to consider Sunny as an option.
I see some potential problems in using the iTap as a “standardized” test. The test was only normed on 199 children ages 3;0 to 10;11 in central Texas. This may not be an issue if you are dealing with private pay clients but will likely pose a problem with other payers such as Medicaid or private insurance. I have requested a copy of the normative data to look it more closely. BAPA norming info is available at: http://smartyearsapps.com/service/bilingual-articulation-phonology-assessment/.
A suggestion that I have for all 3 apps for future updates would be to add an easy scoring option for frontal and lateral distortions on sibilants. These are common errors and it’s important to be able to distinguish between them. Having these quick scoring options would be easier than having to document this in a notes section. Another suggestion for all 3 apps would be for the app to automatically determine a phonological process based on the error entered on that sound. It’s a bit time consuming to have to select info in both places for each targeted sound.

A few screenshots (tap each to enlarge):

Articulation Test Center

Sunny

iTap

So as you can see, there are features that I like in each app. I have used all three and pick one in that moment based on the features I need for a particular patient. But not everyone has access to all three apps and I have seen questions several times in a variety of SLP Facebook groups asking for purchasing recommendations/advice. I always hate to pick “faves” since I run the risk of offending app developers who have been very generous to provide access to their apps but enough SLPs have asked for advice that I am making an exception to my usual “rule”.

The bottom line: At this point in time I would recommend Articulation Test Center by Little Bee Speech as my first place pick.

Sunny Articulation Phonology Test Kit (aka. Articulation Assessment ToolKit) by Smarty Ears is no longer available for purchase in the App Store. For those who already own it, you can find it in your “Purchased” area. The app will continue to work on your iPad but no future updates are anticipated since the company has released a new version. They replaced it with the Articulation Assessment ToolKit Plus app that allows you to complete 3 tests for free and afterwards has IAPs (purchase 5 tests for $5.99, Monthly Unlimited Testing subscription for $5.99 per month, Yearly Unlimited Testing subscription for $37.99 per year). AAT Plus by Smarty Ears, https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aat-plus/id1527491925, iPad only, iOS 11.0 or later. I compared this new app side-by-side with the older fully paid version and only noticed one difference (the background color on a screener is now blue instead of yellow…. which I found to be an improvement with the blue being easier on my eyes). I suggest trying out the R Screener as one of your free tests since I used it quite a bit when working on /r/ and found it helpful. I’d only recommend that newer app if you’d be using it often enough to make the subscription worth it.

If you happen to work in Central Texas, then you may want to consider the Test of Articulation and Phonology (iTap) – FULL by Smarty Ears as a standardized option. For those of us outside that geographical area, the cost difference is not warranted and the norms will not really benefit you.
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Disclaimer: I received all 3 of these apps via promo codes from the developers. No compensation was received to review them and my opinions are strictly my own. Apps and the features within them change frequently as app updates are released. Both of these app developers have an excellent track record of supporting their apps and providing frequent updates. So my recommendations may shift in the future based on whatever features are available at that moment.
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My dream articulation testing app: I dream of an articulation testing app that is standardized on a nationwide basis in the USA and has all the features, in-app scoring and reporting options that the three apps described above have without requiring you to purchase protocols (either in printed format or as in-app purchases) or pay an annual user license. But given the costs associated with standardizing a test on that broad of a scale and the $$$$$ that traditional test companies make on us having to purchase protocols, I’m not sure we will ever see an app like that. But a speechie can still dream 🙂
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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness & educational activities for kids of all abilities
Home E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com
Facebook Messaging for OMazing Kids: https://www.facebook.com/messages/17426452595789
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110305433538768736741
Boardmaker Share: http://www.boardmakershare.com/Community/FriendsProfile/10916/Angela-Moorad
Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com
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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 26 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.
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{please ignore any ads that may appear below. This is a free blog and I don’t have any control over ads nor do I profit from them}

{Dear ASHA} With all due respect…..

Posted on May 7, 2016 by OMazing Kids

Dear ASHA, in response to your “with all due respect” reply, a poll of 3,000 of 186,000 ASHA members and only 307 respondents does NOT reflect the opinions of the majority of us. Instead of providing an unbiased opportunity for members to express our thoughts on the top concerns facing our profession and the families we serve, this poll had a slant towards the negative aspects of tech. What about all the fabulous possibilities of tech such as AAC use, adapted play & therapeutic use of an iPad with high quality apps?
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Instead of just repeating the standard advise parents receive regarding limiting tech from the American Academy of Pediatrics, Consumer Technology Association, National PTA or reporters, ASHA is the position to provide important information about how we can support parents in developing communication, language and play skills with their children through appropriate uses of technology such as:
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Ideas on how to support play and language acquisition through technology for toddlers with special needs.
The importance of early access to robust AAC options and information about how to find the Assistive Technology Lending Library programs and SLPs who specialize in AAC in each state.
Ideas on how to incorporate technology and social language skills/small talk interventions for adults and teens who use AAC.
Ideas on how to incorporate video modeling into language interventions for children who are keen video fans/youtube enthusiasts.
Ideas on how technology can be used to support emergent readers and writers who cannot use traditional materials such as paper books and lead pencils.
Ideas on how parents can talk with their children as they actively engage in interactive play with apps such as Toca Boca Tea Party, My PlayHome, Sago Mini Friends, etc.
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These ideas were inspired by this fabulous comment by Mary-Louise Bertram on your post: https://www.facebook.com/asha.org/posts/10153650304700318?comment_id=10153650653710318&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R3%22%7D

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As I stated previously, many parents and SLPs who see your posts and videos don’t differentiate between the “purposes” for the technology. I have seen countless posts in a variety of Facebook groups where SLPs and parents have commented about not pursuing AAC for young children due to needing to “limit screen time”. This misperception is extremely concerning!
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On your Facebook page you encouraged members to “speak up” during BHSM yet when we voiced concerns about our own organization we were redirected to e-mail. The canned reply you get when you take the time to submit your concerns to ASHA formally via the e-mail they provided can be seen in the image at the top of this post and here: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga/photos/a.433610663356611.117461.174264525957894/1138548532862817/?type=3&theater

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Wow. Thanks for dismissing those of us who work in the trenches with kids with complex communication needs and their families everyday. I think I’ll stick with public forums and social media.
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The slogan of BHSM 2016 is “Communication Takes Care“. One of the definitions of “care” is “serious attention or consideration applied to doing something correctly or to avoid damage or risk.”. Kind of ironic since you seem to be taking very little care in how your BHSM campaign is being perceived and the potential damage that it may do.

The solution isn’t difficult. You just need to be more thoughtful, balanced and inclusive in your posts and videos. Please “take care” by doing posts that highlight kids with complex communication needs and innovative ways of using tech to meet those needs for AAC, adapted play or therapeutic uses of an iPad with high quality apps. There are several parent authored blogs that are well respected and have huge followings who I’m sure would be more than glad to share their stories.

Please listen. It’s far past time for the voice of ASHA to speak for kids of ALL needs & abilities.

~ from a concerned ASHA certified SLP & dues paying member for 26 years

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The poll that you mentioned: http://www.asha.org/uploadedFiles/BHSM-Member-Poll-Results.pdf

No mention of AAC or appropriate uses of tech in any of these BHSM posts:
* http://www.asha.org/bhsm/ten-tips-blog-post/
* http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7802751-asha-risks-of-tech-overuse-poll/
* http://www.asha.org/uploadedImages/BHSM-Infographic.jpeg

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FYI – For those who may not know, all states in the USA are supposed to have an Assistive Technology Lending Library program where parents & professionals can borrow AAC devices, iPads with AAC apps & other AT for short-term trial. It’s a great way to try various options out before making purchasing decisions. There are lots of great AAC devices and apps. It’s important to do a good feature-match and trial of options. Find the AT Lending Library in your state: http://www.ataporg.org/states.html. Also can look on: http://www.resnaprojects.org/allcontacts/statewidecontacts.html. They may also have helpful info about SLPs in your area who specialize in AAC and any funding resources that may be specific to your state.

This website has good info regarding potential funding sources: http://ectacenter.org/topics/atech/funding.asp

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In case you missed it, OMazing Kids blog post:

https://omazingkidsllc.com/2016/05/04/what-were-they-thinking-again-ashas-misguided-assault-on-kids-technology-for-better-hearing-speech-month-2016/
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#CommunicationTakesAACcess #GiveThemAllTheWords #SeeMeSeeMyAAC #SLPblogger #SLPeeps #BHSM #BHSM2016
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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness & educational activities for kids of all abilities
Home E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com
Facebook Messaging for OMazing Kids: https://www.facebook.com/messages/17426452595789
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga
AppPeeps Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OMazingKidsAppPeeps/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110305433538768736741
Boardmaker Share: http://www.boardmakershare.com/Community/FriendsProfile/10916/Angela-Moorad
Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com
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Angela Moorad is the founder of OMazing Kids, LLC and is an ASHA certified & licensed pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Kids Yoga Teacher with over 26 years experience working in a variety of settings (early intervention, schools, teletherapy & a nonprofit pediatric rehab hospital for children with developmental disabilities). She is an app beta tester for educational & therapeutic app developers and loves sharing info about great apps, products, books & toys to use with kids of all abilities.
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{please ignore any ads that may appear below. This is a free blog and I don’t have any control over ads nor do I profit from them}

{What Were They Thinking…. AGAIN!?!} ASHA’s misguided assault on kids & technology for Better Hearing & Speech Month 2016

Posted on May 4, 2016 by OMazing Kids

OMazing Kids blog post in response to ASHA BHSM 2016 anti tech campaign

Dear ASHA, this ASHA certified SLP (dues paying member for 26 years) had prayed that you would have a better campaign in mind for this year’s Better Hearing & Speech Month…. ’cause we are still dealing with the fallout from last year’s fiasco. But unfortunately here we are again in 2016 with a tech shaming focus for BHSM.

I know you didn’t intend to do harm with last year’s campaign or this year’s but you have. The issue is that your posts and videos don’t include any caveats for appropriate uses of tech such as AAC, adapted play or therapeutic uses of an iPad with high quality apps. They just convey a black and white “tech is bad and needs to be swapped” message. Many parents and SLPs who see your posts and videos don’t differentiate between the “purposes” for the technology. I have seen countless posts in a variety of Facebook groups where SLPs and parents have commented about not pursuing AAC for young children due to needing to “limit screen time”. This is a ridiculous battle. What’s silly is that in the era when all we had was traditional dedicated SGDs nobody ever called that “screen time” yet an iPad with an AAC app locked in Guided Access is a dedicated SGD.

The solution isn’t difficult. You just need to be more thoughtful, balanced and inclusive in your posts and videos. Please consider doing posts that highlight kids with complex communication needs and innovative ways of using tech to meet those needs for AAC, adapted play or therapeutic uses of an iPad with high quality apps.

There are several parent authored blogs that are well respected and have huge followings who I’m sure would be more than glad to share their stories. Please listen. It’s far past time for the voice of ASHA to speak for kids of ALL needs & abilities.

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Interesting post about tech shaming: http://www.sunshineandhurricanes.com/please-stop-saying-technology-is-ruining-childhood/

Dear OMazing Kids peeps – You can join us in voicing concerns using the #CommunicationTakesAACcess hashtag and by commenting on this post on the ASHA FB page: https://www.facebook.com/asha.org/photos/a.187128960317.137733.26971470317/10153646225275318/?type=3&theater

You can also followup with an e-mail to bhsm@asha.org. Based on ASHA’s responses to the FB comments so far, we may not be able to do much about the tone of this year’s BHSM but hopefully can prevent a “threepeat” in 2017.

And feel free to post comments on this video on ASHA’s YouTube channel:

Update: Well it looks like all of our posts and comments have at least caused The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association to mention that their new infographic excludes tech used for AAC. But the issue is that statement is only visible in the text of their FB post so this infographic viewed outside that context can still do great harm. I left a comment asking that they update the infographic itself. Several others have now commented asking that they also remove the stipulation about “severe” communication disorders. Also…. Not sure what they mean by polling their members. I’m a member and I never received info about this poll.

Love this comment posted by Mary-Louise Bertram: https://www.facebook.com/asha.org/posts/10153650304700318?comment_id=10153650653710318&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R3%22%7D

My OMazing Kids FB post in late April: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga/posts/1134222826628721

& my blog post voicing concerns in 2015: https://omazingkidsllc.com/2015/05/16/what-were-they-thinking-ashas-misguided-assault-on-kids-technology-for-better-hearing-speech-month-2015/

Check out these posts from others who have spoken out. I will be updating this blog post to add more throughout the month:

Hold My Words: https://www.facebook.com/HoldMyWords/photos/a.841100355997445.1073741829.824970217610459/971098362997643/

Uncommon Sense Blog: https://www.facebook.com/123130417730793/photos/a.124083530968815.9496.123130417730793/1067490493294776/?type=3&theater and Dana has boldly posted several comments in the post over on ASHA’s FB page: https://www.facebook.com/asha.org/photos/a.187128960317.137733.26971470317/10153646225275318/?type=3&comment_id=10153646803975318&comment_tracking={%22tn%22%3A%22R9%22}, https://www.facebook.com/asha.org/photos/a.187128960317.137733.26971470317/10153646225275318/?type=3&comment_id=10153647772650318&reply_comment_id=10153647794580318&comment_tracking={%22tn%22%3A%22R9%22} & https://www.facebook.com/asha.org/photos/a.187128960317.137733.26971470317/10153646225275318/?type=3&comment_id=10153647772650318&reply_comment_id=10153649462875318&comment_tracking={%22tn%22%3A%22R9%22}

Rachael Langley is a fellow SLP and AAC enthusiast who creates fabulous memes: https://www.facebook.com/RachaelLangleyAAC/photos/a.1593847960833847.1073741828.1593841367501173/1734541580097817/?type=3&theater

Speak for Yourself is the only AAC company that I’ve seen so far speak out against the BHSM 2016 campaign. I love Heidi’s boldness to speak up: https://www.facebook.com/SpeakForYourselfAAC/posts/1019817461386869 (one of several posts) & https://www.facebook.com/asha.org/photos/a.187128960317.137733.26971470317/10153646225275318/?type=3&comment_id=10153647815075318&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R9%22%7D

OMazing Kids AAC Consulting

Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP. Over 33 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

Tag Archives: #BHSM