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
AAC Awareness Month starts tomorrow 😊 I started a new Facebook group called “GoTalk Now AAC App – Ideas and Sharing”.
The group has only been up for 18 hours and it’s been exciting to already have almost 300 folks join and share their ideas / creations.
See this post for a roundup of several posts that I’ve done over the years showing lots of creative ways to use this fabulous app:
I anticipate a ton of folks purchasing the full version of the GoTalk Now app during the unprecedented $10 sale on 10/10/21 and then needing a spot for ideas and support.
Since there isn’t an official group for this app, I decided to start one from my OMazing Kids AAC Consulting Facebook page.
I deactivated that resource on TPT. Despite having step by step instructions it was a bit too complicated and I was getting way too many questions about it. It was also a bit of a mess trying to share access to the Google Drive where I had stored the symbols and GIF videos.
I did upload the Core Board with GIFs that I made in GoTalk Now to the Private Sharing area in their Online Gallery.
If you have either GoTalk Now or GoTalk Now Plus, feel free to message me on my OMazing Kids Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsAAC/. I’d be glad to share the code and you would be able to download that and the GIF videos are already embedded.
Please only request it if you have GoTalk Now or GoTalk Now Plus. Unfortunately the free GoTalk Now Lite or inexpensive GoTalk Start can’t access the Online Gallery or import a file.
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Archived original post:
Quite a few folks asked how I did this after I posted about it on social media on 7/1/21.
YouTube:
Facebook: OMazing Kids page, also in the AAC for the SLP and AppPeeps groups
* Access to a Tutorial Video (12:34, unlisted on YouTube) that shows the whole process for cropping symbols, finding GIFs, converting the GIFs to videos, how to save them, how to add those to buttons in WordToob, GoTalk Now and TouchChat, the pros and cons of each of those options, etc…
* Access to a secured Google Drive folder with all cropped symbols and GIFs converted to videos used to make the 84 button board in WordToob plus a few extra videos used in GoTalk Now and TouchChat
* Access to a secured Google Drive folder with the GoTalk Now Core Board with GIFs .gtbz file that can be imported into GoTalk Now or GoTalk Now Plus (plus info about how to get my hack for importing a single page book into the GoTalk Now Lite app)
Updated 12/18/21: You can use this website to turn a portion of a YouTube video into a GIF: https://gifs.com. Thanks to Sarah Gregory for this hack:
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.)
*** SALE: This item is 50% off from 6/26/21 to 7/4/21 ***
Customizing AAC Apps to Meet Unique Needs – High Contrast Symbols (Webinar)
This recorded webinar covers:
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
What’s included with the purchase of this product:
Recorded Webinar Video (33:53), viewable on the unlisted YouTube link provided in the Supporting Document
Supporting Document (25 page PDF): Link to the unlisted YouTube video, 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 description on TPT for more info):
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
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.)
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
Visual supports with voice output for the “win”! I attended a presentation by Kari Dunn Buron, coauthor of The Incredible 5 Point Scale, at the Oklahoma Autism Conference offered by the Oklahoma Autism Network in 2017 and was inspired to make this for a patient who had been having a particularly difficult time and exhibiting a significant increase in aggressive behaviors. I watched for very subtle signs of increased agitation and modeled use of this to both talk about emotional states and offered choices to help calm before he got beyond a “Level 3”. He showed understanding of it the very first day and smiled when I acknowledged that he was struggling. He chose “go for a walk outside” and “go back to the house and rest”. The next day he spontaneously tapped “go for a walk outside” before he got beyond a “Level 2” and a huge smile washed over his face as we exited the sensory overload inside the building into the brisk air and total peace outside. I was often totally overstimulated by all the “Christmassy” stuff at our facility too so we ended up taking lots of walks outside 😉.
A video showing several boards including this one:
Thanks again Attainment Company, Inc. for making such a versatile app and giving me access to the most full featured version as well as several extras within it to help the patients at the nonprofit facility where I worked for the last half of my career. I was able to show this to his mother and she was very impressed with how easy this app is to program and to use for AAC and visual supports.
This app is definitely in the top 5 most used apps on my iPad. I saved this to the Online Gallery. Those who have either the GoTalk Now or GoTalk Now Plus versions of the app should be able to find everything that I have uploaded to the public Online Gallery by searching by my last name (Moorad)or a word in the title. See page 23 in the in-app Users Guide for info on how to find it.
There are several versions of the app with varying levels of features:
Updated 4/3/22 to add: Encouraging Emotional Conversations in Children With Complex Communication Needs: An Observational Case Study (free access to the full research article & supplementary materials): https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.674755/full. The AAC app in the article is TD Snap but the concepts could be used when adding this type of vocabulary to any AAC system. If you have access to Grid for iPad / Grid 3, take a look at some nice preprogrammed content in the Voco Chat grid set.
Wow! AAC news flash….. Attainment Company, Inc. announced a GoTalk AAC app sale (10/16 – 10/31/20) 👏🏼 I just checked pricing history on the AppSliced website and this is the lowest price on GoTalk NOW since 2012 and the lowest price ever on GoTalk NOW PLUS. ✅ So if either of these have been on your wish list NOW is the time to get them. ✅ (Tip: It’s wise to get apps at least a day before a sale ends to insure you don’t miss it)
GoTalk NOW by Attainment Company, https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gotalk-now/id454176457, iPad only, iOS 9.0 or later. They recently added Core Vocabulary Communication Pages and GoTalk NOW Curriculum Pages to the app. The Core Vocabulary pages are easy to find in Downloads – Core Words – options for 4, 9, 16, 25 and 36 locations. The Curriculum Pages are trickier to find. Those are free downloads from their Online Gallery (see page 23 in the in-app guide for details on how to find that). More info about the features: https://www.attainmentcompany.com/gotalk-now. Usually $99.99 -> on sale for $49.99
GoTalk NOW PLUS by Attainment Company, https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gotalk-now-plus/id742150885, iPad only, iOS 9.0 or later. This is the version that I have. This version has everything in GoTalk Now and adds a SymbolStix symbol library, a premade Ready-Set-Communicate book, and Acapela text-to-speech English voices. Usually $169.99 -> on sale for $119.99
Here are posts that I have done showing examples of how you can use this app:
***** Those who have either of these versions of the app can find everything that I have uploaded to the public Online Gallery by searching by my last name (Moorad). See page 23 in the in-app guide for details on how to find that *****
PCS & PCS Thinline symbols are also available as IAPs
The GoVisual Scene Maker app is also on sale in case you missed it being on sale back in May. GoVisual Scene Maker by Attainment Company, https://apps.apple.com/us/app/govisual-scene-maker/id1324635847, iOS Universal, iOS 13.0 or later. More info: https://www.attainmentcompany.com/govisual
(I’m not affiliated with the company and am not being paid to do this post nor do I make anything off ads that may pop up. This is a free blog so I don’t have any control over ads)
This post is dedicated to iOS apps and mobile-friendly websites that can be used to make printable communication boards, PECS symbols, pictures for visual schedules, visual supports, therapy materials, etc… I’ve also included info about Android options but since I don’t own any Android devices I can’t comment on how well they work on that platform.
It’s 2022… we are all busier than ever and need to be able to make these printable items all from the convenience of our iPad or iPhone (not having to sit at a computer). Imagine creating things in the middle of a therapy session and then being able to email them to a parent or sending them wirelessly to a printer. It’s a common request that I see from busy SLPs especially during the pandemic so this post was inspired by you.
Looking for a web-based option that CAN be used on an iPad or iPhone? (or any device on any platform)
LessonPix has recently updated their website to be mobile-friendly and are frequently adding features SLPs are needing for teletherapy / distance learning (https://lessonpix.com/m/). It’s so cool to be able to create things from my iPad or iPhone! Since it is web based it can be used on any device regardless of the platform.
Hundreds of templates to make custom materials (https://lessonpix.com/articles/4/Articles/Custom+Materials). It’s especially handy to make materials to adapt commonly used games such as Cranium Cariboo, Guess Who?, Headbandz & Zingo.
Vector images that can be scaled to any size without pixelating or becoming grainy.
Images are available in color, stencil or outline (black & white).
SLPs will especially LOVE the Sound Finder, Letter Finder, Pattern Finder (find words for specific syllable shapes – CVC, CV, VC, etc), Number of Syllables, Rhymes With and Minimal Pairs options
Save your image tray as a collection to easily reuse later.
LessonPix add-ins for Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. Don’t have a new enough version of MS Office or work in a setting where your IT department blocks add-ins? You can copy and paste items from LessonPix into these documents. The moveable game pieces, spinner and dice in PowerPoint looks really helpful for those doing distance learning / teletherapy.
New Play Tools side bar. The “Play” tab on their PowerPoint add-in has been a huge hit, allowing SLPs and teachers to share custom Dice, Spinners, Draw a Card and more with their remote clients. Those of you not using PowerPoint need the same tools… so they just added a stand-alone version of the Play Tools that you can launch as a separate window. That means it will work with ANY platform you’re using. See this video for details:
Can be used in Google Slides and Jamboard.
Sharing Center with access to lots of items other folks have created and shared. Love how it’s organized.
This is just a brief overview of what you get with LessonPix. I’m totally hooked after trying it for several days. I can definitely see why so many SLPs love LessonPix!
So I hope you add LessonPix to your therapy toolbox. But you may need a few more tools. What about situations where you may not have internet access or need other types of symbols? Keep reading…. there are several iOS apps that are affordable (some are even free):
Here’s one that’s easy to use and very affordable:
iESLp by Irmgard Raubenheimer, https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ieslp/id912953895, iPad only, iOS 8.3 or later, $19.99 (Updated 6/9/22: The app developer is in the process of updating the app to be compatible with iOS 15). Includes over 20,000 SymbolStix symbols plus you can import photos from your Camera Roll or use the in app camera. Can change the font, font size and font color. Has lots of templates for boards, game boards, grid templates and visual systems to choose from plus you can use several of them on one page and resize them. Pics can be any size you want. You can print from within the app or send the board as .jpg image attachment via e-mail. Can backup/restore via Dropbox. Unique in that you can also make interactive activities to use on your iPad and you can add recorded voice output. See my review: https://omazingkidsllc.com/2016/11/24/50-off-the-amazing-ieslp-app-create-your-own-interactive-and-printable-activities-visual-supports/. More info: https://ieslp.wordpress.com. Plus check out their Facebook page for several videos with creative ways to use the app: https://www.facebook.com/ieslpapp/.
Here’s one that’s also easy to use and has more robust features specifically for building communication board grids. It’s more expensive but well worth the price and a very affordable way to access PCS Symbols:
Tools2Talk+ Create your own communication aids and chat by Scope (Aust) Ltd, https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tools2talk-create-your-own-communication-aids-and-chat/id1074982035, iPad only, iOS 8.0 or later, $47.99 (Updated 6/9/22: This app is not currently available). Includes over 20,000 PCS symbols (PCS classic core symbols, PCS ThinLine (sets 1 & 2), PCS classic addenda, as well as PCS Australia and PCS New Zealand.) If you work with adults, look for the ThinLine symbols that have a more adult look to them. Also includes Compic symbols. Plus you can import photos from your Camera Roll or use the in app camera. Has several templates to choose from (ABC board, calendar, chores chart, communication book cover, communication book 1, communication book 2, daily timetable, first-then, personal communication dictionary cover, personal communication dictionary, personal history, phrase list, QWERTY, shopping list, weekly timetable, who’s here today). You can choose any grid combination using a row-column picker from 1-9, you can set a default font, font size and font color. You can print from within the app or send the board as a PDF attachment via e-mail. Unique in that you can also use these boards with text-to-speech voice output. This app is quite affordable compared to the price of Boardmaker software (Boardmaker v.6 for Windows: $399.00 + PCS Classic: 2000-2012 Addendum Bundle: $125.00 + PCS ThinLine Set 1 & 2: $260 = $784) or a Boardmaker Online subscription (Personal: $9.99 per month or $99.00 per year; Professional: $19.99 per month or $199.00 per year) and allows you to make things from the convenience of an iPad (this is a huge plus…. especially since Mayer Johnson has indicated that they are still not going to have iPad compatibility when they launch Boardmaker 7) and is much easier to use than the Snap Core First hack outlined below. See my review: https://omazingkidsllc.com/2016/06/19/app-review-tools2talk-an-affordable-way-to-access-pcs-symbols. More info: https://shop.scopeaust.org.au/shop/tools2talk-app/. Video overviews: https://youtu.be/YH6EBU96G6U & https://youtu.be/dzoUyxbtrBE (from the developer at TherapyBox). A longer video tutorial: https://youtu.be/cIDa5xUrdHQ. An archived webinar: https://www.callscotland.org.uk/professional-learning/webinars/WEB112/.
Thinking Outside of the Box: Two Creative Uses for Snap Core First:
Idea # 1: Use this free app as a tool to access PCS symbols to use in another app (especially helpful if you need the PCS High Contrast symbols).
Idea #2: Use this free app as a tool to make printed communication boards, personalized core boards, PECS cards, symbol label cards, cards for visual schedules, visual sequences, story props and other visuals.
Here’s an option to consider if you want lots of templates for overlays for several mid-tech AAC devices as well as grids, game boards, etc. and would use it enough to be worth the cost of a subscription:
Custom Boards Elite by Smarty Ears, https://apps.apple.com/us/app/custom-boards-elite/id489935586, iPad only, iOS 10.0 or later. The app is free and has a 7 day free trial. After that ends, it requires a subscription via IAP ($9.99 per month, $49.99 per six months (= $8.33 per month) or $59.99 per year (= $4.99 per month). That’s similar to the cost of a subscription to their online Smarty Symbols website which is designed to work on a computer (not an iPad). See my review: https://omazingkidsllc.com/2016/12/14/review-smarty-symbols-image-club/). The description in the App Store shows other IAPs so watch for those. The app includes over 20,000 Smarty Symbols plus you can import photos from your Camera Roll or use the in app camera. More info: https://www.smartyearsapps.com/custom-boards/. Video tutorial: https://youtu.be/fTDKw44rK3c Smarty Ears used to offer a fully paid version of the app that didn’t require a subscription (Custom Boards – Premium, https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/custom-boards-premium/id463344117?mt=8) but it is no longer available for purchase. I own that app so I was able to compare it to the subscription version. The subscription version contains the same templates but offers more symbols (often with various skin tones and hair styles). Tip for finding symbols quickly: Instead of leaving it at the default “All-All-All”, pick a “All-Initial- and then the first letter in the word you are searching for.
Just looking for a very basic free option? There are several free AAC apps that aren’t specifically designed to make printable boards or symbol cards but can easily be used to do so. All involve taking a screenshot of the page and then printing that so I’m only suggesting ones that won’t take tons of ink to print and don’t have extra things besides buttons or those where that can be easily cropped off. Be sure to crop your screenshot before printing to save on ink.
Choices2Go by University of Victoria, https://apps.apple.com/us/app/choices2go/id1182138316, iPad only, iOS 9.0 or later, FREE. You create boards by importing pics from an album on your Camera Roll. The number of pictures you select determines the picture size and number of pics on a grid (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6). No way to add text to the buttons or to change the background color on the page (pale yellow). Take a screenshot, crop and print that.
GoTalk NOW LITE by Attainment Company, Inc., https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gotalk-now-lite/id953164338, iPad only, iOS 9.0 or later, FREE. You can create one communication book with up to five pages and can have 1, 2, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36 or 49 buttons per page. This app is super easy to use. You can use images from their free library, do an internet search from within the app, take a photo from within the app and/or import pictures from your Camera Roll. You can change the border color on each button and change the font, font size and font color. This free lite version doesn’t have a way to export a PDF to print so I take a screenshot of a page, crop and print it. Works best if you set the page background and button background both to white to save ink when printing. I know there’s a GoTalk Start version that looks tempting since it’s priced at $19.99 but it doesn’t add the ability to export a PDF. I own the GoTalk NOW PLUS version of this app (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gotalk-now-plus/id742150885) so I also have access to SymbolStix and PCS symbols and have used it frequently to make printable boards and symbol cards.
MyTalkTools Mobile Lite by 2nd Half Enterprises LLC, https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mytalktools-mobile-lite/id376401959, iOS Universal, iOS 9.3 or later, FREE. The app includes 6 pre-made boards (Adult Male lite, Adult Female lite, Child Male lite, Child Female lite, Hospital Rehab & Basic Starter) that can all be edited plus a Blank Board (up to 20 buttons – build what you want from scratch). Add/delete rows and columns on a page to get grid size you want. Import your own pictures. Take a screenshot, crop and print that.
Alexicom AAC by Alexicom Tech LLC, https://apps.apple.com/us/app/alexicom-aac/id395122088, iOS Universal, iOS 14.0 or later, $0.99. Has content included or you can build your own board from scratch. You can create new pages and set the number of rows, number of columns & pic width. FYI…. if you tap on the “info” area and scroll all the way to the bottom there is a list of “pic width” numbers that work best with various combinations of rows & columns. This app developer also has several apps specifically designed for adults in medical situations. Those are all currently free and could also be used to make boards to print (https://www.alexicomaac.com/elements-apps). Take a screenshot, crop and print that.
Choice Boards by Lukasz Wroczynski, https://apps.apple.com/us/app/choice-boards/id1059544273, iPad only, iOS 9.3 or later, FREE. Grid options are 6 or 12, only in Portrait orientation. No way to make larger pictures but you can choose to leave cells empty and that leaves blank space. Take a screenshot, crop and print that.
CoughDrop is an affordable web-based AAC open source option that can be used in a web browser online and works in apps across multiple platforms – iOS, Android, Amazon Kindle, Windows: https://www.mycoughdrop.com. They offer a free 2-month trial. After that it’s either a monthly subscription (currently $6.00 per month).
Info about pricing options: https://www.mycoughdrop.com/pricing. They often offer a 50% off discount on the Lifetime Subscription fee in April (Autism Acceptance month) & October (AAC Awareness month).
Coughdrop has Open Source symbols, has PCS symbols and SymbolStix available as a separate purchases and can be linked to a LessonPix account.
Like Snap Core First, the printing feature was designed as a means to print a no-tech copy of a user’s board. After some trial and error and test prints, I settled on a 6 column x 4 row grid as being really close to 1.5″ x 1.5″ symbols when printed. Be sure to test print a blank grid to make sure you like the size before adding symbols to save on ink.
Web Browser: CoughDrop is a web-first application, and should work with many modern web browsers.
There are a couple of other free apps specifically designed for creating and printing communication symbols but I don’t find them nearly as easy to use and how well they work depends on the version of iOS running on that device:
PictoMaker by Les Applications C, Inc, https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pictomaker/id1477449329, iOS Universal, iOS 10.0 or later (but the app crashes when trying to print if using anything older than iOS 11. Worked fine on my iPhone running iOS 13.5.1), FREE. There’s a +/- button on the app to make the pictures bigger or smaller and thus also changing the grid size.
ProxTalker® App – Lite by ProxTalker.com LLC, https://apps.apple.com/us/app/proxtalker-app-lite/id593099176, iOS Universal, iOS 8.0 or later (pictures are not showing up when trying to print if using anything older than iOS 11 but you can still take a screenshot and then print it), FREE. This free lite version includes a few of their symbols (most of those seem more appropriate for kids) but you can import photos from your Camera Roll.
Other apps that can be used to make printable overlays for specific mid-tech AAC devices:
LessonPix is web based and works on any platform and any size screen. See info above.
CoughDrop is an affordable web-based AAC open source option that can be used in a web browser online and works in apps across multiple platforms – iOS, Android, Amazon Kindle, Windows. See info above.
If you want real photos, many of the apps offer the option to use an in-app camera. Or you can search and save images from the internet to the Camera Roll on your iPad. Tips: Look to see what shape of pictures work best in the app(s) you will be using. Most work best with square pictures so I crop them and then organize them in folders to be able to find them quickly later.
📥 Want to suggest iOS apps or mobile-friendly website to be added to this post? The best way to reach me is via Facebook messaging over on my OMazing Kids page.
If it’s a free iOS app or website, please include the link in your message so I can try it out. If it’s a paid iOS app and you are the app developer, please send the link from the USA App Store so I can look at the info before you send a promo code. I want to make sure that one of my iPads or iPhone is compatible in order to try it out.
It took quite a bit of time to compile this list so please mention OMazing Kids when sharing it on social media and do not copy/paste it onto other blogs or documents or upload the post to servers. I have it available here on my blog and plan on keeping my blog up for the foreseeable future.
A current fave at OMazing Kids… this cause & effect app is worth it’s weight in gold! I have a young patient with an extremely short attention span (typically under 5 seconds) who usually just mouths and throws toys. I created choices on the GoTalk Now AAC app and within one session he activated “iPad” several times to get to play this app. He maintained sustained joint attention to it for over 5 minutes at a time and vocalized more than I’ve ever heard in a session (pop, bubble, bi (big), ge ih (get it) & yeah). His mom was so excited she videoed a bit of it on her phone.
iTunes App Store: BalloonMaker by TegTap, LLC https://appsto.re/us/9E-lv.i, a bargain for $.99, iOS Universal app.
I was initially leery since the app hasn’t been updated since 2011. Usually not a good sign. Since it was only $.99, I decided to buy it. It works fine on my iPad running iOS 8.4 and on my iPad Mini that I just updated to iOS 9.3. Best $.99 I’ve ever spent 🙂
These were the choices on the GoTalk Now AAC app on my other iPad. It’s a dedicated “talker” and my other iPad has the fun stuff like this BalloonMaker app and other therapy apps.
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Of course I still use “real” bubbles & lots of real toys with kids in therapy sessions…. but the incredible results with this app in this particular session with this particular child were amazing and the giggles were priceless.
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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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{GoTalk Now AAC App Giveaway ~ worth $99.98} 10 winners will each get a code for two IAPs within the most current GoTalk Now Lite iOS iPad app to “Upgrade to NOW Features”(worth $79.99) and the “Ready-Set-Communicate” pre-made communication book (worth $19.99).
Anyone who works with children with special needs or has a child with special needs will not want to miss this amazing opportunity! Even if your child uses other forms of AAC, the GoTalk Now app has lots of features that are helpful for adapted literacy & learning. The app is very easy to program and I have had several patients where the features of this AAC app were the best match for their needs.
Entry details on this post on the OMazing Kids Facebook Page:
{ ELSB – Early Literacy Skills Builder App Giveaway ~ worth $79.99} 10 winners will each get a code for this fabulous adapted literacy iOS iPad app specifically designed for kids with special needs by Attainment!
The ELSB app is a multi-year preliteracy curriculum for students who have not acquired print and phonemic awareness. The software brings to life Levels 1—7; daily lessons and level assessments. The program narrator and main character Moe the frog, take students through lessons that are built to shape mastery of 14 objectives following an easy-to-hard sequence. Objectives include sight word vocabulary with flashcards, syllable segmentation with a tapping game, and print awareness with pointing to text as it is read. Collaborate with each student to create their own unique avatar. Five years of solid research have been completed through the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, proving ELSB to be a highly effective literacy program and more effective than a sight-word only program. ELSB is based upon the principles of systematic and direct instruction. It incorporates scripted lessons, least-prompt strategies, teachable objectives, built-in lesson repetition, and ongoing assessments. The seven ELSB levels contain five structured lessons each. All students begin at Level 1. Teach scripted lessons daily in two 30-minute sessions. On the completion of each level, formal assessments are given. ELSB includes everything you need to implement a multi-year literacy curriculum.
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