TD Snap: Phonics Keyboards for the Motor Plan 66 pageset (free to download from MyTobiiDynavox Pageset Central)

This video shows two phonics sounds keyboards that I added to my Motor Plan 66 pageset in the TD Snap AAC app:

As you’ll see in my video, the Motor Plan 66 pageset already includes a regular QWERTY style keyboard where you can hear letter names as you type. Toggle that on under Edit – User – Preferences – Speak Characters. If you don’t want letters spoken as you type that’s where you can toggle that off.


Note: I am well aware that some folks have a very rigid “anti-phonics keyboard” stance. If this is you then don’t add this to your pageset and scroll on by. I am well aware that there are lots of other strategies needed to teach literacy skills to individuals with complex communication needs. If you need more info about that I suggest reading “Comprehensive Literacy for All” and joining the “Comprehensive Literacy for All BookStudy” group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cl4all. I am sharing these Phonics keyboards as a tool since I personally had LOTS of students/patients/clients who had a high interest in letters, letter names, letter sounds, playing with rhyming, etc. Many of them were likely hyperlexic. I also had several who were Autistic and had a passion for anything letter related. Some were likely Gestalt Language Processors and seemed to really enjoy the playing with letter sounds related to their gestalts/scripts. Having this type of keyboard in an app resonated with them and sparked interest in using their AAC system. Providing this type of option also gave school staff something that helped them include these students in phonics activities and sparked them becoming more comfortable using an AAC app. A win-win in my book. So now that the “why” is made clear onto the “how”…


I’m on my iPad in the video but also have this synced with this app on my Windows tablet. I show how to find these on Pageset Central, where I linked mine in the TD Snap Motor Plan 66 Dashboard area, how to import a page to link it to a button, etc… I used Emily Miller’s Jolly Phonics Keyboard (https://www.mytobiidynavox.com/psc/snapcorefirst/139396) as a starting point, edited to add more and did additional voice recordings.

I uploaded a text only version & a version that includes the Jolly Phonics pictures (but could easily be edited to use pictures associated with whatever phonics program your school uses).

These are both FREE downloads via Pageset Central on MyTobiiDynavox:

text only version (can easily edit to change the button colors, font color, font size & style of font)

Text only version of the TD Snap Motor Plan 66 phonics keyboard : https://www.mytobiidynavox.com/psc/snapcorefirst/296366


version with Jolly Phonics pictures (can easily edit to change the pictures)

Version with Jolly Phonics pictures: https://www.mytobiidynavox.com/psc/snapcorefirst/296365 (note: I show in the video how you can delete those pictures and add you own pics to correspond with whatever phonics program is being used. Some kids liked having phonics pictures. Some didn’t. Choose the option that resonates with them)


How to find and add the new USA Motor Plan Pagesets in TD Snap. These are a new option in addition to the other pagesets (not replacing anything). These are included with TD Snap (no additional cost). Make sure you have updated TD Snap to version 1.25. These are currently available for USA English & UK English. They indicated that they are working on prioritizing development for other languages and a Spanish/English bilingual version but no specific details are known yet on the timeframes.


TD Snap AAC app (iOS version is iPad-only): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/td-snap-aac/id1257753762

TD Snap AAC app (Windows version): purchase directly from Tobii Dynavox: https://www.mytobiidynavox.com/Store/Snap). Also available on their line of SGDs: https://us.tobiidynavox.com/collections/devices/+td-snap?sort_by=manual (filter search further by access method to find what you might need).

More info about the TD Snap Motor Plan pagesets: https://us.tobiidynavox.com/pages/td-snap-motor-plan.

TD Snap Motor Plan Page Set Training Cards: https://bit.ly/TDsnapMotorPlan-TrainingCards

Want in-depth info about how these pagesets are designed and the research behind them? Read the whitepaper: https://bit.ly/TDsnapMotorPlanWhitePaper

Tobii Dynavox has been offering free live webinars specifically about this new pageset option. See their website for more info: https://us.tobiidynavox.com/blogs/live-training. During the one that I attended on Friday (1/27/23) they mentioned that the recording of it would be uploaded to their Learning Hub. I’ll add the link here when it’s available: <link to be added>


My TD Snap related resources:


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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Sneak Peek at the new Motor Plan Pageset for TD Snap (coming to the UK in November 2022, coming to the USA in January / February 2023)

Super excited to be beta testing the new Motor Plan pagesets (Motor Plan 30 & Motor Plan 66) for TD Snap. The two main designers behind it at Tobii Dynavox contacted me and asked if I’d like to see it. So I got my first peek at it during a video conference call over Teams on Thursday (10/20/22) and then received the beta files on Friday (10/21/22). I promised not to share those files but they were fine with me posting on social media about it.

So here are my first videos. I’m sure I’ll be sharing more as I continue to explore it. Very impressed with what I’m seeing.

These new pagesets will be coming to the UK in November 2022 and then coming to the USA in January / February 2023).


Videos (watch this area, I’ll be adding more videos as I explore features. Note: What you see in these videos may not match the final version of these pagesets. I’m sure they will continue to tweak things. That’s what “beta testing” is for 😊):

Motor Plan 30 & Motor Plan 66 pagesets


Setting up a new user for the Motor Plan 30 or Motor Plan 66 pageset. These new pagesets will be an addition to (not replacing) those already available. TD Snap is like a “library” and the pagesets are like “books” available within it.


How verbs are organized:


additional videos coming soon…


Looking for in-depth and up to date info about features AAC apps? Check out these resources: https://bit.ly/5aacFeatureMatchingResources


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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Participated in the Recommender Panel at the Tobii Dynavox Power to be You (P2BU) conference today

It was an honor to be invited to participate on a “Recommender Panel” at the Tobii Dynavox Power to be You (P2BU) conference today (10/11/22). Thankful for the power of technology via Zoom to be able to do that remotely. It was cool to hear the other panelists perspectives and experiences in doing AAC evals and supporting AAC implementation in various settings. Although we each had varied experiences we had similar feedback for what we’d like to see in the future.

Common themes in recommendations included making AAC accessible on iPhones and pocket-sized devices, expanding to additional platforms, supporting use in more languages, offering more premade bilingual pagesets, offering premade pagesets with high contrast symbols, making it easier to find resources on their website, streamlining the funding process and communication regarding the status, enhancing access to customer support via instant messaging, FaceTime, etc., more transparency regarding the status of support for their older AAC apps and other products, and more support via their Tobii Dynavox Community Facebook group, etc…

It’s amazing how much AAC has changed over the past 33 years. Can’t wait to see what the future holds 😊


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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TD Snap: a visual guide to getting started (updated 3/21/23) – now includes AAC flipbook

TD Snap: a visual guide to getting started is now available for purchase on my OMazing Kids AAC Consulting TPT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/TD-Snap-a-visual-guide-to-getting-started-7445593.

This resource has a 78 page PDF, access to a 35 minute unlisted YouTube video.

There is one topic per page with visuals.

This guide walks you through the initial set up and customization process for the TD Snap AAC app with a focus on the Core First pageset being used via direct access touch with a finger by kids, teens or young adults on an iPad. It has all kinds of information to get you going, ideas to foster ownership, the different versions of the app and types of pagesets, information about choosing a grid size, how to set it up, how to edit, ideas for customization, time stamped links to specific sections within helpful webinars, finding user groups, manuals and other resources, info about how SLPs can get free access and more… See the description on TPT for more info.


TPT Preview Video:


Updated 3/21/23: It’s now a 86 page PDF & 48 minute video. Includes info about the new Motor Plan pagesets & bonus content (a 10 page AAC flipbook designed for Gestalt Language Processors in Stage 1 – Stage 2 of the Natural Language Acquisition (NLA) process.


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


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

TD Snap AAC App: Snap Core First Pageset Customizations

Examples of several customizations that I made in the Core First Pageset within the TD Snap AAC app (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/td-snap-aac/id1257753762)

Video:


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


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

Creating a “text only” set up for kids in symbol-based AAC apps (updated 4/25/22)

I’ve seen several posts recently from pediatric SLPs looking for text-based AAC options for pretty young children. I had several patients like that on my caseload who preferred not to have symbols but the true text-based AAC apps didn’t have the vocabulary or age-appropriate voices that they needed.

This video shows how you can adjust the settings in 4 symbol-based AAC apps to turn them into a text-based set up. There are time stamps so you can jump to each app.


0:00 Intro
0:45 – Proloquo2Go
1:21 – TouchChat with WordPower
1:52 – CoughDrop
2:36 – TD Snap


The pros to doing this are having access to the age-appropriate vocabulary and age-appropriate voices.

All 4 of these apps have a keyboard area and 3 of them can access the iOS keyboard.


**** Important TouchChat Info (4/29/22): I just encountered a glitch with the TouchChat with WordPower app (version 2.36.0). I had toggled off “Show Icons” to demo a text only setup. When I tried to toggle back on the icons that toggle button would not work. I tried a Forced Restart but it didn’t resolve the issue. So I backed up all of my customized Vocab Files, deleted the app, reinstalled the app and imported all of my Vocab Files. I’ll be including this caution when folks ask me about using a text-only setup in this app until the app developer fixes the glitch.

Update about the TouchChat glitch (5/2/22): I heard back from TouchChat Support and they asked for a picture of all of my settings in the app since they hadn’t been able to replicate the issue. I had already deleted and reinstalled the TouchChat with WordPower app on my iPad. So I didn’t have any way to know what the combination of settings were that caused it or if it was an odd glitch that might have happened when I downloaded the most recent app update. Good news though… I just tried the Hide All Icons and now I’m not having the glitch anymore. So deleting and reinstalling the app seems to have resolved the issue.


Update 4/25/22: There’s a setting in GoTalk Now to toggle on “Hide All Images” that creates a text only setup


Want in-depth info about more features in robust apps? See this AAC feature matching resource: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Feature-Matching-Chart-for-the-Top-11-Robust-iOS-Symbol-Based-AAC-Apps-6867853


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

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