Apps for AAC Adding iPads to your AAC Toolkit

Jane Farrall, Janelle Sampson and Kelly Moore

Comprehensive AAC Apps

AAC Rubric, Jessica Gosnell, MS, CCC-SLP, Children's Hospital Boston

http://childrenshospital.org/clinicalservices/Site2016/Documents/PDFofFeatureChart.pdf

Sono Flex Output Synthesised- male, female, boy, girl

Unable to change pronunciations

Speech Settings Speak after each word, Unable to speak after each letter, no punctuation, Unable to adjust rate

Representation Symbol Stix, text, Able to import own photographs Only one symbol/ photo per button

Display Symbol based, flick between home core page & contexts page, Horizontal orientation only, small message window text size etc. Can customise label, message, symbol, part of speech, ABC keyboard, arrow button (after work is spoken)

Feedback Features None

Rate Enhancement No word prediction, “history” list, scrolling pages

Access Direct

Fine Motor Unable to change size of cells or number of cells Require swipe and point

Support Manual/ video tutorials

Miscellaneous Edit on iPad, able to lock edit in settings

Touch Chat HD Output Recorded and synthesised speech, 7 US and UK voices, male, female

and child

Speech Settings Ability to edit pronunciation, rate and pitch adjustments, speak after each letter, word, sentence

Representation Symbol Stix, text, can import your own images

Display Dynamic, Text to Speech, 7 page sets with ability to purchase additional sets (e.g. WordPower), message window with symbols as an option, core and fringe vocab, page layout and messages can all be customised (colour, button, font), vertical and horizontal orientation, multi line message window

Feedback Features Highlight touch on buttons

Rate Enhancement Word prediction, abbreviation expansion

Access Direct access (hold and release time, activate on release), Tilt the device to have message enlarge on screen

Fine Motor Point, Gestures can be added to pages or page sets

Support Website, live and recorded webinars, manual and quick reference guide, range of articles, ticket support system, email

Miscellaneous Vocab from message window can be sent to email, text, Facebook etc. Subscribe to iShare to share pages with community. Purchase Windows Editor to edit on your computer. Can also edit on iPad Program buttons to play media

Grid Player Output Synthesised, one male and one female Acapela, 13 languages

supported

Speech Settings Speak after word only, no pronunciation tool on iPad

Representation Widgit and Symbol Stix, Snaps Photo Library, able to use own photos when using Grid 2 software, 3 pre-created sets, 2 symbol based, 1 text based available in the app, 1 new in version 1.4 photo based page set, and phrase set.

Display Dynamic, text to speech (Qwerty/ ABC), horizontal only, no customisation on the app itself, large range of customisation available on The Grid 2,

Feedback Features Buttons highlighted on activation

Rate Enhancement Word prediction, word lists for larger categories

Access Direct

Fine Motor Point

Support Within App email support, manual on website

Miscellaneous Online Grids Account required Play Grid Sets from The Grid 2 software Not all Grid 2 content (e.g. licensed) is able to be played on the Grid Player

Tap Speak Choice 4.0 Output Recorded and synthesised speech, 30 languages and 80 voices

available for download

Speech Settings Rate and pitch adjustment, no pronunciation tool, speak when inserting messages into message window

Representation Now using Pixon symbols, PCS still available for existing customers, able to add own photos, keyboard and text buttons available, library usage now optional in version 4.0, limited starter vocabulary

Display 1-56 cells per board, individual boards or dynamic, message window optional with customisable size, vertical and horizontal orientation, edit page colour, range of KB

Feedback Features Visual scanning, auditory prompt/spoken message, zoom

Rate Enhancement None

Access Direct, 1 or 2 switch visual and auditory scanning, configurable scanning,

Fine Motor Touch mode, Tap mode, detect touch on release, Touch averaging, anti stimming setting, grab, swipes, multiple fingers and pinch can be detected

Support Website, You Tube videos, iBook user guide, email

Miscellaneous Edit on iPad, Backup to Dropbox

Speak For Yourself Output Synthesised, male & female

Speech Settings Speak on selection only, Adjust speech rate and pitch, no pronunciation tool,

Representation Core word based, uses own “Smarty” symbol set

Display Symbol with single meaning pictures, QWERTY keyboard page, Ability to hide/ show words, unable to edit words on main screen, ability to add own photos and customise vocab on secondary screens, horizontal orientation only, unable to edit text, button or symbol size, symbol/text in message window

Feedback Features None

Rate Enhancement Minimal navigation, app blocks duplication of vocabulary

Access Direct

Fine Motor Small cells 1cm x 1cm, point

Support Installed programming guide, website, Facebook page, You Tube Tutorials,

Miscellaneous Edit on iPad, able to lock edit in settings Able to text messages through iMessage Babble- toggle between the full vocab set and individuals customised set

Predictable Verbally Rocket Keys

Output

Speech Settings

Representation

Display

Feedback Features

Rate Enhancement

Access

Fine Motor

Support

Miscellaneous