On My Honor....

This week I was invited to a Girl Scout meeting.  It's been many years since I attended one of these.  The topic:  technology. So, with speech generating devices and an iPad in hand, I did a show-n-tell with augmentative communication devices.  Also shared video of some of my students using switch-adapted computers.  As a result, this group is going to make some PowerPoint slide shows for my students to "read" using a switch.  Topics like "A day in the life of my ferret" with photos and narration by the girls will make great stories for my students to read.  By setting a PowerPoint show to advance each slide and play recorded narration with a mouse click and using a switch interface and switch, kids will be able to "turn" the pages and listen to these stories.  Thanks, girls!

More Resources for iPad/iPod Apps

The people at AAC TechConnect have a great summary sheet on their website listing over 100 communication apps.  These are listed by pictures and text.  The challenge is separating out the good apps from the not so good ones.  Many app developers have created apps that let you take a photo and use a voice, or provide symbols for use with speech.  It takes a real evaluator with knowledge and experience in AAC techniques to wade through the many apps and find the ones that provide enough language and flow for communication use.  While  those at the basic choice-making or cause effect levels may benefit from any of the many apps that pair a photo with voice, individuals in need of a variety of language structures, lots of vocabulary options, and the ability to combine symbols for phrases need a more sophisticated system.   Keep this in mind as you consider apps for communication use.