1. Using iPads and iPods
as
Communication Devices
Deborah Dacey, MA/CCC-SLP; ATP
Special Ed Coordinator
Boone Co.
Schools
debbie.dacey@boone.kyschools.u
s

2. Augmentative
iPod touch
iPad

3. Augmentative
iPod touch
iPad
Just think…last year at this time,
the iPad was just introduced –

4. Features of the iPad as an

5. Features of the iPad as an
 Portable and Lightweight

6. Features of the iPad as an
 Portable and Lightweight
 Dynamic Display

7. Features of the iPad as an
 Portable and Lightweight
 Dynamic Display
 Multiple Apps

8. Features of the iPad as an
 Portable and Lightweight
 Dynamic Display
 Multiple Apps
 Direct Selection and Scanning
Access

9. Features of the iPad as an
 Portable and Lightweight
 Dynamic Display
 Multiple Apps
 Direct Selection and Scanning
Access
 High Quality Voice Output

10. Features of the iPad as an
 Portable and Lightweight
 Dynamic Display
 Multiple Apps
 Direct Selection and Scanning
Access
 High Quality Voice Output
 Synthetic and Digitized Text

11. Features of the iPad as an
 Portable and Lightweight
 Dynamic Display
 Multiple Apps
 Direct Selection and Scanning
Access
 High Quality Voice Output
 Synthetic and Digitized Text
 Chargeable

12. Features of the iPad as an
 Portable and Lightweight
 Dynamic Display
 Multiple Apps
 Direct Selection and Scanning
Access
 High Quality Voice Output
 Synthetic and Digitized Text
 Chargeable
 Allows use of other applications

13. Communication

14. Communication
 Considerations:
◦ Cost
◦ Programmability
◦ Digitized and Synthetic Voice
Options
◦ Graphics Options
◦ Symbol Array

15. Proloquo2go

16. Proloquo2go
FEATURES:
• a full-featured augmentative
communication device
• a default vocabulary of over
7000 items
• high resolution symbols:
Symbol Stix

17. Symbol Stix
 Designed and developed by N2Y
for use in the on-line weekly
newspaper, News2You and the
online curriculum, Unique Learning
System.
 Generic activities and persons are
depicted as lively stick figures-
stick figures with "an attitude".

18. Proloquo2go
FEATURES cont.
• natural sounding text-to-
speech voices
• advanced word prediction
• fully programmable and easy
to use
• reasonably priced at $189.99

19. Device Requirements:
* iPhone, iPod touch or iPad
* iOS 4.2 or later
* 273 MB of free space

20. Sample Pages on iPod

21. Proloquo2go Video
 http://www.proloquo2go.com/
resources/article/introductory-
videos

22. TouchChatHD

23. TouchChatHD
FEATURES:
 is a full featured communication
application
 Over 10,000 symbols are included
 Reasonably priced at $149
 Five synthesized voices

24. TouchChatHD

25. TouchChatHD
FEATURES cont.
◦ VocabPC: for adults and adolescents
uses a 12 location page layout
◦ MultiChat 15: created for school-aged
individuals with emerging language
skills
◦ Spelling: a keyboard page set with
four word prediction
◦ Primary: designed for children; offers
vocabulary for home, school and
general communication.

26. TouchChatHD
FEATURES:
Minimum Requirements
 iPod Touch 2nd generation running
iOS 4.0 or higher
 iPhone 3G running iOS 4.0 or
higher
 iPad running iOS 3.2 or higher
 iPad 2

27. TapToTalk
 Free! (Editing version $99)

28. TapToTalk
 Features
◦ Plays TapToTalk albums on an
iPhone®, iPad™ or iPod touch®.
◦ You can download the player
application from the App StoreSM
for free.
◦ New version has scanning

29. TapToTalk Designer
 Design and organize “albums” with
a library of over 2,500 pictures
 You can add your own pictures
 Record your voicee or use text-to-
speech
 “Publish" your albums to one or
more of our supported devices.
 Free apps play your albums on
each device.

30. TapToTalk
 http://www.taptotalk.com/

31. TapSpeak, LLC
 TapSpeak Button – Single message
 TapSpeak Sequence – Sequential
recording
 TapSpeak Choice – Allows quick
and easy creation of communicator
grids.

32. TapSpeak Choice for
iPad

33. TapSpeak Choice for
iPad
FEATURES:
• Reasonably priced at $99.99
• Multiple symbol options
• photos and Mayer-Johnson PCS
core library of 4500 symbols
• One to 56 messages on a board
• Drag and drop creation and
editing

34. TapSpeak Choice for
iPad
FEATURES:
• Digitized voice including sample
libraries.
• Tap/touch configurable for a
student’s motor skill capability.
• Direct access
• Scanning modes using the entire
iPad screen as a switch or use RJ
Cooper’s iPad Super-Switch and
iPad Switch Interface.

35. TapSpeak Sequence
 FEATURES:
◦ $29.99
◦ Unlimited number of messages and
sequence length and phrase recording
length
◦ A number of geometric symbols and
colors
◦ Use your own photographs or
drawings
◦ Tap response is configurable
◦ Basic usage tracking

36. TapSpeak Button

37. TapSpeak Button
Features:
 Unlimited number of messages
 Unlimited message length
 Configurable button color
 Configurable button feedback
 Editing of existing messages
 Full editing of the message list

38. TapSpeak Button
Requirements:
 Version 1.0 $19.99
◦ Apple iPhone with at least OS 3.1
◦ iPod Touch 2G with any attached
microphone and OS 3.1.
 Version 2.0 $49.99
◦ Compatible with iPad. Requires iOS 4.2
or later.

39. TapSpeak video
http://conleysolutions.com/
wordpress

40. SoundingBoard

41. SoundingBoard
 SoundingBoard™ Version 2.0
Update
◦ Linked Boards: choose to link one
board to another on any message
location
◦ Single and Dual Switch Access:
Using AbleNet's bluetooth access
switch
◦ Pre-Loaded Communication

42. SoundingBoard
FEATURES:
 Create boards with up to 9
message locations
 Virtually unlimited capacity; create
boards for any situation
 Use the built-in AbleNet symbol
library for instant access to
hundreds of symbols
 Record messages of virtually any
length for each symbol

43. SoundingBoard
 Use your own photo library for
even greater flexibility and options
 Take your own photos using your
iPhone and use them in a board
immediately*
 Increase the physical size of the
boards by using iPad

44. SoundingBoard
Requirements:
 $59.99
 SoundingBoard™ is designed to
work with:
◦ iPhone 3GS and
◦ iPhone 4,
◦ iPod Touch 3rd and 4th
Generation
◦ iPad 1 and 2

45. SoundingBoard
 http://www.ablenetinc.com/
AssistiveTechnology/
Communication/SoundingBoard/
tabid/632/Default.aspx

46.  http://mypad.lazyriver.on-
rev.com/ $29.99
iConverse

47. MYTALKTOOLS MOBILE AAC
 Use simple grids or boards with
bold images to play recorded
sounds when you touch a cell. The
sequences can even form complete
sentences.

48. MYTALKTOOLS WORKSPACE
FAST, FLEXIBLE AUTHORING
 MyTalkTools Workspace is a Web
application to personalize
MyTalkTools Mobile or Lite quickly
and easily.
 It's a drag-and-drop tool that
simplifies design and backs up
your MyTalkTools content when
you sync.

49. Voice4u
 Create Your Original Icons &
Categories
 Create as many icons & categories
as you need. Customize pre-
loaded icons & categories with your
own photos and sound.

50. Features
 Over 150 Pre-loaded Icons
 Charming icons with easy-to-listen, clear voice
in nine categories that helps user’s self
expression. Organized in 11 categories.
 Just Too Easy!
 Our user-friendly interface that is tested with
autistic individuals assures zero learning cost.
Use Voice4u right after installation.
 Affordable Price: ONLY $29.99
 Voice4u is totally affordable out of your
pocket. More than 100X cheaper than
conventional AAC devices.

51. What is required to have
switch access to an I-Pad
app?
1. A Connection
2. A Switch Interface
3. Switch(es)
4. An Application that includes logic
to make it “switch aware”
• Make elements on the screen
“accessible”
• Receive, interpret and act upon switch
events

52. iPad Switch Access
iPad Cordless Switch
Interface (RJ Cooper)
$99
iPad Cordless
Super-Switch (RJ
TapSpeak
Cooper) $149
Choice ($99)

53. iPad/iPod Cases

54. iPad Accessory Package
• iAdapter
• rubberized corners and handle
• A small slide cover on the front
of the housing will hide the
home button
• an amplifier with dual speakers
• A rechargeable Lithium-Polymer
battery
• shoulder strap for portability
• plastic stand for table top use.
http://www.amdi.net/
iadapter/

55. Lessons learned

56. Lessons learned
 Work with your IT techs and your
purchasing people prior to doing
anything.

57. Lessons learned
 Work with your IT techs and your
purchasing people prior to doing
anything.
 Set up I-tunes account with a
“generic” email that can be
transferred between teachers and
schools. DO NOT SET UP AN
ACCOUNT UNDER YOUR NAME OR
CREDIT CARD!

58. Lessons learned (cont.)

59. Lessons learned (cont.)
 Determine who will manage the
account and if you are going to
have a centralized computer to
“sync”.

60. Lessons learned (cont.)
 Determine who will manage the
account and if you are going to
have a centralized computer to
“sync”.
 Download “lite” or free versions of
apps, when possible to determine
if it’s worth the money.

61. Lessons learned (cont.)
 Determine who will manage the
account and if you are going to
have a centralized computer to
“sync”.
 Download “lite” or free versions of
apps, when possible to determine
if it’s worth the money.
 Read the reviews.
 www.docstoc.com/docs/60454355/
iPhone-iPad-and-iPod-touch-Apps-for-
(Special)-Education

62. Riding the wave of a
technology revolution…
 Apps are CONSTANTLY
changing
 Be aware of system
requirements
 Keep searching for the latest
and greatest!
Thanks for your attendance!