Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC)

Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC) & Core Words

The world of Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC) has been evolving and progressing at a rapid pace. AAC is the use of a method of communication other than verbal language. “Alternative” indicates that the system is being used as an alternative to verbal language and “augmentative” indicates that the system is being used to supplement verbal language. AAC users may be completely non-verbal, have limited verbalizations, and/or have vast verbal language that is unclear to communication partners. AAC modes include the use of photos or symbols on communication boards and books as well as low (paper overlays on electronic boards) and high tech communication devices (touchscreen devices). High-tech devices used to be only provided by a limited number of companies that created the hardware (tablet) and software (communication vocabulary system) at a very high cost.

 

 

The invention of tablets such as the iPad/iTouch and Android devices have made high-tech AAC even more accessible and affordable. Users can communicate their wants/needs, make statements, ask questions and participate in social interactions with the use of their Alternative Augmentative Communication system

 

At the start, the field of AAC often focused on teaching AAC users to request highly desired items like food or toys and labeling nouns and verbs.

The vocabulary taught and used was often very specific such as “I want cracker”, “bathroom”, “ball”. Over time a vast amount of research has guided therapists, users, and caregivers towards more effective AAC use.

What we have learned is that 80% of the words we use in English to communicate across various settings are not specific nouns and verbs, but instead what we call “core words”. Core words are frequently occurring abstract words that can be used to communicate many messages across many topics. They are words like “it”, “go”, “you”, “see”. Many low-tech and high-tech AAC systems are providing core word vocabulary to the user on their front or home page to allow fast and effect communication across all settings. Just one look at a well-known AAC website http://praacticalaac.org/ will help you to see how core word use is really at the forefront of the AAC world!

The more AAC users hear and see core vocabulary being used by their communication partners on their devices and the more they are aided to use it themselves, the more they will be able to communicate with the world! Bluebee Pals are a great tool for use with AAC apps and core words. Simply connect your Bluebee Pal via Bluetooth connection to your iPad with communication app. As the AAC user activates buttons on their communication app, Bluebee will speak. What a fun way to hear your “voice” being used!

The iMums Favorite Reviewed Apps for Autism

Did you know according to the latest report from the CDC a staggering 1 in 68 people are diagnosed with Autism? The iMums wanted to showcase some of the apps that are helpful to people with this complex neuro-developmental disorder.  Many children with Autism respond really well to electronics, and iPads can be a very useful tool for them.

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are all unique individuals, so there is no one app that will be suitable for every child with Autism. This list includes some of The iMums favorite apps that we have reviewed that were designed specifically for children with Autism, or that help with skills that children with ASD often have difficulties with. In addition to the apps listed below, we have reviewed many more special needs apps and encourage readers to visit the Special Needs category on our website to find apps suitable for a particular skill you are working on with your child.

 

These Apps are Specifically for Developed for Kids with Autism.

 

TOBY Autism Therapy - On... icon

TOBY (Therapy Outcomes by You) Playpad by Autism West is designed for children under 7, who are not yet receiving specific interventions for Autism, or are in the early stages of therapy.  It is a comprehensive Early Intervention Program designed for home use with children with Autism and includes both on and off iPad activities. Each day, TOBY suggests a list of activities to do, and this changes as the app adapts to the child’s progress. Read our full review here……TOBY Playpad – Autism West

 

 

Go Go Games

Go Go Games by Go Go Games Studio includes 3 games: Build-a-train, Wheels and Roads and Out of this World, each has 6 levels. Children with ASD often have “tunnel vision” honing in on one specific feature of an object, and this app helps them to learn to look at multiple features of an object. It is also useful for  working on pattern recognition, matching and  fine motor skills. It is a great deal at only $3.99. Read our full review here….   Go Go Games

 

 

Autism Core Skills - Academic, Communication, and Social Skills Plus DataCore Skills by Infiniteach Inc is an educational iPad only app built by autism experts who have worked with children on the Autism Spectrum. The app is designed for those with autism or other developmental delays to help them reach their fullest potential. The app offers materials ranging from preschool through first grade level lessons in academics, social and communication domains based on Common Core Learning Standards. Infiniteach is an autism edteach company which is dedicated to developing educational iPad apps for students on the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Christopher Flit, the Founder and Chief Creative Officer was a special education teacher who trained over 12,000 parents and teachers in Illinois and across the United States about best practice autism strategies. Read our full review here……Core Skills by Infiniteach Inc

 

 

Autism Learning Games: Camp Discovery Pro

Autism Learning Games: Camp Discovery Pro by Center for Autism and Related Disorders Camp Discovery is a large and comprehensive collection of learning games specifically designed for those in the Autism spectrum. It is based on a proven curriculum developed over 25 years by the Center for Autism and Related Disorders. Read the full review here
Autism Learning Games: Camp Discovery Pro by Center for Autism and Related Disorders

 

 

See.Touch.Learn Pro

See.Touch.Learn Pro by Brain Parade  is an incredibly flexible learning tool. It contains over 4,000 pictures and over  2,000 pre-prepared lessons. It also allows you to add your own images and easily create your own lessons. It was designed to be used for ABA therapy, but can also be used to teach a huge range of skills.  It is about to have a massive update this month, so now is a great time to buy. The Pro version contains all lessons and libraries, a free version is also available where you can buy specific libraries as in-app purchases. Read our full review here……….See.Touch.Learn Pro

 

 

Kid in Story Book Maker: Create and Share Personalized Photo Storybooks

Kid in Story Book Maker by Enuma, Inc. is designed to make it easy to create your own stories starring your child. For many children with Autism, social stories can be a very powerful tool to help them deal with new situations and experiences. The app includes 12  ready made templates for stories, plus you can add your own. It makes it easy to add photos of your child or other family members into the story. Read our full review here……Kid in Story Book Maker

 

 

Axel's Chain Reaction

Axel’s Chain Reaction is a beautifully illustrated story with captivating voice-overs that put readers in Axel’s shoes as he faces daily social challenges and as he uses his special talent to become the story’s hero. Read our full review here…..Axel’s Chain Reaction

 

 

 

Avokiddo Emotions - Dress, Feed, Play With AnimalsAvokiddo Emotions by Avokiddo is  a delightfully interactive app featuring a giraffe, zebra and a shy and sleepy sheep. Identifying emotions can be difficult for children with Autism and this is a fantastic app to use to explore emotions in a variety of contexts. As children play and explore the app the animals are very clear in their emotions, and like or dislike of specific objects. Read our full review here……………Avokiddo Emotions

 

 

 

Toca Hair Salon

Toca Hair Salon by Toca Boca This is a really fun app and great for imaginative, open-ended, creative play. You can style the characters hair and add accessories and using facial emotion see  they like and dislike!
Toca Hair Salon

 

 

Toca Life: Town icon

Toca Life: Town by Toca Boca You rule this Town, a play world where anything and everyone is welcome! With different locations and many classic Toca Boca characters, the everyday adventures in Town are infinite.
Toca Life Town

 

 

Dr. Panda Bus Driver iconDr. Panda Bus Driver by Dr. Panda is a fun app featuring Dr. Panda driving a bus around either a city, countryside, harbor or a variety of other locations picking up and dropping off his passengers, painting the bus, refilling the gas tank and more! Much like a traditional bus, you have to stop to let passengers and other vehicles go by, stop for trains that will pass as well as clean up the bus after your “route” has been completed. This app is designed for preschoolers through early elementary school similar to other Dr. Panda apps and will provide hours of open ended play for them that uses fine motor skills both from seating passengers and driving the bus either with your finger or by gently moving your device to steer it so it stays in the road. Read our full review……….Dr Panda Bus Driver

 

 

Toca Store iconToca Store by Toca Boca creates a virtual shop where children can choose from a catalog of virtual products to stock and how much to sell them for. It can either be played alone or with two or more players. One can be the storekeeper and ring up sales, while the other is the customer. This is a great app because it facilitates turn-taking skills as well as simple counting. I also really liked the ability to purchase the items, and the magical coin purse coming up with more money as necessary for specific items. It also required individuals to finish their turns by first putting the item on the conveyor, ringing it up, paying for it, and then bagging it up before allowing someone to proceed on to the next step. Read our review………..https://itunes.apple.com/us/toca-store/id442705759?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4Toca Store

 

 

Money Up! - Learn to use... iconMoney Up! by pkclsoft is an app that teaches money skills for those who have a disability that makes it difficult for them to learn how to count change. It uses the dollar up method in which the student is taught to give an amount that is just one whole dollar above the item’s price. For example, if a drink costs $2.50, the student is asked to pay $3.00. This method not only helps students become more independent, but also keeps them from being taken advantage of by getting the wrong change back. Currently on sale for 50% off! Read our full review…………Money Up!

 

 

Injini Child Development Game Suite by NCSoft was developed to help young children with with cognitive, language, and fine motor delays. It features 12 different games, each with many levels. It is best suited for toddlers and preschool aged children and is a very comprehensive app to help them with fine motor and language skills, understanding of cause and effect, spatial awareness, memory and visual processing. Read our full review here……..Injini Child Development Game Suite

 

 

Bugs and Button is the first in a series of unique “Bugs &” apps by Little Bit Studios. It works on many cognitive skills including patterns, sorting, memory, mazes, counting, and letters. It includes 18 engaging games, with fantastic graphics. The games encourage visual tracking (great for reading skills) and incorporate many fine motor movements (e.g. point, pinch, isolated finger patterns, use of both hands). This app is a great brain builder and an even better motor builder – truly an OT’s delight!  At only $2.99 it is a real bargain. Read our full review here…..Bugs and Buttons

 

 

Custom Boards Premium by Smarty Ears
is an app for making your own visuals and activity worksheets using more than 120 easy-to-use templates, a built-in library of over 11 thousands Smarty Symbols and your own images.  The templates are grouped into 6 categories: Activities & Games, Grids & Boards, Schedules & Calendars, Worksheets, Devices & Switches, Read our full review here………Custom Boards- Premium – Smarty Ears

 

 

Articulation Station Pro by Little Bee Speech is a very comprehensive articulation app that provides multiple opportunities for the child to pronounce and practice all the 22 speech sounds in the English language. It offers opportunities to practice at the word, sentence and story level. As well as Flashcards it also includes a matching game; rotating and unique sentences; different story levels and comprehension questions. Read our full review here…………Articulation Station Pro

 

 

Articulation an articulation app that allows you choose your target words by phoneme, phonological process or manner of articulation. It works at both word and phrase level, and includes flashcards and matching game activities. You can work on initial, medial or final position; or any combination of these.  You also have the option to record the child and play it back – which children love to do  Read our full review……..Articulate it! – Smarty Ears

 

 

 

ConversationBuilder Deluxe by Mobile Education Store works on conversational skills, which are hard for many of our kids. It teaches the nuances of conversation, teaches ways to initiate a conversation and how to keep the conversation flowing naturally. Learning how to have a real 2-way conversation with your peers is a really important life-skill, but it can be hard to master, and this app helps in that processRead our full review here………..ConversationBuilder Deluxe

 

 

Language Skill Builder – Central Place for the Special Needs ABA Training by Pawel Maczewski is an app for learning basic and advanced language concepts and improving language comprehension skills. It includes a large question bank (600+), and allows the the quizzes to be customized to meet the users’ needs. Language Skill Builder is a great app for teaching basic language skills with an expanding question bank to meet your child/student’s growing needs……Language Skill Builder

 

 

WHquestions by Smarty Ears is designed to help children acquire the important social skill of answering WH Questions – What, Who, Where, When, Why and How. It is easy to use, has a video tutorial for beginners, and features over 200 questions in both audio and written form. Read our full review here………..WHquestions

 

 

Picture the Sentence by Hamaguchi Apps is used to practice listening skills, using basic pronouns and prepositions, and  to practice processing these parts into a whole sentence. Each part of the phrase is represented by a simple picture, and the child has to visualize putting each of these steps together to create a new picture that represents the whole sentence. The app has 3 levels and a built in reward game. Read our full review here…….Picture the Sentence 

 

 

I Can Have Conversations With You, by Autism Breakthrough Solutions, LLC is an app developed by ASHA certified speech language pathologist Karen Kabaki-Sisto, M.S. CCC-SLP., aims to help verbal children with autism engage in meaningful conversations. It can also be used by children with other speech and language disorders. Read our full review………I Can have Conversations with You

 

 

 

Reading Train Endless Books, Songs & Games – School Readers by The Learning Station is a digital library of over 200+ picture books kids can read and record created by Libby Curran, educator and author of award winning books. The Reading Train is a great concept for children from the get go. Once you have setup your child’s user account, they can get onboard the reading train and start learning! There is a large collection of reading books to choose from, some covering colours, animals, life science, shapes, maths etc all categorised and covered at three different reading levels. Read our full review…..I Can have Conversations with You 

 

 

AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) Apps

No discussion of apps for Autism would be complete without mentioning AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication). Many non-verbal Autistic children have found a way to communicate using AAC apps on the iPad, and it is much cheaper than a dedicated AAC device. This is an area where we strongly recommend consulting with an SLP who specializes in AAC, to decide which is the best choice for the child, as truly there is no “one size fits all.” Here are some AAC apps to consider:

Proloquo2Go by AssistiveWare is an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) App, it is a universal app that can be used on  iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. The purpose of the app is to give users a voice and the ability to communicate. I found Proloquo2Go to be an app that surpassed my expectations for performance. I was blown away with the available help on the website and the seemingly endless custom options that were very easy to learn and implement.”  Read our full review here…..Proloquo2Go – AssistiveWare

 

 


Avaz for Autism
is an AAC app brought to the U.S. market from India where it was the first AAC introduced. The creators of Avaz have worked to create an AAC that is tailored to fit the use of people with Autism and their caregivers/therapists in an easy to use and customize way. A nice feature is the ease of social sharing, if you enable this feature, Facebook, Twitter and Email are available and and easy to do .
Avaz – AAC App for Autism (Augmentative Picture Communication Software for Children with Special Needs) – Invention Labs

 

 

So Much 2 Say by Close 2 Home apps is a versatile tool for basic communication. It was created expressly for the highly impacted segment of the special needs population. The app is recommended for individuals who are non verbal and lack an effective means to communicate basic needs and wants. Read our full review……So Much 2 Say – Picture Communication – Close 2 Home Apps, LLC 

 

 


SpeechHero is an Augmentative & Alternative Communication app (AAC) designed for the iPad. The app was designed to be used without any training on AAC devices, and contains a native tutorial and integrated help system to guide users throughout the app with an easy to use interface. The app includes CoreUtterance©, which predicts likely tiles based on the last one entered. The app is loaded with thousands of such utterances generated from common English speech.”  Read our full review here……SpeechHero AAC – The ultimate speech board and communication tool – Andrew McKinney

 

 


Alexicom Elements Child Home App is a AAC solution geared specifically to young children.  It comes with 70 preconfigured pages that include the vocabulary and associated pictures that a child would encounter going through his day. These include eating, dressing, washing, and a wide variety of leisure activity pages. Core words are also included.Read our Full review ….Alexicom Elements Child Home (M) SymbolStix – Alexicom Tech LLC

 

 

These apps were specifically chosen to highlight Autism Awareness Month, but are only a few of the many wonderful apps available to help children on the Autism Spectrum.

Technology and Helping Children with Autism

Technology and Autism

Our lives are intertwined with technology daily. From email to smartphones, tablets to touch screens computers, virtual reality viewers to GPS enabled devices – technology is everywhere and ever-changing. Schools (including Princeton House Charter School in Orlando, FL) and therapy centers around the nation are noting the success achieved when students are provided opportunities for learning and interaction via technology. Parents are also turning to technology to engage their children with Autism and keep them safe. Autism Speaks, for example, has a list of locating devices that can be used for children that elope (https://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/resource-library/locating-devices).

Home security packages and “smart home” devices allow parents and adults to gain information and control home appliances just by speaking to a small device. Not only can these home devices help with safety (locking your doors and alerting you of entries/exits) but also to turn on shows, play music, answer questions, and create sensory friendly environments. For example, the Phillips Hue is a wireless lighting device that helps you to create the perfect ambiance for every moment (http://www2.meethue.com/en-us/). Kids, including students with Autism, love interacting with these smart devices by asking questions and controlling their environment. For a child that may sometimes feel out of control, these devices can be very rewarding.

In the classroom setting, students with limited verbal skills and those that learn better with visual representations can interact with Smart Boards, computers with touch screens and iPads with educational apps. At Princeton House Charter School, students have access to Promethean interactive tables with touch interfaces. They also explore new environments and experiences with our virtual reality viewers. Many students with Autism have difficulty visualizing stories for listening comprehension and writing activities. Our teachers use virtual reality viewers and interactive table experiences as “writing prompt”. It is often easier for our students to describe scenes they visually and tactically experienced minutes prior.

Technology is taken even further through Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC). Students with limited verbal language use low and high tech devices to communicate their wants/needs and participate in academics. Low tech devices include speech generating devices such as switches (https://www.ablenetinc.com/technology/switches), AAC devices with paper overlays (http://www.amdi.net/products/aac-devices), communication boards and books. Students can press buttons to formulate messages with pre-recorded voice output.

High tech AAC devices include dynamic display touch screens house a vast array of words and phrases with picture symbols and/or typing options (https://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/resource-library/assistive-technology). These devices allow students with Autism to communicate with their teachers, peers and family members quickly and effectively. The invention of iPad and Android tablets have blown up the world of AAC with greater access and cheaper prices. Apps such as Proloquo2Go and GoTalk have help students with Autism gain their voice more than ever before! Seeing a student learn the power of communication via an AAC device is one amazing experience that just keeps on giving.

 

 

Technology, whether used in our daily lives or with persons with Autism, is an invaluable tool that will surely continue to transform all our lives!

 

Punam Desormes, M.A., CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Princeton House Charter School
Passion-Hope-Communication-Service

Becca’s App Reviews

Welcome To Becca Eisenberg Speech App Reviews Becca provides insight into apps for speech and learning Rebecca Eisenberg, MS, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist, author, instructor, and parent of two children, who began her website gravitybread.com to create a...

Apps & Bluebee Pals from Princeton House Charter School!


We have all read about the wonderful program at the Princeton House Charter School, and the devotion of the parents, teachers, and therapists to the Autism population that they serve. They are a leader in the use of Bluebee Pals for therapeutic use, but what were the apps they mentioned? What is this cutting-edge school using to enhance learning and interaction?

The apps utilized at the Princeton School Charter House in conjunction Bluebee Pals confirm the tremendous impact of technology in special needs classrooms.

 

** Sheela Sweredoski used Text to Speech App with Reading Activity involving using Dynamic words to expand writing

Bluebee Pals are the one consistent measure to help with that transition every step of the way! By playing the learning app with Bluebee and then using either a book or voice recording to reinforce the lesson with your trusted friend – it helps make the lessons stick with the use of Bluebee as a support and reference point with transitions of materials.

 

**Carissa Thompson holding Sammy Bear used Proloquo2Go (preprogrammed buttons to ask questions) with Pete the Cat Story.  speech therapists: Hannah Kennedy (in the classroom with CarissaMegan McGovern (speech and language apps and “made visual supports with bluebee via Boardmaker Online software”)

The teachers at the school use Early Reading Skill Building apps, and then pair the apps with activities from familiar books and pictures to help the students generalize the materials being taught.

 

 

 

**Lauren Feel used Early Reading Skills Builder Curriculum

 

Here are a few of the apps the teachers and therapists are using with Bluebee Pals

Early Reading Skills Builder Curriculum http://www.attainmentcompany.com/ersb – This is a blended curriculum using traditional tools and manipulatives to create an immersive experience. Using Bluebee helps improve motivation and attention by being a non-threatening presence in which to deliver material.

 

“Text to Speech Apps with Reading Activities involving the use of Dynamic words to help expand the ability to write,” said one teacher at PHCS.  Favorite Storybooks from Oceanhouse Media, Spinlight, Speakaboos, and many stand-alone books have a read to me option, that can be used to allow Bluebee to communicate the story. Many books have been reviewed on this site under Blogs. It is nice to set up a cozy reading corner with Bluebee whispering the text in your ear. He/She is always ready for a grand story or two!

 

Proloquo2Go is an AAC app to enhance communication for children that lack a means for verbal communication. At the Princeton House Charter School, teachers are using this app in conjunction with preprogrammed questions for such popular class stories as in the Pete the Cat series. This allows Bluebee to ask questions, have children follow directions, and engage them in conversations to increase their pragmatic/social language skills. Here is a review of the site by our very own Rebecca Eisenberg, MS, CCC-SLP at https://bluebeepals.com/?s=Proloquo2Go

Therapists have made visual supports for Bluebee via Boardmaker Online software to accompany a story or as a precursor to using AAC apps or other devices. Boardmaker has been a standard in the industry for pictorial presentations and visual schedules. Using pictures helps a child learn the sequence of familiar tasks and activities and to identify icons that are most often used in AAC software.

Autism iHelp Apps is a suite of apps that teach vocabulary. It can be scaffolded from presenting a picture, pairing a picture with a label, and then needing to identify the picture from a field of 4 objects. The photos are clean and crisp, but more importantly, clutter-free. There are many options to customize this to a specific child. The app also includes a data collection feature.

Super Duper Publications has an app for everything speech related.They build in fun with their games and activities so children begin to use language in a fluent manner. Learning sticks with these activities, as the material is relevant to its use, and children can then apply it accordingly. Check out their suite of apps under the search “Super Duper Publications” in the iOS app store.

 

Smarty Ears, another company with fun and fabulous apps for speech therapy, and has a wide following with their suite of apps for parents, teachers and speech therapists. Articulate it was created for and by speech pathologists. They cover a multitude of themes to relate to any child’s interest area. Each app is customizable and has a stellar data collection feature. The apps are flexible for use at home, in the classroom as well as in a therapy clinic.

Splingo Appsby the Speech and language Store LLP, is another company with exceptional apps for speech and language acquisition. Follow Splingo the Alien around whilst honing your listening skills. Kids listen to Splingo’s instructions and act accordingly to help Splingo build his spaceship to get him home. Kids get a kick out of Splingo and the app can be used with early learners using 1-2 words (18 mos.) all the way up to kids following 4 step commands.

 

Check out the videos and the comments from the staff of the Princeton School Charter House under the Bluebee Pals Project!

 

 

 

 

 

Autism

Bluebee Pals has become an invaluable tool to helping children with AutismAn INTRO To Princeton House Charter School and the Case Studies that were implemented with their professionals Watch Video 3 Case Study’s: Princeton House Charter School With Bluebee Pals School...

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