Whirlwind Tour of Top App
Features, Selection and
Resources
Mobile Technology Selection
Apps for Communication and
Cognition Joan L. Green, M.A. CCC-SLP 6/7/13
Innovative Speech Therapy
www.innovativespeech.com
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There are now many more cost effective
ways to assess individuals and figure out
what they need using low-cost technology
• Rehabilitation- stroke, head injury,
degenerative diseases, dementia, aging
• Intervention- Developmental disabilities,
learning differences, special education
• Great for use in
• therapy/teaching
• independent practice
• improving quality of life
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Huge Impact of Mobile Tech
People with Special Needs
• Aphasia- language disorder
• Apraxia/Dysarthria- Speech/Motor
issues
• Autistic spectrum Disorders
• Dementia
• Cognitive Challenges
• ADD and ADHD
• Learning Disabilities
• Twice Exceptional
• Dyslexia- reading challenges
• Dysgraphia- writing challenges
• Intellectual Impairment
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It’s a Challenge to Match Apps
to Maximize Needs of the User
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Research supporting the
use of technology • Brain neuroplasticity- the brain
changes in response to experience
• Multisensory stimulation
• Repetition helps learning
• It’s best when stimuli is interactive,
motivating, meaningful and used often.
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Getting Started
• SETT Framework by Joy Zabala • http://www.joyzabala.com/ • S for the student- Which current abilities, special needs, and specific
functional areas of concern?
• E for the Environment-school, home, therapy, community?
• T for the Tasks - What tasks are expected of the student and what do
they need to be able to achieve?
• T for the Tools- What products, services and training are needed to
help the person perform specific tasks in the most effective way to
achieve success? What technologies are already available/ being
used?
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Important Considerations
• Goals of user - strengths and weaknesses
• Accessibility - vision, dexterity, speaking,
understanding, attention, thinking, reading,
writing, new learning
• Purpose- pleasure, improve skill,
compensate for skill
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Important Considerations
• Available technology- operating system
• Internet
• Budget
• Age appropriate- content and
reinforcement
• Motivating
• Appropriate level of difficulty
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Mainstream vs. Specialized
• Many features are extremely helpful for
people with communication, learning,
literacy and cognitive disabilities
– Guided access
– Zoom text
– Speak Aloud/highlighting
– Voice recognition
Many people don’t take advantage of options
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App qualities
• Ease of use
• Allow for Customization/ Fine tuning
• Track Performance- document progress
• Automatically adjusts difficulty
• Maintain privacy and security
• Avoid ads and in app purchases
• Free version to try
• Demo video
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Learn what is available
• Bridging Apps- http://bridgingapps.org
• Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology, Qiat.org,
• Educational Technology and Mobile Learning
http://www.educatorstechnology.com
• Apps for Children with Special Needs http://a4cwsn.com
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Learn what is available
• Tech Matrix, www.techmatrix.org
• I Education Apps Review, www.iear.org
• Apps 4 Stages- http://apps4stages.wikispaces.com
• Educational App Store https://www.educationalappstore.com
• Technology in (SPL) Education-
http://www.techinspecialed.com
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Learn what is available
• Common Sense Media- http://www.commonsensemedia.org
• Apps for Adults: http://tactustherapy.com/adultapplist.pdf
• Maryland learning links matchup tool-
http://marylandlearninglinks.org/3815
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Helpful Frameworks
• RTI- Response to Intervention/ Instruction-
http://www.rti4success.org We need to change what we do to meet
the needs of the individual
• UDL- Universal Design for Learning-
udltechtoolkit.wikispaces.com- Use multiple methods of
representation, engagement and expression promotes success and
learning for everyone.
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Students/ Schools
Common Core State Standards
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Adults/Rehabilitation
National Outcomes Measurement
System- NOMS
Now linked with reimbursement
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Cause and Effect
• Ilovefireworks, Fireworks Games
• Cause and Effect Sensory Light Box , Cognable
• Music Color, SoundTouch
• Color dots Ellie’s Games, LLC
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Visual Perceptual
•MatrixMatch, MyFirstApp.com
•Flow Free, Big Duck Games, LLC
•Visual Attention TherAppy, Tactus Therapy
Solutions
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Cognition
•Ilovefireworks, Fireworks Games
•Injini: Child Development Games, NCSoft
•Charge Your Brain, Unusual Things
•Lumosity Brain Trainer, Lumos Labs
•Calendar, Apple
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New Learning
•Educreations Interactive WhiteBoard,
Educreations, Inc
•Show Me Interactive Whiteboard, Learnbat, Inc,
•Quizlet, Interactive Flashcards, Quizlet
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Planning/ Calendars
• MyHomeworkapp.com
• Cozi family organizer,
http://www.cozi.com
• http://todoist.com
• iStudiez Pro
• Rememberthemilk.com
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Timers
• Time Timer, http://www.timetimer.com
• Found in clock on phones/tablets
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Puzzles
•Child Development Game Suite, Injini
•Jigsaw Box, Sparkle Apps
•Little Matchups, GrasshopperApps.com
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Auditory Comprehension
•Word Slapps Vocabulary, Zorten Software
•Kids Learning- Photo Touch Concepts,
GrasshopperApps.com
•Fun with Directions, Hamaguchi Apps
•Auditory Workout, Virtual Speech Center
•Photos, Apple
•Calendar, Apple
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Reading Comprehension • Reading Rehabilitation Toolkit, Smarty Ears
• Bob Books Magic, Learning Touch
• Rainbow Sentences, Mobile Education Store
• Speak Selection with highlighting feature of ios 6.0
• Voice Dream Reader, Voice Dream LLC
• Readability, Readability, LLC
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Written Expression
•Letter School, Boreaal
•First Words Professional, Learning Touch
•Clicker Sentences, Crick Software
•iWordQ, Quillsoft Ltd
•Speech Recognition, ios 6 dictation microphone
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Note taking apps-
record and write •AudioNote, Luminant Software
•Notability, Ginger Labs- Take notes,
record write on pdfs and sync with
DropBox
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Verbal Expression
•Artikpix, Expressive Solutions Ltd, LLC
•Naming TherAppy, Tactus Therapy Solutions
•Story Builder, Mobile Education Store
•Proloquo2go, AssistiveWare
•Predictable, Therapy Box Limited
•Facetime, Apple
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Augmentative and Alternative
Communication Apps (AAC)
Considerations:
• Visual scenes, symbols, photos, words
• Access- mounting, switches, stylus
• Dynamic Display vs. static
• Where used and for what purpose?
• Hundreds of AAC apps- http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/iphoneipad-
apps-for-aac
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AAC Apps
Answers:yesno, Simplified Touch
• Customize 2 choices with photos, audio recording and text
Speak Aid HD, DeMentid Apps
• Basic Needs, body, chalk
CommunicAide, ObjectGraph, LLC
Easy to use and customize
• Body chart and pain meter
• Select phrase or photo
Many more
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Image Recognition
Take a picture and have the word typed
• Omoby, IQ Engines (iphone app)
• Google Goggles/ Search
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Games
Solitaire, MobilityWare
+Sudoku, Mind the Frog, Inc.
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Games
Set Pro HD, Set Enterprises Inc
4 in a Row Online, Clever Fox
Wheel of Fortune, Sony
Pictures Television
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Conclusion
Please feel free to email me at
[email protected] with
questions after this presentation
I am available in MD, VA and DC for
therapy/coaching/consultations
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