ipad and android apps for speech, language and literacy learning are now being widely used as another way to focus on communication and education. This section will highlight how to use ipad and android tablets and apps to promote communication and education.
These tablets are not the ultimate fix-all problems, that some people make them out to be, but with the right apps and guidance they can be used very effectively in many ways both for adults and children. There are apps for improving reading and writing skills, and working on speech and language. Some apps have been designed to help with communication for those children or adults that may struggle with speech. Many apps have also been designed for children with autism or special needs.
Buying a tablet
Both the ipad and Android tablets are now popular. Some tablets vary in price and features, so read about them and decide which one suits you. They both have thousands of apps.
Click the apple icon above to go to the Apple website and look at the ipad.
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The Samsung Galaxy 2 is one of the most popular Android tablets – Click on the picture to find out more about the Samsung Galaxy and how you can purchase it.
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The Google Nexus 7 is one of the most popular Android tablets – Click on the picture to find out more about the Google nexus 7 and how you can purchase it.
Choosing apps
There are thousands of available apps and far too many to find and put on this website. Below are some of there more well known ones, and ones I think are good or useful. Click on the links below to go the sections that interest you:
Child Speech
Adult Speech
Autism
Stroke and CVA
Assistive Communication, Voice Output, and apps for AAC (Click on the pics for more details)
Proloquo2Go
Proloquo2Go is a full-featured augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) solution for people who have difficulty speaking. Proloquo2Go provides natural sounding Text to Speech voices and a high resolution library of over 14,000 symbols, word prediction, multiuser support, and the ability to fully customize vocabularies for users along a broad continuum of abilities, from beginning symbolic communication to full literacy. The vocabularies are based on language development research, and have been carefully designed and reviewed by Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) with extensive AAC experience. The vocabularies are easily customizable to suit the personal needs and preferences of individual. Proloquo2Go is for anyone who cannot afford to spend thousands of dollars on a dedicated AAC device and yet wants a solution that is just as good if not better. SLPs, teachers, and parents recommend it for children and adults with autism, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, developmental disabilities, apraxia, ALS, stroke, or traumatic brain injury. Proloquo2Go can be used on iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Educational institutions can get a 50% discount on Proloquo2Go if they purchase 20 or more licenses through Apple’s Volume Licensing Program for Education.
TouchChat HD – AAC TouchChat HD – AAC with WordPower
TouchChat HD for iPad is a full-featured communication solution for individuals who have difficulty using their natural voice. TouchChat is designed for individuals with Autism, Down Syndrome, ALS, apraxia, stroke, or other conditions that affect a person’s ability to use natural speech.
The TouchChat HD with WordPower series contains vocabularies designed by Nancy Inman. WordPower24 is a word-based vocabulary that allows for easy and intuitive communication. WordPower24 with Phrases incorporates phrases for easier language generation.
Words, phrases and messages are spoken with a built-in voice synthesizer or by playing recorded message. Page sets are linked pages, each of which is divided into a number of buttons. The buttons are programmed to have specific actions. Text generated with TouchChat pages can be shared on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr or via text message and email. It’s simple too, just generate a message, push on the text and choose a service. Touch send and the message is automatically posted. Text from other applications can be copied to TouchChat so that it can be spoken out loud. Also, text generated in TouchChat can be copied to other applications. The pages, grid layout, buttons, messages, and symbols are fully customizable. Over 10,000 Symbolstix symbols are included for customizing buttons. Use any image or take a photo with the built-in camera. Users can program buttons to play audio files such as music from the media library or video files from the Photo Roll.
Sono Flex
Tobii Sono Flex is an easy to use AAC vocabulary app that turns symbols into clear speech. It offers language to nonverbal users who are not yet in full control of literacy. Sono Flex combines the benefits of structure and flexibility, providing a framework for language development, quickly matching individual and situational communication needs.Tobii Sono Flex has been designed to be easy to operate and easy for SLPs, teachers, parents, caregivers or other communication partners to setup and customize. It comes with more than 11,000 SymbolStix® symbols. Use the camera and photo albums of the iPad to create your own symbols.
Child Language Development
Reading and Writing
Speech recognition
Hearing Impairment
Stuttering
Settings, Restrictions and Accessibility
There are settings on your devices that can increase your accessibility, or set restrictions on the things that your children do (such as passwords, setting time limits, only giving access to certain apps, stopping them accessing the internet etc).
Apple has some guides which will tell you about all the features: