Mrs. Riley

There is a new Web 2.0 application on the block and this one is just for us! Mrs. Riley It's In the Cards is a communication card/board building application that is totally online. It combines photo symbols, picture symbols and text symbols in grid layouts of various sizes and configurations.

Currently Mrs. Riley's It's In the Cards is in free public beta. You can try it without registering, but will need to register to save or print. I have never seen a more intuitive, easier interface for a communication board software. It beats Boardmaker, Overboard and PhotoSYMS hands down as far as simplicity. Of course what you gain in simplicity you loose in flexibility - at least compared to Boardmaker. If nothing else let this be the next step in the revolution for SPED applications coming to Web 2.0 (I am giving Write Online credit for being first.) I would say that if, once out of free public beta, this site keeps the price down there may be an awful lot of us who subscribe.

This site is definately worth trying out.

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Wordzee Worksheet (and Communication Board) Designer

Wordzee is a free online program to make picture (non-standardized symbols, clip art and photos) based worksheets and communication boards. There are 16 different layouts to choose from including 4,6 or 8 images in boxes or not, with blank lines for labeling activities, arranged for matching activities, fill in the blank with a word bank or matching pictures to text. The software takes a few trials to get used to, don't get frustrated by error messages at first.

In Wordzee first use the search box on the left to choose images. Then assign pictures to boxes, title your worksheet and, finally, chose a layout. This is a quick, free, online alternative to using Boardmaker or similar software when you are in a pinch (i.e. no time to load up software, you don't have Boardmaker, you don't have your Boardmaker disc). Keep in mind you do loose the versatility, broad range of images and standardized symbol system when you use this instead of Boardmaker, but there is definitely a time and a place for Wordzee.

Boardmaker Offering 30 Day Free Trial

Mayer-Johnson is finally doing what it has never done, offering a free 30 day trial of Boardmaker (v. 5.3+) for Windows. You must download it on a computer which has nothing from the Boardmaker family on it. Now, Mayer-Johnson, you really want to convince us of your dedication and commitment to individuals with special needs (and staying on top of other companies), offer free symbol updates!

I assume this change (and I could be wrong) is due to pressure of the free 30-day trial of Overboard Software from Gus Communication.

You know it is hard to avoid noticing the screenshot similarities, I wonder if Mayer-Johnson has some patent issue they play to come out with? Gosh, even the names, "Boardmaker" and "Overboard". Than again, if competition will cut prices, I'm all for it. Why can't we all just get along?