Apps for AAC

There are so many places keeping up with the constantly evolving world of apps for Augmentative and Alternative Communication for mobile devices.  Here are some links to bookmark to find out about new AAC apps and compare features:

iOS (iPod, iPhone and iPad)

• Spectronics Apps for AAC
• iTouch for Special Needs - AAC
• Apps for AAC Blog
• AAC Apps Comparison Spread Sheet
• CALL Scotland Apps List
• ACES App Assistant at AAC Tech Connect

Android

• AAC Apps for Android
• iAutism Apps for Android
• Android Apps for Our Kids

V-Pen AAC Now in USA

I have been gazing with longing at the V-Pen (from Unlimiter) system for sometime now.  Until recently it was not available in the United States, however PCI has begun to carry it.  The V-Pen is an electronic talking pen which "reads" letters, words or symbols from a paper.  It comes with two spelling boards and seven adhesive stickers.  You can also purchase a V-Board of symbols and VoiceInk software to make your own boards.  VoiceInk boards can also be accessed using the free VoiceInk app on an iPad.  The integrated system is called Uni-Tech.  Both the VoiceInk boards and the software use the PingPong Boy Symbol Set (also from Unlimiter). Check it out in the video:




Sadly it is possible that the V-Pen system has made it to the USA too late.  The price point for the pen and boards is $1,499.95 and the software adds another $499.95 to that.  For that price you can buy an iPad2 with Proloquo2Go AND TouchChat plus a stylus and portable speakers.  The tablet movement may be out too far ahead for the V-Pen to take hold.

If you are tied to the idea of a board and pen system you can try using the AnyBook Reader plus stickers (with is about $55.00 with extra memory) on a communication board you make with Boardmaker or SymbolMate or even Microsoft Word and Google Images. 

All Abilities ePlayground

All Abilities ePlayground is an accessible website that is part of the accessible playground movement in Queensland, Australia.  All Abilities ePlayground includes options to play using a mouse and keyboard, a single switch, Puff2Play (blowing into the mic), blind mode (This includes a blind and single switch version.) and interactive whiteboard.

All Abilities ePlayground has four games with multiple levels.  Ibis Buster involves "shooing" away birds and other animals from a beach your avatar is walking on.  Memory is a matching game (level one is animals, two is musical instruments and three is weather conditions).  In TrixMix you activate animals which each make a different sound in order to play or recreate music.  In Roo Hill Thrill you control your avatar as it surfs and tries to avoid balls.

In the single switch version you can use the settings (accessed by pressing "s") to toggle scanning on and off, control scanning speed, frame color (the box that shows hot spots), and switch activation type as well as background sound effects.

You will need to complete a free registration to use the site.

Science Experiments for Special Kids

One of my professional development goals for myself for the year is to ramp up science experiments and writing activities in my classroom.  However simple science experiments are few and far between, add in a quest for picture instructions or easy student response sheets and it is tough to do an experiment!

That's where you come in!  Do you do science experiments with your class of learners with severe or multiple special needs? If every regular reader of this blog (I estimate that to be about 300 people) creates and shares one adapted science experiment collectively we will have access to enough experiments to last us years!

If you create materials in Boardmaker you can share by posting to the Science for Special Kids group on Boardmaker Share.  If you use other authoring software (Clicker5, SymbolMate, PixWriter, Classroom Suite) please post to the appropriate sharing site and then share a link below in the comments.  Alternatively you can email your files and I will post them to the Intensive SpEd Resources Wiki

Here are some wonderful websites full of science experiments to get you started:

• Science is Fun
• Science Bob
• Zoom Sci
• Science for Preschoolers
• TLC Family Science Experiments for Kids
  
• Kitchen Science Experiments
• Hunkin's Experiments
  

Unique Learning System

Unique Learning Program has really upped its game this school year.  Some of the new features include:

• More file formats for the supportive files including Power Point, Classroom Suite and Saltillo.  
• Unique GPS (which stands for Goals, Preference and Skills) which is an assessment system 
• addition of Core Materials for all levels
• addition of Transition Materials for all levels
• addition of a Transition Passport to the high school level
• Online Checkpoint (i.e. quizzes)
• Unique Support Center - online help for teachers and others
• online library of adapted books in many levels

My future wishes for Unique Learning Program:

• improve online accessibility including but not limited to
• switch access to all online materials
• low vision support in the form of
• larger symbol options when using print materials
• auditory scanning with switch access to materials
• ability to change formatting of online materials in terms of size of symbols, color of symbols (black on white, white on black, color on yellow, etc) and font sizes

• more attention to "Participation Level"/"Level One" (students with severe cognitive challenges) in all materials and resources *especially in the transition portfolios and math materials* (Materials continue to be designed for mixed ability classrooms/inclusion classrooms, meaning those of us severing primarily or only students with severe/profound disabilities still will be unable to use many materials without significant adaptations)
• a least one theme related switch accessible game a month 
• four-five "Measure It" recipes a month with all or most "low choke hazard", "nut-free" and "gluten-free" (most special education settings cook weekly and most have one or more students with choking precautions or food allergies)
• at least four writing activities and science experiments per unit that can be used "out of the box" with students who have severe/profound intellectual disabilities
• attention to AAC instruction, especially on the "Participation Level" (i.e. ability to customize communication boards and symbol training in addition to sight word training)
• access to materials on iOS and Android platforms
• a four year rotation of themes instead of a three year (because my students stay with me for four years due to our state guidelines)
• a broader range of themes so that all areas of the curriculum are touched upon in the theme rotation (in three years of teaching Unique we have done US Civics and History many, many times, but rarely do we do World History or Ancient History)
• a even broader range of support materials to include Tobii Communicator, Test Me, Score Me, Choose It Maker, Proloquo2Go, Clicker5, Interactive Whiteboards and (I know this is a stretch) Dynavox and Boardmaker
• activity exchange to share materials made by teachers/therapists
• automatic updating of AAC systems using Symbolstix to include boards related to monthly themes, core curriculum and transition materials

For the Parents: Age Appropriate Back to School Shopping Ideas

• A new backpack is something every student looks forward to at Back-to-School time
• A Trabasack is can be both a wheelchair bag and a tray (we have one in my classroom and love it!)
• ActiveCare, Caselogic and Wheelchair Gear make nice wheelchair packs (try to buy from vendors that are not disability specific for better prices)
• Or just any sturdy and cool new bag would be great!

• Functional Accessories

•  medical id is essential, probably the most important thing your child wears every day, definitely the only thing that can save lives
• These companies offer hip bracelets, necklaces, shoes tags and other options for your child's medical id needs: N'Style, Medic Alert (has 1-800 number for EMS to call) Zoo Bears, Petite Baubles 
• if you can't or won't do medical id jewelery please be sure a medical id card is in your child's bag

• Chewable Jewelry is a great way to prevent your child from tooth grinding, mouthing/biting objects and other oral stimming behaviors while providing calming sensory input.  Gone are the days of having to give children washcloths or attaching chewy tubes to clothing
• Dr. Bloom's Chewable Jewels
• Oh Plah Bracelet
• Smart Mom Jewelry
• Loose the bib.  If clothing protection is a must replace the bib with other options.
• for uncontrolled drooling multiple layers of bandanas, if needed use clips to hold in place behind the neck 
• or you could purchase or sew your own lined bandanas
• for messy eating you can try an adult cloth clothing protector, but try to pick something hip (Etsy.com has some from time to time)
• a tee shirt cut up the back and worn while eating can work
• another choice is a make-up/hair-dresser cover-up/apron or "cutting cape"
• a box of 500 disposable clothing protectors (think lobster bibs) can be purchased for about $40 and should last more than a whole school year for clothing protection during snack and lunch (restaurant stores are cheaper than medical stores)

For the Parents: Back to School Tips

It's back to school time and here are some tips a special educator wants you to think about for back to school.

• return your health forms, it sounds obvious, but because so many students with severe special needs/medical fragility stay in the same class for a few years it is easy to forget that we need the forms filled out AGAIN, sorry about that!
• on that note make sure the TEAM has the most recent contact info for you and your emergency contacts
• speaking of paper work make sure your IEP is signed and returned, loose tracking of those papers from back in May happens, but it is much easier for the TEAM is there is a current plan
• working with your team decide where a spare set of clothes will be stored, (back pack? cubby? nurses office? locker?) and send in a set of clothes that fit and are weather appropriate for the season (repeat as needed, LOL)
• send in a few back up meals (be in some Easy Mac, a few cans of formula or the cost of a school lunch)
• make sure school has plenty of supplies for all your students needs(feeding, changing, medical, communication)
• see what for of school/home communication your child's team uses and try to fit it into your day, teachers and staff LOVE knowing what is going on at home, then we can make what we are teaching so much more relevant
• consider sending in a photo album of important family, friends and places with short sentences about each, it doesn't have to be fancy, just print out pictures, hand write sentences and staple (although fancy is fine, you can even great it on an AAC device for the student to share)
• when was the last time your child's wheelchair, walker, AAC device or other equipment had a good scrub down?  Follow the manufacturers directions, toss those cushion covers in the wash and give everything a good cleaning. 
•  if your child is in a new class, program or school, or even if their is just new staff in the room consider creating "cheat sheets" or a full transition portfolio/communication passport that includes basics about health needs, feeding, positioning and communication
• label everything!