Credits for Augmentative and Alternative (AAC) Assistive Technology (AT) Blog

Credits for Augmentative and Alternative (AAC) Assistive Technology (AT) Blog

The hope for this blog is for the viewer to gain knowledge about AAC devices and services and enjoy the information presented.

All videos in the AAC AT Blog are from www.youtube.com

AAC Keys. (2010). Retrieved from www.abledata.com and www.aacinstitue.org

Advancing Adventures in Communicating (AAC) Camp. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.sliers.org/aaccamp.html

Assistive Chat App. (2011). Retrieved from www.abledata.com

AutoVerbal Pro Talk Sounding Board App. (2011). Retrieved from www.abledata.com

Boardmaker v.6 software. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.mayer-johnson.com/boardmaker-v-6/

GoTalk9+. (2012). Retrieved from www.abledata.com and http://www.attainmentcompany.com/product.php?productid=16147#

Custom Boards App. (2012). Retrieved from www.abledatacom and www.smarty-ears.com

Dyanvox Tango! Device. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.dynavoxtech.com/products/tango/.

EC4ALL App. (2011). Retrieved from www.abledate.com

Interpretype. (2010). Retrieved from www.abledata.com and www.interpretype.com

My Choice Board App. (2012). Retrieved from www.abledata.com

Say-it! SAM Communicator. (2007). Retrieved from www.abledatacom and www.words-plus.com

Springboard Lite Communicator. (2012). Retrieved from https://store.prentrom.com/product_info.php/cPath/11/products_id/8

Tobii c15, a communication device for speech and language. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.tobii.com/en/assistive-technology/global/products/hardware/tobii-C15/

Tobii Sono Flex App. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.tobiisonoflex.com/

My Choice Board App

Description and Purpose of Device:

My Choice Board is an app that enables and iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch to work as an augmentative and alternative (AAC) communication for individuals who cannot speak, have speech difficulties, learning disabilities or people with autism.  The app is created to be voice output program and allows users to direct select items for effective and faster communication.

Device Usage and Features:

The app allows the user, a teacher, a parent or other care giver to select images to display on the choice board and by touching the selected choice, it is displayed on the top of the screen.  The app also allows the user to record a message for the image by touching the image twice and allows for multiple choice boards to be saved for future reference and usage.  My Choice Boards has the ability to create customized themes to display user personal preferences and the choices can consist of food related items, places, activities or sensory.  The app also has the ability to display more than six images on the screen and the choices can be edited with a red circle with a slash over it to indicate that choice is unavailable.  This app only operates on Apple devices with operating system 3.1.2 or later.

Manufacturer and Cost Information:

The designer of the My Choice Boards app is Good Karma Applications, Inc. and is located at 14384 Sawgrass Circle, Valley Center, California 92082. This company’s belief is helping individuals with disabilities lead functional lives through the use of exceptional mobile device technologies.  They create applications for Apple and Android products.  The cost of My Choice Board app is $9.99 and is available at iTunes in the App Store.  

EC4ALL App

Description and Purpose of Device:

The EC4ALL is an app that enables an Android device to function as an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device allowing the user to communicate with doctors, nurses and emergency responders.

Device Usage and Features:

The EC4ALL app uses symbols and voice direct output through the Android device for users who have communication and speech challenges, learning and developmental disabilities, or cognitive issues to have the ability to communicate accurately their needs to emergency personnel.  It has a variety of screens with symbols that relate to a person’s health and safety.  The individual uses the app by selecting symbols on the screen to create a sentence and then press the “play” button to generate speech through the text-to-talk capabilities of the mobile device which is accessible under the “Accessibility” settings of the device.  This product works only on the Android mobile devices that have the Android 2.1 or later operating system.

Manufacturer and Cost Information:

The EC4ALL app is designed by CreateAbility Concepts, Inc. and is located at 5610 Crawfordsville Rd, Suite 2401, Indianapolis, Indiana 46224 and can be reached at 800-484-8401 or 317-484-8400.  The company develops assistive technology to suit the needs of people with disabilities in order to live functional lives despite their disability.  The cost of the EC4ALL App is $3.00 and is available through the Android Market.



Dynavox Tango! Device

Description and Purpose of Device:

The Tango! Is an augmentative and alternative communication device the generates speech by direct selection or scanning for use by children, teens and young adults with speech, language, and learning disabilities. It is used as an every day-to-day communication speech generating device to allow the users for effective communication with others to express themselves and their needs through the devices many communication methods.

Device Usage and Features:

The Tango! comes equipped with many features that allow the individual to communicate faster by using a six button layout that allows for fewer distractions and fewer mis-hits for those with fine motor challenges when compared to other speech generating devices.  The device can learn from the users usage  and remember the language used.  The device has a built-in camera and voice morphing, turning an adults voice into a child’s voice, for personal configuration.  It also features over 2,500 pre-recorded, digitally enhanced phrases and over 6,000 words for sentence building.  It has the ability to interface with a PC or MAC computer allowing the device to become a keyboard and allow for mouse movements.  The voice capabilities allow for natural sounding voice and voice tone control through its built-in speakers as well as the integrated microphone that allows for high quality audio recordings.  The outer casing is water and shock resistant for a very durable and rugged product.  The Tango! uses rechargeable lithium-ion polymer batteries or alternating current (AC) power adapter (included). 

Manufacturer and Cost Information:

The Dynavox Tango! Device is manufactured by DynaVox Mayer-Johnson located at 2100 Wharton Street, Suite 400, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15203 and can be reached at 866-DYNAVOX or 412-381-4883.  The company was founded in Pittsburgh, PA in 1983 on the belief that technology’s greatest benefits are realized when it empowers individuals with disabilities.  They provide many communication solutions to those who are unable to speak by providing high quality devices.  The cost of the Tango! is $6899.



Advancing Adventure in Communicating (AAC) Camp

Description and Purpose of Service:

The Advancing Adventures in Communicating (AAC) Camp is a camp where only individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication devices can come for a week and participate in fun activities, social interactions since they may not know others who use devices like theirs, and receive training for usage of their devices. 

Service Usage and Features:

The camp is designed so individuals who use speech generating devices (SGDs) can come and participate with others in an environment where the only people at the camp are users of SGDs. It allows children to meet others at various communication levels to interact socially and receive training in a fun, caring, respectful, and realistic social environment.  The activities provided allow the child to improve their communication skills.  Some of the activities offered are swimming, rock climbing, field trips, social time, computer time, arts and crafts, and they provide counseling and training for the parents.

Services Location and Cost Information:

The Advancing Adventures in Communicating (AAC) Camp is offered at Northwestern Nazarene University campus in Nampa, Idaho.  It is conducted by the St. Luke’s Elk Rehab and the cost is only $75 per child.

Springboard Lite Communicator

Description and Purpose of Device:

The Springboard Lite Communicator is an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device that is easy portable and ready to use right out of the box.  The device can be used with individuals with learning disabilities, speech and communication challenges or those who are non-verbal to allow them to communicate with others.  Many schools and AAC centers like the ability of the device for it’s easy-to-change access options.

Device Usage and Features:

The Springboard Lite has many features that allow the user to effectively communicate with others.  It can display configurations consisting of 4-, 8-, 15-, and 36-locations using a Unity language system with five integrated versions of pre-stored vocabulary.  It can be accessed by direct selection; single- or dual-switch scanning; USB connectivity allows use of head pointing systems, mouse, USB joystick and mouse emulation access products.  The unit also comes equipped with a built-in media player and serial port for computer access.  It can also control lights, televisions, dvd players through its infrared environmental control functions and is Bluetooth accessible.  Software on the device also allows for targeting and picture recognition as well as activity monitoring of language usage and has introductory therapy exercises preloaded.  It comes with prerecorded male and female voices and has the capacity for more than 500 minutes of digitized speech memory.  Standard and custom keyguards are available so user won’t touch an incorrect key.  The unit is bilingual in English and Spanish which is standard.  It is available in four colors of midnight black, sunset orange, seafoam green, and vineyard grape.

Manufacturer and Cost Information:

The manufacturer is Prentke Romich Company (PRC) located at 1022 Heyl Road Wooster, OH 44691 and can be reached at (800) 262-1933 for sales and at (800) 268-5224 for funding of devices.  The company is employee owned and has been operating for 45 years.  Their approach is client-centered in providing quality assistive technology to its clients to improve their quality of life.  They also provide trials of their products through trial contracts so the client can best suit their needs with the appropriate assistive technology.  The price of the Springboard Lite Communicator is $2595.



Say-it! SAM Communicator





Description and Purpose of Device:

The Say-it! SAM Communicator is an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device that uses direct selection of symbols and is text-based that fits into the palm of your hand and only ways ten ounces.  This device helps those with communication or speech disabilities the ability to communicate more efficiently and effectively with others.

Device Usage and Features:

The Say-it! SAM Communicator uses a dynamic display graphical interface and an intelligent keyboard interface along with DECtalk speech synthesizer with nine different voices for speech output.  The voices consist of four male, four female and one’s child voice for selection of speech output.  The user is able to use any of the five buttons and unlimited page links to create sentences from simple to complex.  The user can also import symbols, photos and voice files to link to the button as well as record voice messages onto the device.  The device is comes with over 6500 color Picture Communication Symbols from Mayer-Johnson on a CD-ROM and a 128 MB memory card.   Other features involve PC applications that allow the user to create layouts and pages for importation or exportation or managed offline.  The Say-it! SAM Communicator has the capability to learn the client’s vocabulary all through the customizable dictionary and phrase lists that are created by the client and comes preloaded with the capability of word completion and prediction along with phrase prediction.  The device also allows for text magnification for silent communication.  The device uses a 400MHz Intel processor with 64 MB RAM and comes with a docking cradle, USB and serial connectors, auto-syncing cable, built-in audio amplifier with dual speakers, and a protective carrying case with belt clip.  The unit is powered by batteries or an AC power adapter which is included.

Manufacturer and Cost Information:

The Say-it! SAM Communicator is designed by Words+, Inc. at 42505 10th Street West, Lancaster, California 93534-7059 and can be contacted at 800-869-8521 or 661-723-6523.  Since 1981 the company has been dedicated to helping people with disabilities improve their quality of life by providing state of the art equipment.  The price of Say-it! SAM Communicator is $2995.00 which includes a carrying case and neck strap.

 

Custom Boards App

Description and Purpose of Device:

Custom Boards is an app designed for use by individuals with communication issues, cognition problems, developmental or speech disabilities, autism, cerebral palsy who need symbols to communicate with others and learn.  This app also assists speech therapists, special education and teachers, and parents the ability to create boards and activities for the children they work with or parent.  Custom Boards app allows an iPad to become an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device by creating communication boards that can be printed or displayed on a mobile device.  The app can be very powerful and useful in special education settings of a classroom for those with special communication needs.

Device Usage and Features:

The Custom Boards app is preloaded with over 11,000 symbols from the Smarty Symbols library and the capability of adding your own photos for customization.  It has over 100 templates in three areas consisting of Communication Boards, Schedules, and Activities.  The Communication Boards can be designed into 2x2, 4x4, 16 Grid, 8 Grid, AMDi32 configurations.  The client uses the app by selecting a template, then adding the images they want, and can edit the text for each symbol.  When the board is complete, it can be printed using an AirPrint ready printer, saved on the iPad in a folder, emailed and completed templates can be saved to a computer as a PDF using iTunes for future use without having to recreate them.  The iPad needs to have the Apple iOS 4.0 or later to run Custom Boards App.

Manufacturer and Cost Information:

The Custom Boards app is designed by Smarty Ears, LLC at 1412 Buxton Drive, Desoto, Texas 75115 and can be reached at 940-230-0297.  The company was founded in 2009 by a Speech-Language Pathologist and was the first company to design apps geared toward speech therapy for mobile devices such as the Apple products and Android market.  Their goal is to create the best tools possible so that children with communication difficulties can become the best communicators.  Smarty Ears, LLC also states that this app is evidence based.  The app is available at iTunes in the App Store for $39.99.



AutoVerbal Pro Talk Sounding Board App



Description and Purpose of Device:

The AutoVerbal Pro Talking Soundboard is an app that allows the iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad to function as an alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) system for individuals who cannot speak or have challenges speaking.  It is a voice output direct selection and symbolic communicator program that is designed for users, of the above products, which have communication issues, cognitive and learning disabilities due to injury or illness and also those with autism. 

Device Usage and Features:

The app features three ways to talk by using over 12 categories with hundreds of pre-programmed phrases, allowing one or more buttons to be programmed for customized messages pertaining to names, addresses, or family names, and finally by typing simple words or sentences which are then spoken by the iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad text-to-speech features on the device.  A person can customize primary category of buttons with their own photos and it has male and female prerecorded voices for many of the buttons.  The first row of buttons on the app can be customized.

Manufacturer and Cost Information:

The AutoVerbal Pro Talking Soundboard app is manufactured by No Tie Software, LLC Rochester, New York.  It is available at iTunes in the App Store for $9.99.



Boardmaker v.6 Software



Description and Purpose of Device:

Boardmaker v.6 is software that allows an individual to create printed materials that are symbol-based like communication boards, schedules or sequential events for people with special needs such as children with autism, speech challenges, and learning disabilities.  It is designed to help students in the classroom meet their goals whether academic or social.

Device Usage and Features:

This software is highly used by educators, especially teachers in the classroom for their students with and without special needs, speech-language pathologists and other professionals assisting in the classroom.  It allows you to design your own materials with symbols in 44 languages and you have the ability to choose your own topics, labels, color borders, labels, languages to name a few.   The software uses and easy drawing program that features more than 4500 Picture Communication Symbols (PCS) in color and black and white pictures.  It is being used by educators to enhance the communication and learning of their students in the classroom.  It can create visual schedules for individuals with autism and social skills stories.  Communication boards can be created for non-verbal students along with symbol activities to promote reading amongst young readers as well as story boards for preschool aged children.  It also allows the import of your own picture images from your digital camera or the internet.  It can be used with PCs running Windows 2000, XP or 7 as well as MAC computers with OS X 10.4.11 or higher.

Manufacturer and Cost Information:

The software is developed by Mayer-Johnson, LLC, A Division of Dynavox Technologies located at PO Box 1579, Solana Beach, California 92075-1579
and can be reached at 800-588-4548 or 858-550-0084.  The cost is $399.



GoTalk9+

Description and Purpose of Device:

The GoTalk9+ is augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device that is a direct selection communicator that generates speech according to the items selected that is used for communicating and training of individuals with speech challenges or disabilities and for those who need daily reminding of everyday tasks. 

Device Usage and Features:

The device can be used by individuals ranging from children to adults with limited or no speech, autism, multiple disabilities, cerebral palsy, head injuries, speech loss from stroke or temporary loss of speech.  This model has nine keys and five recording levels giving it a 45 message capacity device.  It has a record lock to messages will not easily get erased and can hold nine minutes of recording time as well as three prerecorded core messages that stay the same on each level so no need to rerecord.  It also has a built in handle for portability and provides level locks, record locks, overlay storage, great volume control, sequential recording and quick level erase capabilities.  It only weighs 23 ounces built to withstand daily usage.  It uses two double- A batteries.

Manufacturer and Cost Information:

The GoTalk9+ is manufactured by Attainment Company Inc. which is located in the United States at PO Box 930160, 504 Commerce Parkway, Verona, Wisconsin 53593-0160 and can be reached at 800-327-4269 or 608-845-7880.  They are an independent, family owned business that is dedicated to assisting individuals with cognitive disabilities live their life successfully regardless of their occupation.  The cost of the GoTalk9+ is $179.



Tobii C15

Description and Purpose of Device:

The Tobii C15 is a an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device for speech and language that allows the user to have effective communication in all forms with others via face-to-face to long distance communication as well as devolopment of language and literacy.  It has a large screen so easy on the eyes and many input methods such as touch screen, keyboard and mouse, switches, and head mouse or eye control.

Device Usage and Features:

The device is suitable for users who are not able to move around easily or confined to a wheelchair.  When the Tobii C15 is combined with the optional eye control module (additional cost) it is well suited for individuals are limited in use of their upper body parts or no usage of their hands such as people with Lou Gehrig’s disease, cerbral palsy and suffered from a stroke.  It allows the user to communicate daily via text or symbols generating speech as well as connecting with others via email, web surfing, game playing, instant messaging, and use of computer applications.  The Tobii C15 can also act an environmental control device controlling items such as TV, DVD player, lights and  doors.  It is also desgined for long hours of communication usage due to it’s swappable batteries.  When one set is low, just replace with newly charged set and your on your way.

Manufacturer and Cost Information:

The Tobii C15 is manufactured by Tobii and a world leader in technology for eye tracking and eye control technology.  They have many offices around the world and the North American office is located at 333 Elm Street, Dedham, MA 02026 and can be contacted Toll Free 1-800-793-9227.  The cost of the Tobii C15 is approximately $8020.



Tobii Sono Flex App

Description and Purpose of Device: 

The Tobii Sono Flex is an easy vocabulary app to use that turns symbols and text into speech on devices such as the for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android, Amazon Kindle Fire, and also on PCs and speech generating devices (SGDs) running Tobii Communicator and therefore turns these devices into and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device.  It allows users who are nonverbal that are not capable of full literacy, such as those with Autism, the ability to communicate with others as well as use by speech language pathologists, family, school teachers and caregivers to use with these individuals.

Device Usage and Features:

This app is can be downloaded onto many platforms such as the iPad, iPod Touch, Android, Amazon Kindle Fire, PCs and SGDs which makes it a very versatile app for various devices.  It has many features due to its structure, growth path and flexibility capabilities.  It has the ability to develop an extensive dictionary, switch from device to device without starting from scratch in creating new vocabulary and sentence structures, allow for quick access to common used phrases, create your own topic boards, and allows the vocabulary to grow with the user.  The app also comes pre-programmed with 50 context and themes as well as over 800 words based on their relevance and frequency and because of the pre-installations it reduces the amount of time for facilitators or family to set up a customize vocabulary.  Individuals can also create their communication categories, personal preferences and the flexibility to personalize the vocabulary.  By being an app available to so many devices, it allows the user to experience an AAC device before applying for funding for a speech generating device.

Manufacturer and Cost Inforamtion:

The Tobii Sono Flex App is created by Tobii ATI which has many locations around the world.  They concentrate on developing, promoting, selling, and servicing innovative products for the disabled.  The Tobii Sono Flex app is available at iTunes in the App Store and the Android Store for $99 and a Lite version is available for free with limited functions and only one license to run on various Apple products.  It is also available at the Amazon App Store for free to evaluate before purchasing full version for $99.  The Tobii Sono Flex App is also available for a 30-day free trial if you have a Tobii Communicator for your PC or speech generating device by visiting their website and filling out the form.  Their North American office is located at 333 Elm Street, Dedham, MA 02026 and can be contacted Toll Free 1-800-793-9227.

Interpretype

Description and Purpose of Device:

Intertype, also known as an ITY, provides a way for people who have difficulty hearing, are deaf, or non-verbal to speech impairments to communicate without using speech by typing messages back and forth through this interactive augmentative and alternative communication system as an alternative to sign language.  It is used by organizations to provide customer friendly communication exchange to provide better customer service and provide employees ways to continue working.  The individual needs to be cognitively aware, ability to read, view words on a monitor, and have fine motor skills to be able to the use this device.

Device Usage and Features:

The Intertype is a pre-programmed laptop type computer that has many features.  The user can type messages and send them to other devices or a computer and view typed messages from others.  The units are like a small computer with a full-sized keyboard that can communicate with other Windows based computers using the Intertype software and because of this it is considered a peripheral device for interoffice communication.  People can have conversations by reading and typing, print conversations, and allow for real-time interpreting services via the internet.  The Interpretype is has video cameras and sound cards which allows for interpreting services for foreign languages and can communicate from English to over 240 languages and is Wi-Fi, Ethernet and USB capable.  It comes with a user’s manual, cables and a carrying case and uses rechargeable batteries or an adapter for power source.  It has a Spanish or French translation module.  It has been used in many settings with emergency responder agencies, hospitals, schools, restaurants, and court offices to name a few.

Manufacturer and Cost Information:

The manufacturer is Interpretype, LLC and was developed in 2002 by Ken Gan to improve customer service in his auto repair shop and blossomed into a corporation providing solutions for face-to-face conversations for individuals with speech disabilities and hearing disabilities.  The company is located at 3301 Brighton-Henrietta Townline Road, Suite 200, Rochester, New York 14623 and can be contacted at 877-345-3182 or 585-272-1155.  The price for the Interpretype ranges from $1395 to $2900 depending on the device type and accessories desired.  Distributors for this product are available at www.enablemart.com.

AAC Keys: An alternative to SerialKeys

Description and Purpose of Device:

The AAC Keys is an emulation program for keyboard and mouse interface with a computer to allow the user to control the computer as an augmentative and alternative communication device.  

Device Usage and Features:

The AAC Keys program software is downloadable from www.aacinstitute.org and installed on the user’s computer.  The software receives commands via the computer’s serial port and then interprets the keystrokes and mouse moves by using the common General Input Device Emulating Interface commands which allows the user from another device to control the computer.   This software is compatible with IBM and similar computers or Macintosh computers (MACs) and is available in English and German versions for Windows and only in English for MACs.  The operating systems it runs on are Windows 95, 98, Me, NT 4, or 2000 and for MACs the OS X is required.

Manufacturer and Cost Information:

The AAC Keys software is available at the AAC Institute’s website for FREE download and all they ask is for a possible donation so that they may continue providing products like AAC Keys to others.  AAC Institute is a not-for-profit organization that was established in 2000 as a resource for people interested in assisting others with communication challenges who rely on augmentative and alternative communication devices.  AAC Institute is located at 1000 Killarney Drive, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15234 and can be contacted at 412-523-6424.

Assistive Chat App

Description and Purpose of Device: 

The Assistive Chat is an app that enables an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad to operate as an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device for people that are challenged with communicating or who cannot speak as well as individuals with cognitive issues, learning or speech disabilities.  This app functions as a voice output communicator and word prediction program that allows the user to communicate faster with others by reducing the amount of keystrokes necessary to create sentences with natural sounding voice.  It also is adaptable over time to the users communication needs and accuracy of word prediction improves as well.

Device Usage and Features:

To use the app, the user purchases the app from the iTunes App Store for their iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch and installs the app according to their device of use.  The user can then type in words or sentences they want to communicate, then the user touches the speaker button, and the program will speak the words out loud via the devices speakers. The app allows words and sentences to be added to a favorites list for future usage.  Other features of the app include adjustable volume and speed for voices, three voices for user to choose, large font and buttons for easy access, common sentences used favorites list, landscape and portrait mode, and adaptive learning of new vocabulary and next word prediction for future use.  It is only available for Apple products mentioned and systems running iOS 3.1 or later.

Manufacturer and Cost Information:

The Assistive Chat app can be purchased at iTunes in the App Store for $24.99 and can be located online at Assistive Apps.  Their goal is to create simple and functional apps for all which includes the disabled and elderly.  They make every effort to take advantage of the user-friendly devices such as the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch to augment the user’s capabilities of performing tasks such as communication.  Assistive Apps is located at 211 Holland Avenue, #04-03, 268967, Singapore and can be contacted at +65-6469-8224 or visit the web: http://www.assistiveapps.com.