Apps for Communication and Cognition -...

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

Joan@innovativespeech.com

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• Email

joan@innovativespeech.com

for copy of this presentation

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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

Joan@innovativespeech.com with

questions after this presentation

I am available in MD, VA and DC for

therapy/coaching/consultations

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