Proloquo2Go is an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) iTunes application. It has been devised to assist those persons experiencing challenges with verbal communication. It can be accessed by both adults and children with the visual and motor skill capabilities to operate an iPad, iPhone or iPod touch. It has been designed by the company AssistiveWare; innovators of assistive technology software for iOS and Mac OS X. It costs AU$ 399.99. It offers a 50% discount when 20 or more copies are purchased via Apple's App Store Volume Purchase Program for Education. To enhance the capabilities the application provides, in-app purchases are available. One such feature is Gateway’s New Child Functional Vocabulary, whose design specifically …show more content…
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) encompasses those forms of communication excluding oral speech which enable an individual to express themselves (Bondy & Frost, 1994). It replicates non-functional speech for those individuals with verbal or language difficulties through augmentative aides (Light & Drager, 2007). Recent technological advances have resulted in the availability of electronic devices which can convert text and picture and communication boards, to generate voice output. As a consequence, individuals with communication challenges accessing alternative means with which to express themselves, and in effect improve their social interaction, academic achievements, whilst gaining increased self-determination (Light & Drager, 2007). The rationale behind the Proloquo2go application is to promote flexible and accessible communication. Through the incorporation of the Picture Communication System (PCS) symbols, the application allows the user, by tapping the displayed symbols or using the word prediction on-screen keyboard, to convert text and approximately 14,000 SymbolStix symbols to speech. Essentially a Speech Generating device (SGD), it replaces the frequently cumbersome PCS …show more content…
In the study, by van der Meer et al. (2011), success was reported for two out of the three participants with developmental disabilities making requests for snacks and toys with the use of Proloquo2Go on an iPod Touch1 Similar results in which participants accessed the application to make requests for preferred stimuli were reported by Achmadi et al. (2012); Kagohara, et al. (2010) and van der Meer et al. (2012) while Kagohara et al. (2012) reported participants’ successfully making requests for preferred stimuli and identifying educationally relevant
There are many struggles facing humanity at the moment of which have been greatly improved by the use of technology. “To Siri, with Love” is one such struggle. Telling the story of a woman and her son’s struggle with autism, and how the iPhone series’ “Siri” has helped this boy to better cope with his autism in ways never seen before.
The skill area which needs to be work on and develop a plan for working on this within the agency holds on facilitated communication and sign language. However, facilitated communication empowers to assist people with harsh defect, and also, people that have trouble with speech. In addition, facilitated communication involves typing on a keyboard, pointing at letters, images, and symbols symbolizing messages. On the other hand, sign language, it’s a system of communication that uses visual expressions, facial signs, signs of hand movements as medium of conversation. Furthermore, sign language uses visual finger to spell an alphabetical word.
My first observation is that Martha exudes a tremendous amount of self-confidence. She thoroughly enjoys communicating with people and continually honing these skills. This girl has big dreams of being in the medical field. Martha is faced with some challenges as a Hard-of-Hearing individual, however, she overcomes them with grace and an eager willingness. She copes with communication challenges by using technology such as her videophone. This technology enables her to use American Sign Language with friends and family. In addition, Martha will write notes with people who may not know how to sign. Though this method may be time-consuming, it allows her to deal effectively with a communication challenge. Martha’s positive outlook on life shines through when she speaks to the camera; her positivity is infectious. She seems very approachable, and discusses how hearing individuals should be assertive and should not be afraid to speak with Hard-of-Hearing individuals. Also, Martha says she has many friends, and she appears to lead a relatively normal family life. She does not live in isolation, and she does not fear others’ perceptions of her disability. In fact, Martha welcomes individuals to communicate with her so she can better her communication skills with normal hearing people. Martha’s confidence, excitement, and approachability draw me to her and make me want to get to know
The XPRIZE article, “Students Build Apps for Peers in Special Education” by Joni Blecher, explains how students use the technology skills they have learned in school to help others in need of befitting from it. Allen Brooks is an entrepreneur turned teacher. During one of his days working at San Elijo Middle School in San Diego, he witnessed some students in need extra learning tools as they had disabilities that hindered them. When he saw these students in Mrs. Dudley’s class, he though of SMART Technologies’ SMART Tablet and how much it could benefit these students in need. He then put his computer students into groups of six to observe a class filled with disabled children. Brooks assigned his students to create an app that would help these
For the Module 7B assignment, I selected the Autism Tracker lite app to be evaluated with the Educational App Evaluation Rubric by Vincent and the Autism iHelp-Sorting app to be evaluated using the Critical Evaluation of a Content-Based iPad/iPod app. The Autism Tracker lite is a free, Apple app to help individuals with autism. At first, I was glad that it was an Apple app and that it was free as well, something I do not see very often when researching apps created to run on this platform. What I liked about this app is that it is for the whole family with capabilities such as the export of lists of entries and tables for detailed reviewed at a later time, customizable visuals in which one can input personal photos and labels, and calendars to calculate icons for everyday tasks, among other very handy options.
Also, beliefs and perspectives are important for using or applying any kind of augmentative and alternative communication systems (AAC), PECS as an example in teaching students with severe communication impairments. Therefore, teachers should have positive perspectives regarding using PECS in their classrooms. For example, teachers should feel that PECS as a method of AACs are effective for enabling students with severe communication impairments to communicate with their typical peers and supporting them to succeed in their
My goal for the product was for everyone that joined my club to be able to have a basic conversation with each other and form sentences with vocabulary they have learned, and so far I have made progress the way I planned with my class ability to sign and understand sign language.
Speech specialists could likewise assist kids along with intense impairments discover exactly how to utilize unique interaction tools, such as a computer system along with an advocate synthesizer, or even an unique panel wrapped along with icons of daily items as well as tasks to which a youngster can easily aim to reveal his or even her desires. There are actually all kinds of methods to motivate the development of speech, and also they can easily be actually included in to various other kinds of restorative
The author provided a literature review of the popularity of use of the iPad in the classroom, among students with or without disabilities. The review found that students with disabilities had greater engagement and behavioral response rates when using iPads and teaching applications on the iPads as opposed to more traditional methods of teaching. Through this background knowledge, the author sets up her research proposal.
Edith’s husband Burt and daughter Meryle are extremely involved in the augmentative and alternative communication process. They have both attended a majority of meetings with the doctor, speech pathologist, and other related professionals. The two individuals provide Edith with a strong support system along with Edith’s friends from work. Edith’s daughter and husband have carried out all recommendations given by related professionals and are extremely motivated to facilitate Edith’s success with a communication device.
Elle, a special needs person who is 14 years old has cerebral palsy. She is assisted in communicating with others by the use of a Dynavox, a computer assisted software that allows her to use a head mouse to point at a picture and the Dynavox talks for her. She is not able to communicate her wants and needs at school and home, and is able to chat with friends and interact with her
Trembath, Paynter, Keen, and Ecker (2015) describes facilitated communication (FC) as a process when a "facilitator" uses physical interaction to direct a hand, arm, or shoulder to assist a person with a disability as they type a message by selecting symbols on an keyboard or letter board. This is then interpreted and assumed by the facilitators to be the person's individual attempt at communication. In its earliest form, this practice was considered
Assistive technology can be designed to increase interdependence among disabled children or prevent disabled students from achieving personal goals. Specialized technology helps disabled people to become more independent and more involved in the activities in schools and communities (Berry, 2003).Assistive technology increases a child social skills by building up psychical functioning. This helps students to build social skills and interdependence because they will not depend on their caregivers. Also, communication devices can help children increase hearing impairment .Children who have a difficulty hearing do not have hearing aid. Therefore, assistive devices can provide hearing aids for children who have hearing loss. This can help children by allowing them to be aware of their surroundings by listening .Devices that function for daily activities helps disabled children to complete daily tasks. For example, they are devices that will help enhance social skills. There are assistive devices that would help children to learn how to read and write. Also, gain study skills and gain knowledge. Special software’s allow people with cognitive impartments to use the computer to enhance their memory, and to communicate (Berry, 2003).People who are blind are able to use cognitive devices because it would enhance their speaking skills and allow them to be
Some of the ways are American Sign Language, Assistive Augmentative Communication (AAC) devices, gestures, and the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) to supplement the students’ communication skills. Since partnering with WCSI they have been able to introduce the iPad for communication. Two (2) of the participants in the Program have used an iPad for a means of communication the apps that they utilized were ProLoQue2 and TouchChat. Some of the students used their own form of sign language and it was very hard for them to interact with family, peers, and teachers. Most of the students using the iPad needed some sort of assistance from aids in the classroom to utilize the iPads for communication and
While speech or voice recognition technology has advanced greatly over recent years, students with extreme speech deficiencies may find it difficult to accomplish what they are trying to say. For example, the same can be applied to users of modern technology. Personally, I have run into auto correct issues when using my talk to text option with my smart phone. A majority of the time what I am saying does not exactly translate into the text I desired to say. While I have the ability to go back and actually type the desired statement, students with disabilities may not be able to do the same, due to their