urTalker Apps 90% Off for Limited Time

Due to the great response of the free offer for urTalker Apps the founders of urTalker are happy to discount urTalker Lite and urTalker Pro 90% for the remainder of Autism Awareness month.  The apps will be discounted for the remainder of April and the start and end time may vary on country and time zone. These communication apps are designed to assist with or enable speech for individuals with speech and communication disabilities.

We hope you or someone close to you can benefit from these apps and this limited offer.

-Founders of urTalker

The founders of urTalker are happy to make urTalker Lite and urTalker Pro free for a limited time during Autism Awareness month.  The apps will be free for one week and the start and end time may vary on country and time zone. These communication apps are designed to assist with or enable speech for individuals with speech and communication disabilities.

We hope you or someone close to you can benefit from these apps and this limited offer.

-Founders of urTalker

The founders of urTalker are happy to offer both of their communication apps for 50% off during the 2012 Autism Conference.  Having a non-verbal son with Autism we understand the importance of this app and how a discount like this can make it easier for other individuals that have a similar need.

This promotion will be good for three days and open to everyone.  Enjoy the discount and more importantly make great use of the app.

To purchase visit the iTunes Store or click here for the direct link.

If you haven’t been, the Texas Autism Conference is a statewide conference for parents, school personnel and other professionals working with individuals within the Autism spectrum. It is sponsored by the Texas Education Agency and has been coordinated by the Education Service Center, Region 2, for more than a decade.

If you are able to attend or are in the Austin area, stop by, we would love to see you.  urTalker Team

As parents of a non-verbal child we have used and leveraged a wide-range of these communication devices and have taken the time in this post to categorize some of the different types and provide product names and descriptions as a resource.  There is no “one” right device and certainly no “perfect” solution.  There are only tools that are “right for the moment”.  Communication is a progression for non-verbal individuals the same as it is for verbal individuals.  Just as a 2yrs old starts with pointing, then single words, then 2+ word phrases so shall the progression for non-verbal communication work.  Each tool provides more and more different functions allowing for increasingly complex communication capabilities.

Below you will see some of the great tools that can help you or a loved one with their augmentative and alternative communication device needs.

Big Mac Buttons and Similar Switches

Buttons and switches are a very good way to get started with basic communication using assistive technology.  The illustration here is a product from AbleNet and allows you to record any sound, adjust the volume, and then when the button is pressed that sound is played.

We used this product with our son initially as fun, recording music and songs like “Happy Birthday”.  We then began using it for core communication with “Yes” and “No” sounds.  We used two different color buttons and recorded “No” in one and “Yes” in the other.  We were then able to work with our son to press the appropriate button when asked relevant questions.

This solution was a great step in the communication process and helped demonstrate his ability to communicate.  Remember to start basic and ask questions or allow for communication that is clear in the beginning steps.  These switches can also be used for turning on and off other devices making the use of these endless for a variety of activities.

PECS also known as Picture Exchange Communication System

This is a cornerstone of non-verbal communication and you will see it incorporated in a lot of the AAC devices.  I highly recommend getting familiar with this system and if you are just starting out consider visiting the PECS site and learn about some of the processes.  Our son started out with this system around 3-4yrs of age and it was great for very basic communication.  You can use google images to find pictures or use professional icons/images found in this site or at the PECS and other sites.

One of the simplest methods for leveraging a Picture Exchange system is the poster method.  Here is the one we created for our son for home use.  We also had a version at school to keep the activities and pictures relevant.

You can see that we simply used pictures from google or icons from a PECS library, laminated the photos and attached them with velcro.  When we first implemented this PECS board we would re-direct our son to the picture.  Example: Our son would pull us to the door indicating he wanted to go for a car ride.  We would then take him to the board, and have him touch (or hand us) the picture of a car.  After a few times of this process he began bringing us the relevant images and over time outgrew this system.

Basic Communication Devices

The next jump up in augmentative and alternative communication devices are units like the ChatBox40. As you can see this device takes the PECS system into a digital device.  There are several companies that make these types of communication devices allowing for different numbers of pictures and different methods for recording and storing your recordings.

Regardless of the device they essentially allow you to use any picture you like, place it into that position, and then record your audio for that picture.  This device moves your communication off the poster board or cards and makes it portable.  Some versions allow you to record multiple layers allowing you to switch out the grid more easily without having to continually update the audio.

Our son did not spend a lot of time using this version of communication, but is was very effective for his core communication.  There are several levels of communication and working from a core and advancing is one of the best approaches.

Advanced Communication Devices

This category of devices is very large and devices range from moderate sophistication to unbelievable sophistication.  The vast majority of products in the market for this level of assistive technology are complete units (software and hardware) as pictured to the left.  A growing number of companies are making iPad apps so I will touch on both and with each remember the functionality and sophistication can range greatly.

The product pictured to the left is called a Springboard.  This company makes a number of devices and the sophistication and range of capabilities can be staggering.  As you can see it is still leveraging some of the picture exchange models but when mixed with a grid and ever advancing vocabulary it quickly becomes memorized by the individual and used very fast.

These devices have been around for several years and can be small and portable like this one or large and more stationery depending on your needs.  When looking at all-in-one devices some of the most prominent companies to look at are Dynavox, PRC (Springboard), and Mayer-Johnson. Each company has several options and can range in price from as little as a few thousand dollars to fifteen thousand dollars.

Our son used this device intermittently for a year and was very quick to learn it.  He was able to not only manage most of the screens but was also able to get into the admin settings which caused a few issues until we learned how to limit access.  This system does a great job of building sentences and allowing for playback.  Our biggest challenge was adding or changing settings.  It works great for extended periods of using the same sets of communication, but we have now moved to a device that allows for faster changes.

iPad Communciation Apps

This is by far the most exciting development in Augmentative and Alternative Communication Devices.  Several companies have developed communication apps for the iPad providing some great flexibility at amazing prices.  Several apps have leveraged the above systems and picture exchange process proving solutions with comparable functionality.

urTalker Pro pictured left is a Augmentative and Alternative Communication App (Assistive Technoogy) that has hundreds of pre-loaded commonly used pictures coupled with the ability to use the camera and mic built into the iPad to add pictures and audio realtime.  These apps allow for easy administration so individuals can quickly customize the system to their needs and update it as they evolve.

We moved our son to iPad AAC apps because of the low cost couple with how easy they are to update and administrate.  Add that with the ability to have other apps, video and music and we hit a home run with our son.  The urTalker App was a great progression for our son and continues to grow with him.  He started with a 2-Grid setting and is currently using 9.

There are a number of great iPad AAC apps.  We have published an article featuring 10 such apps if you are considering that route.  Take a look for more ideas.

Technology has always played a huge role in assisting individuals with communication needs allowing for tremendous advancements and growth of those individuals that without assistive technology would not otherwise be able to communicate their thoughts.

With the invention of the iPad the cost for AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) devices and programs has dropped tremendously making it more and more affordable for individuals with communication impairments and communication disabilities.

As a parent of a non-verbal autistic child we have personally used and viewed a wide range of traditional devices that range from $3,000-$15,000 and in the last few years more cost effective iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad apps that while we still have to pay for that device the total cost is less ranging $300-$1,000 depending on the device and app and can be just as or more effective depending on your individual communication needs.

Below we have listed 10 great iPad Apps that communication tools supporting non-verbal communication or assist individuals with limited communication.  Each app has varying features and functions depending on your specific needs and range from $50-$300.

App Name: LAMP Words For Life

Apple Description: LAMP Words For Life™ is a full vocabulary augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) language app that combines the power of the PRC Unity® language system with Language Acquisition through Motor Planning (LAMP™) principles and strategies. LAMP™ is a therapeutic approach based on neurological and motor learning principles as well as clinical experiences that address the language development and communication needs of children with autism. It provides a consistent motor pattern for words and a systematic way to develop communication skills allowing for unlimited language growth opportunities. More than 10,000 parents, caregivers, teachers, and clinicians have been trained on LAMP™ worldwide and significant gains in communication ability have been witnessed and documented.

Price as of 9/2012: $299.99

App Name: TouchChat – AAC

Apple Description: TouchChat for iPod and iPhone is a full-featured communication solution for individuals who have difficulty using their natural voice. TouchChat is designed for individuals with Autism, Down Syndrome, ALS, apraxia, stroke, or other conditions that affect a person’s ability to use natural speech.

Price as of 9/2012: $149.99

App Name: Sono Flex

Apple Description: Tobii Sono Flex is an easy to use AAC vocabulary app that turns symbols into clear speech. It offers language to nonverbal users who are not yet in full control of literacy. Sono Flex combines the benefits of structure and flexibility, providing a framework for language development, quickly matching individual and situational communication needs. Tobii Sono Flex has been designed to be easy to operate and easy for SLPs, teachers, parents, caregivers or other communication partners to setup and customize.

Price as of 9/2012: $99.99

App Name: urTalker Pro

Apple Description: urTalker Pro is a fully featured communication app providing affordable augmentative and alternative communication. This assistive technology app comes with fully customizable grid or “board” style views for categories and words allowing the user to grow with the app. You can start with simple 1 or 2 word communication views and move all the way up to 16 grid displays for advanced communication needs.

urTalker allow you to leverage the camera and audio on the iPad to add your own picture and sounds so individuals can fully personalize the app with their home, food, therapy or related items that help them communicate.

App Price as of 5/2013: $24.99

App Name: Get Talking™ – Text To Speech (AAC)

Apple Description: Get Talking™ is a powerful Augmented Alternative Communication (AAC) text-to-speech (TTS) App that provides a user friendly and cool assisted communication solution for people who have difficulty speaking. Developed for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, it uses natural sounding male and female voices, an expandable default word library, and is a fraction of the cost of traditional AAC devices.

App price as of 9/2012: $209.99

App Name: Proloquo2Go

Apple Description: Proloquo2Go is a full-featured augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) solution for people who have difficulty speaking. Proloquo2Go provides natural sounding text-to-speech voices (CURRENTLY ENGLISH ONLY), a high resolution library of over 14,000 symbols, powerful automatic conjugations, two researched-based vocabulary organizations, advanced word prediction, multiuser support, and the ability to fully customize vocabularies for users along a broad continuum of abilities, from beginning symbolic communication to full literacy.

App Price as of 9/2012: $189.99

App Name: Voice4u

Apple Description: Voice4u is an simple application that consists numerous of fun and memorable images that can help assist and improve language. There could be countless reasons of why individuals may be struggling with impeding communication; ie. could be due to autism, stroke, language barrier, traumatic brain injury, etc. It can be a frustrating process for both the struggling individual, and the ones around him/her. But with Voice4U, you can easily bridge the communication gap and have a more better and accurate understanding of the individual’s wants and needs. Voice4U is easy to use, light weight(use it anywhere/anytime), and comes with an affordable price tag of $49.99.

App Price as of 9/2012: $49.99

App Name: iCommunicate

Apple Description: iCommunicate lets you design visual schedules, storyboards, communication boards, routines, flash cards, choice boards, speech cards, and more. It is customizable to your needs.

App price as of 9/2012: $49.99

App Name: MyTalkTools Mobile

Apple Description: MyTalkTools Mobile for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad enables people with communication difficulties to express their needs and desires to those around them. Your purchase provides permanent access to MyTalk Mobile (totally stand alone software)and a 30 day trial of optional MyTalk Workspace. Together, they represent a major breakthrough in augmentative, alternative communications (AAC) by making it easy to customize how you communicate through a variety of images, pictures, symbols, video and audio files including human voice. In 5 minutes, you can create your very own content and communicate in a way that YOU choose. You also won’t have to worry about losing or breaking your device as all information is backed up on MyTalk Workspace. MyTalk offers ease of use and time-savings in a portable, effective, and cool communication tool. MyTalk helps people communicate in a whole new way.

App Price as of 9/2012: $49.99

App Name: AutisMate

Apple Description: The communication and learning platform designed specifically for autism.  For many visual learners, AutisMate’s scene-based approach to delivering therapy can be more effective and easier to understand than traditional grid-based augmentative communication (AAC). Hierarchal grid-based AAC was developed for a wide variety of communication disabilities and requires generalization, categorization and complex navigation that can be very difficult for many learners on the spectrum.

App Price as of 9/2012: $51.99

We get asked this question a lot from people looking to purchase the product and it is a great question.  Both products are very similar and in fact have a lot of great functionality.  Both apps support the ability to create new categories, add new pictures/words, record new sound, schedule when a category is available and be able to build sentences or sequences of words or phrases.  The largest difference is the ability to display more than one category or one word/image at a time.  urTalker Lite was initially designed for the iPhone/iPod Touch and to maximize the real estate only supports the single view.  urTalker Pro on the other hand supports not only multiple images/pictures at a time you can change the setting in multiple places so the app makes sense for what you are communicating.

Here are the two scenario for display available with urTalker Lite: (category view left and image view right)

App for adding your own pictures and recording your own sound for click and playback was exactly what we were looking for a few years back and didn’t have great success finding one that was easy to use and configure for all different uses.  The next thing you know we built urTalker Lite and urTalker Pro to accomplish that and some, but when it comes to providing an easy way to take a picture with your iPhone,iPod, or iPad then record a sound urTalker has it covered.

Step 1

This app is designed to allow a user to create as many new words/images as they like thought the admin screen.

In the admin section you simple click add word, type in the name, and then select how you want the priority of that word to appear. (it works alphabetical if you do nothing, but this will override it if needed).

The next step give you the option of using an image that is already in your library or taking a new photo with the devices camera.  The library image is great when you are using google images that you have downloaded already or have past images in your library.

If it is a new photo that you want to take you simply click the “take a new photo” button and it will launch the camera feature.

Once you select the take photo option you will be able to see what is in the camera view, click to take the picture and then be able to re-size and position the image so it fits properly in the app.

This is great for zooming in on a particular picture and makes it fast to add or change images in the app.

The third step is to add your audio to the picture you just took.  The app will let you use audio fro your itunes library (you can use full length songs if you like) or to simply record a new sound.

When you click record a new sound it has a start and stop button and the ability to preview your sound to make sure it was exactly what you wanted.

The fourth and final step of adding your own picture and audio is what category you want that new word to appear in.  You can use an existing category if there is one that works, or simply create a new one for this item.

That’s it, it is that simple.

Our son Nolan, pictured left, has been non-verbal for the last 11yrs.  We have been working with him since the age of 1 on speech utilizing a wide range of speech therapy, different therapists, and a wide assortment of assistive technology also known as Augmentative and Alternative Communication devices (AAC).

Over the last five years we have incorporated a huge number of apps for iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad into Nolan’s speech communication tools.

The term speech and speech apps is very broad.  This can range from apps that are used for translation, picture exchange apps and apps that provide text to speech capabilities.  In this article we are going to cover apps that are designed for special needs or for individuals with limited to no verbal abilities.  Within those apps we have outlined apps that are educational, functional and fun for individuals with speech impairments.

App Name: urTalker Pro

Apple Description: urTalker Pro is a fully featured communication app providing affordable augmentative and alternative communication. This assistive technology app comes with fully customizable grid or “board” style views for categories and words allowing the user to grow with the app. You can start with simple 1 or 2 word communication views and move all the way up to 16 grid displays for advanced communication needs.

urTalker allow you to leverage the camera and audio on the iPad to add your own picture and sounds so individuals can fully personalize the app with their home, food, therapy or related items that help them communicate.

App Price as of 9/2012: $99.99

App Name: Get Talking™ – Text To Speech (AAC)

Apple Description: Get Talking™ is a powerful Augmented Alternative Communication (AAC) text-to-speech (TTS) App that provides a user friendly and cool assisted communication solution for people who have difficulty speaking. Developed for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, it uses natural sounding male and female voices, an expandable default word library, and is a fraction of the cost of traditional AAC devices.

App price as of 9/2012: $209.99

App Name: Proloquo2Go

Apple Description: Proloquo2Go is a full-featured augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) solution for people who have difficulty speaking. Proloquo2Go provides natural sounding text-to-speech voices (CURRENTLY ENGLISH ONLY), a high resolution library of over 14,000 symbols, powerful automatic conjugations, two researched-based vocabulary organizations, advanced word prediction, multiuser support, and the ability to fully customize vocabularies for users along a broad continuum of abilities, from beginning symbolic communication to full literacy.

App Price as of 9/2012: $189.99

App Name: Fun and Functional

Apple Description: Fun & Functional is an application developed by author and Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) Rosie Simms to improve language comprehension and expression in individuals of all age groups. The ability to identify and describe the function or use of real-world objects is a key language and life skill. Fun & Functional provides SLPs, parents and others with a tool to develop categorization and descriptive skills by interacting with pictures and audio.

Price as of 9/2012: $9.99

App Name: Category Carousel

Apple Description: Whether you are a speech language pathologist or a parent you will find the Category Carousel app a fun way to increase and enhance a child’s vocabulary. The ability to categorize and subcategorize words and concepts is a skill necessary to build, store, and retrieve words leading to better comprehension and expressive language skills.

Price as of 9/2012: $4.99

App Name: ABA Receptive Identification

Apple Description: This Receptive Identification app is designed to teach foundational language concepts to early learners. Used by educators and speech language pathologists worldwide it’s an indispensable part of any speech or language program.

Price as of 9/2012: $1.99

App Name: Minimal Pair Pack

App Description: Minimal Pair Pack is a fun application for working on speech sound discrimination and production. Designed for children with developmental communication difficulties and also adults with phonological difficulties. Easy to use flash card style tasks can be set up quickly by therapists or teachers for use with a range of clients including adults and adolescents with dysphasia, dyslexia or dysgraphia; teachers of adult literacy; therapists working with children who have language and literacy needs or those working with people for whom English is a second language.
The program targets the following speech sounds in the initial position of words: p, b, m, n, t, d, k, g, f, v, s, z, dz (as in jam), j (as in yacht), w, r, l, th, sh, ch.

Price as of 9/2012: $29.99