SET-BC Who’s it for? A guide to symbol and text-based communication software Part of the AAC & AT Series First Edition 1 SET-BC Who’s it for? A guide to symbol and text-based communication software © 2019 This document is published by Special Education Technology—British Columbia, a provincial resource program of the BC Ministry of Education. Created by Alexandra de la Nuez, SET-BC Tier 3 Speech Language Pathologist All images are screen shots of communication software stock page sets. All customized pages and photos used are my own. Permission was granted by those in the birthday party photograph. 2 SET-BC Contents All Things Considered Section 1: Just In Time Communication Apps Scene and Heard GoTalkNow Pictello Book Creator TapSpeak CoughDrop Section 2: Symbol-Based Whole Language Communication Software TouchChat Proloquo2Go Snap + Core First Super Core Super Core Learning Beeline Vocabulary for Life Symbol Talker A-D Word Power (Grid 3, Communicator 5, & Unity) PODD (Grid 3) Unity LAMP CoreScanner Section 3: Text-Based Communication Software Unity Word Power Unity WordCore TouchChat 3 SET-BC Predictable Proloquo4Text Assistive Express Text Talker Fast Talker 3 Essence Section 4: Umbrella Systems for people with Physical Access Barriers Grid 3 Communicator 5 Appendices: References & Resources Appendix A: Glossary Appendix B: References 4 SET-BC All Things Considered The paradox of choice The world of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is teeming with options. This is wonderful (!) because all AAC users are unique and benefit from different combinations of specific features (e.g., alternative access options, symbol sets, etc.); however, it can make feature matching overwhelming. The aim of this book is to release some of the tension around feature matching and give you a place of reference for the different software options. I include the major communication software we use at SET-BC as well as others commonly used throughout the province—this is not a complete list, as the options (particularly for apps) are seemingly endless. This book is divided into four main sections: “just in time” (JIT) communication software, word-based whole language communication software, text-based communication software, and umbrella systems for people with physical access barriers. What are “just in time” communication apps? JIT apps take little time to learn and use, and can be adapted on the fly. In addition to the quick learning curve, JIT apps make great companion apps as they are often relatively low-cost and have specific features that are not ubiquitous among all AAC software (e.g., Visual Scene Displays). What is a “whole language system”? A whole language system is an AAC system that has robust generative language capabilities. The section on symbol-based whole language communication software (page 22) is where you will find phrase- based communication systems as well as AAC based in core and fringe vocabulary. What is the difference between phrase-based and core-and-fringe-based vocabulary? Phrase-based communication has whole phrases or carrier phrases as a message on a single button. Core-and-fringe-based vocabulary typically has a 1:1 correspondence from word to button. Core-and-fringe- based AAC is less restrictive than phrase-based because it allows for unlimited generative language ability— you can combine words to say anything. With this, it is important to keep in mind that phrase-based communication still has a place in AAC—if a student’s goal is for functional communication without generative language than phrase-based AAC is still a legitimate option. Phrase-based communication has its place within core-and-fringe-based AAC as well—AAC users should always have social phrases and common phrases programmed in their AAC. How many locations should be on the grid? This question is easily answered with assessment and a bit of exploration (e.g., AAC Assessment Genie, dynamic assessment, etc.). Regardless of the access method, you want to select the most locations per page that the student can accurately select and see. For example, if a student has typical fine motor ability (i.e., can point to small buttons) and vision, then they can likely handle a large number of locations (e.g., TouchChat 5 SET-BC Word Power 100 with keyboard). If you are concerned about it being “too much” you can always hide buttons as you transition them to their AAC system (but don’t forget to unhide them eventually because students only have access to the vocabulary visible to them!). Symbol-based vs. text-based When deciding between symbol-based AAC systems and text-based systems, you must ask yourself one question: “Is this student literate?” If they are, then go forward with text-based AAC. If they are pre- literate or developing literacy, symbol-based AAC will be a better fit. What is an umbrella system for people with physical access barriers? “Umbrella systems” encapsulate communication page sets, desktop access, accessibility features, alternative access games, social media, and more. SET-BC currently supports two umbrella systems: Grid 3 and Communicator 5. Is my student an emerging, context-dependent, or independent communicator? Emerging communicators use non-symbolic communication that is limited to the here and now and relies on their communication partner’s shared knowledge. These are the students who can be “read” by their parents and people who work closely with them. Context-dependent communicators are developing symbolic communication and can communicate with more people, but are limited to specific communication partners. Independent communicators are people who use AAC to talk about anything with anyone at any time. 6 SET-BC Section 1: Just in Time Communication Software Scene and Heard GoTalkNow Pictello Book Creator TapSpeak CoughDrop 7 SET-BC Scene and Heard Vendor Therapy Box Software iOS Device iPad, iPad mini, iPad Pro About Visual Scene Display (VSD) app for creating visual scenes with your own images (Therapy Box, 2018). Target Emerging communicators who can direct select with touch. Use as a companion app for context- User dependent communicators whose high-tech AAC system does not have VSD capabilities. Compatible Direct Selection: touch Access Methods Indirect Selection: none Symbol Set Widgit Literacy Symbols (WLS), photos Display Visual Scene Display Features The following information is from Therapy Box (2018): Create an unlimited number of VSDs Buttons and hotspots within the VSDs Audio recordings for hotspots Task Prompting with countdown timer Make communication books Schedule scenes Visual timetable Available in English, German, Danish, and Swedish Ease of 10/10 Editing Easy to create VSDs, import images, edit hotspots, and add buttons on the fly Voice Enhanced Voices Backing Up Save within app Limitations Symbols only appear along the bottom of the screen Cannot change order of symbols on the display once they are added Hotspots are not invisible Not available in French Cannot back up Not compatible with a keyguard iOS switch control not recommended Price App Store: $114.99 8 SET-BC Scene and Heard Tour Figure 1.1 Scene and Heard birthday party example with hotspots and buttons (Therapy Box, 2018; Widgit Symbols, 2018). 9 SET-BC GoTalk Now Vendor Attainment Company Software iOS Device iPad, iPad mini, iPad Pro About GoTalk Now combines the low-tech ability of the familiar GoTalk devices with the high-tech capabilities of the iPad (Attainment Company, 2018). Target Suitable for emerging communicators as an introduction to high-tech AAC or as a companion app for User context-dependent communicators Compatible Direct Selection: touch Access Indirect Selection: iOS switch control Methods Symbol Set Photos, Emoji Grid 1, 4, 9, 16, or 25 locations Features The following information is from the Attainment Company (2018): Standard Pages o Action occurs when button is pressed Scene Pages o VSD built around a single image o Hotspots and buttons play speech, music, and videos Express Keyboard Pages o Recordings or text-to-speech is played when the bar is tapped Import your own images from your iPad or the web Customize look of the page Embed core into Visual Scene Displays Auditory Cues Access to GoTalk image library, and link to video and YouTube Ease of 10/10 Editing User friendly and intuitive. Learn on the go with smart help prompts. Voice Acapela voices with TTS Volume Boost option Backing Up Pages can be backed-up via Dropbox or iTunes Limitations Requires more training than the original Go Talk Now Limited to a maximum of 25 locations Not a true VSD because you cannot add hotspots or buttons Price App Store: $109.99 + in-app purchases for additional voices ($1.39) 10 SET-BC GoTalk Now Tour Figure 1.2 GoTalk Now Standard Page (Attainment Company, 2018) Figure 1.3 GoTalk Now Scene Page Example (Attainment Company, 2018) 11 SET-BC Figure 1.4 GoTalk Express Keyboard Page Example (Attainment Company, 2019) 12 SET-BC Pictello Vendor AssistiveWare Software iOS Device iPad, iPad mini, iPad Pro, iPhone About Pictello is a just in time app that allows you to create your own digital books (AssistiveWare B.V., 2018). Target Pictello can be used by people across the continuum of communicative competence—especially those User who benefit from phrase-based communication. It is a tool that easily combines visuals with your story. Pictello is an especially great tool for supporting the communicative context because personal narratives accompany photos. Think of Pictello more as a tool that