iPhone App: When You Have Difficulty Speaking

We've all heard about the numerous iPhone apps that are mindless distractions, keep us organized or productive, offer us 24/7 Twitter access or help us learn new languages. New iPhone/iPod Touch apps are released daily ("There's an app for that!") for every imaginable purpose.

Well, what do you do if you are someone who has difficulty speaking due to ALS, Traumatic Brain Injuries, Autism,or Down Syndrome? Yes, there's even an app for that! Augmentative Communication devices can cost thousands of dollars. Proloquo2Go is a $150 app that works with any iPhone or iPod Touch and makes communication possible. The enormous smile on the face of this 20 year old college student who sustained a Traumatic Brain injury as a result of a car accident belies the importance of the Proloquo2Go app. Watch this video to learn more.

A Human Voiced Communication Tool or I Never Knew I Could Do That with the LiveScribe Pen

I've been suffering from "Blogger's Block" of late which is surprising considering I just got back from NECC 09 and have "written" many posts in my head. Unfortunately, getting them from my head to the fingers has been especially challenging. I'll ease back into writing with a quick post about a truly innovative way to use the Livescribe SmartPen. I learned about this at the Livescribe booth at NECC09.

If you are new to the SmartPen technology, it is a phenomenal computerized pen that links audio to whatever you write "so you never miss a word!" Great for students who struggle with notetaking or benefit from repetition and review when they need it.
But, here's the incredible part. The Livescribe SmartPen is also an affordable communication support tool! With a human voice no less! Read all about it here - "Augmentative Communication: A Low-Cost and Lightweight Communication Device with Natural Speech."

Here's one way to create image or text-based pages:

1. With the smartpen turned on, but with Paper Replay Record off, write a word on the page.
2. Tap the Paper Replay Record button.
3. Write a check mark (or other small symbol) next to the word.
4. Speak the word.
5. Tap the Stop button.
6. Repeat steps 1-5 for the list of words.
7. To use the page, the nonspeaking user simply taps on the mark next to each word to hear it spoken.

It is possible to create a communication book with laminated pages.

Additional points to consider:

• The pen that created the pages is the only pen that will work to play back the audio. So, velcro may come in handy here.
• The device user will need to be able to manipulate the pen to touch the keyword or symbol for playback.

Another portable, affordable and cool way (see also the Proloquo2Go which is more full featured) to provide communication support for people who have difficulty speaking.

Proloquo2Go - Affordable AAC is Now Available

Check out the latest affordable and super COOL communication device available for the iPhone and iPod Touch at the iTunes App store, the Proloquo2Go or P2G for short. Read more about it's release at Sam Sennott's blog.

Sam had a dream when the iPhone was first released. He envisioned an affordable AAC tool that would capitalize on the touch screen application of the iPhone and would allow students to have a dynamic communication device in their pockets. Now, his dream has been realized because he never stopped putting kids first. He partnered with David Niemeijer from AssistiveWare to develop the software and go throught the process of iPod/iPhone App approval.

To purchase the app, click here. It is currently offered at an introductory price of $149, far below what is typical for a dynamic communication device.

Congratulations to you both, Sam and David. This is an example of a dream fulfilled.