Ipad - good apps?

24skins

I'd second applying to the Family Fund, they're keen to fund AAC/augmentative communication devices where a need is shown.

I have to laugh at people saying it's an expensive piece of kit - those of us whose only option in the past was to find £6000+ for a Dynavox think £400 for an iPad is an absolute bargain.

Augmentative communication devices have never been so accessible and as the tablet market hots up this is only going to get better - in a decade I can imagine parents being able to purchase AAC devices for under £100.

lallysmum

Can I just jump in here and ask if anyone has seen any good apps to help with speech (therapy??) and social communication for a 5 year old? I'm looking at Social HD and Social Skills, but they cost £60 and there are no reviews available. I'd happily spend it for ds but would prefer to know it's helpful first iykwim.

The problem so far with the Social HD one is that it seems to be aimed at adults, eg: how to communicate in a job setting, which isn't really what I'm looking for. I suppose we need Social Story apps.

He's 5 (next week) , can speak, but it is very, very hard to understand him, but does not/can not ask questions or interact in any meaningful way with peers or other adults. Unless you ask him about cars. Or wheel types. Or cars, lol. When I got the ipad I really thought it could help him, but can't seem to find any apps that do what I want.

kingfisherblue

Have you looked at the Proloquo2go app? My son's school uses this successfully with a number of children with different disabilities, many of whom have speech difficulties. It won't help with the social stories side of things, but may be able to help people to understand him, as P2G uses symbols/pictures, the written word, and spoken language as well. My friend's daughter is 6, has learning difficulties, and has only just started to speak (so few words with clarity at the moment) and she uses it in school. Her parents are hoping to get it for home use as well.

lallysmum

Thanks, I'll have a look at that.

tiamai_d

Have to laugh at filling in the form for communication needs. At 5 and unable to say his own name, we still had to fight to get middle rate care. And at that it was probably only because he is still in pull ups at night and vomits during his sleep.

Hopefully we are getting an iPad in the next few weeks with proloquo2go. Buying it ourselves because we have hit a dead end for funding and have had a familyfund grant in the summer for a holiday. Great tip about itunes vouchers though, thank you.