Finally wrote another post!
High-tech AAC app: TD Snap
K’s mom shared this story: while eating dumplings at home, mom tried to find “dumplings” on the iPad but couldn’t locate it. K came over, swiped through the screens in seconds, found “dumplings,” and gave his mom a smug grin.
When K first got his iPad + app (and still sometimes now), he loved pressing every word to hear the sounds. I told his mom not to stop him — he’s exploring what vocabulary he has! (Just like when we get a new phone and want to try every feature!)
Because he presses buttons every day, K can find vocabulary much faster than we can. He’s a kid who loves fruits and vehicles, and he’s fastest at navigating the “transportation” and “food” pages on his AAC. With mom constantly modeling at home, K has learned many core words and has started making spontaneous word combinations like “help + open,” “mom + thank you,” and “help + truck.” Last week, when he didn’t want the session to end, he pressed “angry, angry, angry” on his own!
TD Snap is currently the best Chinese AAC app I’ve seen for children, with a robust language system that includes built-in core and fringe vocabulary. Other benefits include a search function to type and find words, well-organized categories for easy navigation, and the ability to customize. Update: It’s now subscription-based at approximately NT$300/month (~US$10). For information on AAC device subsidies in Taiwan, see the “How to Apply for an AAC Device” post.
Before receiving a high-tech AAC device (iPad + app), I have children try a laminated paper-based 36-cell core vocabulary board and provide extensive modeling. Once the child shows interest in using this system to communicate, we transition to the high-tech device as soon as possible, since it offers a much larger vocabulary. Of course, you can also start directly with the iPad + app — K, for example, wasn’t interested in the paper board at all but loved the iPad with speech output.
Key information:
Speech-language pathologists can download a free version with speech output! Register an account and apply using your SLP license. Application link: https://www.wjx.top/vm/mBS3QBq.aspx#
SLPs can try it out themselves and use it during therapy sessions. Most importantly, you can recommend it when applying for AAC device subsidies for your clients!
Why are high-tech AAC devices so useful?
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No printing, cutting, or laminating needed
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Apps can hold a huge amount of vocabulary, much of which is already built in — saving time for teaching instead of making picture cards. Plus, you can’t carry that many cards around
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Children can independently find vocabulary to communicate because words are always in the same location (independent, autonomous communication is the ultimate goal!)
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Speech output helps children communicate more proactively and can even promote verbal speech development
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Children can build sentences for more precise expression — for example: “not + like,” “hate + eat,” “I + don’t want + thank you” — expressing things their own way
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