Free autism apps, today only

Have you checked out our Giveaway on the last post???

Today, March 30th Touchautism.com is offering both Turn Taker and Touch Trainer for free as a special one day promotion!

Check out touchautism.com to learn more about both of these apps, and to link to the itunes store to download these apps for free.

Mayor Johnson Giveaway!

It's Kristin here.

Hello lovely blog readers.  It's time for another giveaway!  The prize is 2 CDs from Mayor Johnson/Dynavox.  They both REQUIRE BOARDMAKER SOFTWARE!  So if you (or whoever you're winning it for) don't have Boardmaker, don't enter (or better yet, get Boardmaker- it's awesome!  I use it all the time and I work with adults).  The first CD-Rom, "Main Street: Community Science" addresses several functional concepts and develops world awareness while improving language and literacy skills.

Science topics include:

• Weather (radio station)
• Food groups (grocery store)
• Planets (school)
• Your body (doctor)
• Dental health (dentist)
• Simple machines (construction site)
• Environment (recycling center)
• Zoo animals (zoo)
• Exercising (gym)
• Plant growth (farm)

Music math helps kids with simple math in an entertaining way.  It includes fun printable game and focuses on the numbers 1-4.

Here's how you win:
***Be sure to leave contact info or check back on winner day or we might not know how to find you again (unless you have a google profile...)
1. (*Mandatory entry) Become a follower of the blog and leave a comment saying that you did so. (If you are already a follower, leave a comment saying so.)
2. For an additional entry share this giveaway on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog, and leave a separate comment for each of those.
3. For another entry- check out Dynavox's website (HERE) and comment on one thing you learned.
4. Another entry for addition us to your blogroll (leave a comment saying you did).
5.  An additional entry if you "like/follow" our new Facebook page- Pathologically Speaking.

***Remember to leave a separate comment for each entry!  We will pick a winner via random.org.  Contest ends midnight April 20th.  Good luck!

My iPad/iPod SLP starter guide...

It's Kristin here. 

SLP's:  Do you have an iPad for therapy yet?  If not, many school districts are getting grants or starting new programs to purchase several of these relatively inexpensive devices for the SLPs.  Someimes you don't know what you can get until you ask for it!  And putting it on your gift wish list so you can get your own is a great idea too. 

Well, I know a good chunk of our posts lately have been iPad related, but don't get discouraged yet.  Soemtimes we like to post about what we're into, and we are both having lots of fun with these new "toys."  We'll be posting on other SLP topics soon enough, I swear!

So here are a few of my thoughts on getting started:

• Right off the bat make sure you ahve "MobileMe" set up in case you lose your iPad.  VERY IMPORTANT!  I had a personal experience where this saved me!
• Create an iTunes account.
• Browse the Apps Store to see what's hot, what on sale, what's under the "Education Category," etc.
• Read the info on the "updates" before you actually upload them.
• Set the restrictions so that in-app purchases are disabled.
• Enable "triple click" under settings which allows you to turn the screen black and font white, zoom, and get voice over for the blind.
• Import your work calendar into the iPad calendar- awesome!
• Download the iPad starter guide and iPad user guide to the iBooks app (free!)
• All classic novels are free too!
• Download lotsa apps, practive them, and categorize them for ease of use.
• Use the double click feature often to clear out the apps you are not using which slow you down.  Here you can also freeze the screen so it won't flip to different orientations when you rotate the iPad.  Also adjust screen brightness here as needed.
• If you don't have Angry Birds, World of Goo, Cut the Rope- download them already!  Get with it, SLP!  :)
• Other must haves: Pandora, Penultimate, Fruit Ninja, Talking Tom, iRiddle HD, Pulse, DropBox, Facebook Friendly, Nightstand, WeatherBug, Pocket Pond, Zombie Trailer Park.
• I'll do one more post with all my favorite apps for therapy next time!
• Get a protective screen cover so you can wipe it down with disinfectant.
• Get a case to protect it and help prop it up for clients.
• Also consider a keyboard or stylus!

Of course, if you don't have the iPad- get the iPad 2 instead (I'm jealous!).  The iPad is now cheaper by a couple hundred bucks.  The iPhone and iPod touch are also cheaper and also awesome (but iPad is nicer in a therapy session for visual purposes if you have the option...)

Any thoughts from you readers?  I'm sure there are SO many experts by now!  Got any other suggestions on getting started?  Any other favorite apps I may not know??  (I'm obsessed.)  :)

XOXO,
~Kristin