SLP Vlogging

Hey all!  It's Kristin.

I'm sure many of you know how big the vlogging world is getting.  (Vlog = a video blog.)  For example my mom just did the HCG diet and discovered a whole community of buddies through the youtube hcg channels.  They motivated eachother, and gave tips, came up with their own HCG jargon, and they commented on eachothers' vlogs.  My mom had a blast getting into that "world."  Here's a little sample of one I liked- The ABCs of HCG.  I figured I would start exploring the vlogging world I'm into too, including SLP vlogs.

Well, I'm sure I am just BARELY tapping the surface on what's out there as far as SLP blogs go, but I thought I'd share and also see if any of you have any faves.  I got an email from linguahealth talking about their vidoes and thought they were interesting.  Here's one on choosing a graduate program for you undergrad students out there:

http://www.youtube.com/linguahealth#p/a/u/1/WRb53hbvhsQ

They I found a vlog by the SpeechPathway.  I also want to share with those who are not-so-Youtube-savvy that you can look at other SLP's vids by clicking on some of the followers listed below his video, either in his Friends, Subscriptions, or Comments sections. 

http://www.youtube.com/user/thespeechpathway

I'm hoping to narrow my search more and find more medically-based vlogs.  So many of them are pediatric/education SLP-based.  Let me know if you have any good ones!  When you find a vlogger (video-maker person) you like, you can click "subscribe" and you will actually be emailed occasionally a list of the new posts by your favorite vloggers.

Hope this launches a few of you into the youtube SLP world.  If you find anything great, let us know and we may even post it for others too!

XOXO
~K

New SLP iPad App: Caseload Tracker

Hey everybody, I hope your summer is going well. Probably better for the education SLPs out there.

I wanted to announce that the Caseload Tracker app has finally been published and is now up and available on iTunes.

This app is designed to help SLPs and Special Educators keep track of their caseloads and stay on top of IEPs and Eligibilities. I came up with the concept as I was getting completely bogged down by meetings with no good clear way of keeping track of all of them.

This app has a built in system for tracking these important due dates by color coding alerts in the app as well as using the iOS's push notification alerts to keep you informed of the total number of students with upcoming meetings. Its also a great resource for keeping your caseload information handy.

For those such as myself, this will be a very useful tool in staying organized with your students. Let me know what you think

And we'll be having a contest on here soon to win a code for this app. I'll stay in touch.

ASHA

It's Kristin here.

Woo hoo!!!  I'm going to ASHA this year. 

I am one of those really big SLP nerds who gets all excited about ASHA and badly wants to go each year.  I love the classes, the exhibit hall, the networking, and just walking around looking at all my fellow SLPs and feeling this weird professional comraderie.  I have only gone once when I was a new SLP, so it was all the more invigorating.

Of course, it's pricey and far away usually.  San Diego sounded do-able.  Anyone else going?  Anyone need a roommate for ASHA?  Anyone have any suggestions for what to do in San Diego? 

XOXO
~K

Kristin's picks- AAC Best-of Awards

I work with AAC a LOT.  Here are my favorites as far as AAC stuff goes:

And the award goes to...

Best AAC Software: Interaact

Best Eyegaze technology: Eyegaze Edge

Favorite Device: Dynavox VMax

Best Customer Service: Dynavox

Best looking icons/pictures:  Tobii ATI ("Communicator software")

Best for aphasics: Lingraphica

Best iPad AAC app: Proloquo2go

Best for teaching syntax: Prenke Romich

Best textbooks: Beukelman and Miranda

Any of you have any favorites?

-Kristin

New Apps in the Making

Just so you know, I've been working with Barbara Fernades at Smarty Ears on a new app for the iPad. It will be particularly helpful for the education SLP, but might be able to adapted for other settings as well. This will be the second app that I've helped publish, the other being the SLP Goal Bank app.

I'll keep you informed, but I'm super excited. My school district is purchasing iPads for the SLPs to use in Tx, so its nice to help make some apps that can make my life easier.

I hope y'all are enjoying your summer (at least for those education SLPs out there) as for the medical based SLPs, try to get out if you can.

SLP Goal Bank App on Sale

I just found out that the SLP Goal Bank app for the iPad is on sale until May 20th. Normally the full price of this app is $29.99, but right now you can get it for $5.99.

This app is exactly what the title of it says. Its a goal bank of speech language therapy goals, categorize by disorder. There are educational and medical goals alike. Its meant to help you, as a starting point, when writing goals for your patients/students/clients. You can also add your own goals to the app, storing them for future reference. Then you can email your self the goals so you could simply cut and paste them wherever you need them.

If you are a brand new SLP and are struggling coming up with goals, or if you are seasoned SLP who would just like some new ideas, (oh, and if you have an iPad), then this app is for you.

Free Apps

FYI...


For those of you who are interested, all the Lingraphica/Small Talk AAC apps are free right now, so get 'em free while you can!  (There are about 20!)  I havne't used them much with patients yet.  Has anyone had great success with using them for AAC?

~Kristin