This is the best most configurable app out there for non-verbal communication and it's half price for Autism Acceptance Day.
Top comments
andysfast
2 Apr 1611#1
Before anyone votes this cold, compared with general apps this is well expensive, but if you're child couldn't speak or even communicate, how much time would you want a company to spend developing an app and how much would you think it was worth. I read obout a 16 year old boy who had NEVER communicated, he was given an adapted ipad with Steven Hawking type iris recognition software and camera and was able to say "hello mum" and start to communicate. That kit cost £12,000 but what would it be worth to you in their shoes. Thanks OP
Marmite32 to andysfast
2 Apr 164#4
Quite. I have a non-verbal nine year old. We've tried free apps with varying success but one of the issues with those is the standard voice. This allows the child to choose their voice which I feel is important.
All comments (30)
andysfast
2 Apr 1611#1
Before anyone votes this cold, compared with general apps this is well expensive, but if you're child couldn't speak or even communicate, how much time would you want a company to spend developing an app and how much would you think it was worth. I read obout a 16 year old boy who had NEVER communicated, he was given an adapted ipad with Steven Hawking type iris recognition software and camera and was able to say "hello mum" and start to communicate. That kit cost £12,000 but what would it be worth to you in their shoes. Thanks OP
Marmite32 to andysfast
2 Apr 164#4
Quite. I have a non-verbal nine year old. We've tried free apps with varying success but one of the issues with those is the standard voice. This allows the child to choose their voice which I feel is important.
lugsy3 to andysfast
2 Apr 16#18
That will be the Tobi eyegaze, amazing piece of kit, we have one where I work helping disabled people use computers. The price is crazy but it's specialist and funding is available for some people.
no use to me but priceless for some, good find and heat from me!
MLP1
2 Apr 162#5
Very good price. PECS is usually so expensive, and being able to use this on an ipad for non-verbal people is such a useful tool.
Today is World Autism Awareness Day, let's spread awareness, but also acceptance! <3
shoppermaff
2 Apr 16#6
Might be worth looking if a grant is available to pay for iPad and/or the app.
aibon
2 Apr 161#7
£95 is an obscene amount to charge for something like this. It will essentially make it out of reach for some parents. It should be free. As if life isn't hard enough with an autistic child. COLD
mp2611 to aibon
2 Apr 16#8
Whilst I disagree that it should be free (developers gotta eat) I do think that the price tag would make it out of reach for some people. Should cost considerably less.
sig1169 to aibon
2 Apr 161#9
but there are grants available to buy things like this. It should not be free.
andysfast to aibon
2 Apr 162#15
So YOU would be happy to work for months on an app and pay other people to help you and NOT get paid for it. I don't think so. Its a stupid comment. If you have an Autistic child you should get benefits and they are to help you to pay for things like this app. This app will not sell millions even if it was £1 so they have to make their money back and pay peoples wages some how. life is hard enough with an autistic child, so you should be thankful that someone has been kind enough to devote their time and money on this app and not just made another game. Thanks OP for letting us know its out there and thanks Proloquo2go for making it. Buy perhaps I'm wrong.
lizbubbles
2 Apr 161#10
We bought this last year when it was half price. It's great but takes a while to set up. You can take your own pics of items and people :smiley: I recommend Family Fund for a grant for an iPad if you have a child with additional needs.
yubious
2 Apr 16#11
wow didn't know this existed, can you trial it?
andysfast to yubious
2 Apr 16#16
Might be worth contacting the developer and asking. Sometimes you can get apps free for an honest review.
Thistleno1
2 Apr 16#12
Is this app only available on IOS?
Thistleno1 to Thistleno1
2 Apr 16#13
Appears so, but there is this similar app on android for £67.34. Can't vouch for it as I haven't tried it, but might be useful to other non-apple owners.
brummie02
2 Apr 16#14
Amazing app and very much worth the money!!!
lugsy3
2 Apr 162#17
If you use a SALT (speech and language therapist) ask them about the nhs funding available now for communication aids/ software. It's fairly new and I always had to go via charities such as The Sequal Trust for communication aids and software like this but at last you can go via the nhs. Of course there are assessments but ask your SALT.
Mr No
2 Apr 16#19
Seems like all Facebook "full time mummies" have Fibromyalgia and kids with Autism.
GR2 to Mr No
2 Apr 16#20
Sorry but that's uncalled for.
Although I have an issue with this ASD 'industry' in general having received a diagnosis of autism for my son I'll have to agree with others that say it's over priced for what it is.
The sentiments that the developers need to eat is pure bs. Imo, it's a case of taking advantage parents with kids who have varying degrees of developmental needs.
I'm surprised the likes of the NHS and the NAS haven't released something like this for free. It's not difficult or expensive to tender out to digital agencies that would create something like this. At least the UX design would be evidence based.
The area that this industry often ends up contradicting itself is that Autism is different for every child that has been diagnosed with it. The industry purposely uses terms like 'spectrum' to confuse parents and prevent them from understanding the basic fact that their child has 'specific' needs which requires 'specific' support and treatment. There isn't a one size fits all.
Just because your child has had a diagnosis of ASD, do not assume this APP will help them develop or help them communicate. Rather consider whether you would want your child who may be behind in their communication abilities to form a dependency on a smart phone or tablet, whereby 90% of the time, they won't be using the app, rather spend time on it on brain draining games and repeating videos on YouTube.
sig1169 to Mr No
2 Apr 16#23
get a grip you absolute ass hat!
Marmite32 to Mr No
2 Apr 16#24
Full time mummy with a full time job here (just because I work too it doesn't make me a part time mum) and I don't have Fibromyalgia :smirk:
andysfast to Mr No
2 Apr 16#25
Please climb back into your hole.
Geithner
2 Apr 161#21
I work with children with complex special needs any app or computer program which unlocks a child's voice is welcome free or not.If this works for your child it's priceless,there are many avenues of funding availabe .Talk to your local support group for help in finding these.
Hamsteroid
2 Apr 16#22
Some of us who are autistic cannot speak because we cannot sufficiently control the parts of our brain which transform the intention to speak into actual spoken words. "Dependency on a smart phone or tablet" doesn't come into it.
Without an app like proloquo2go then at best we can only communicate in words by writing, which is desperately slow - and impossible if we also cannot control our hands well. I don't know your son, but I find it hard to imagine someone who is "behind in their communication abilities" becoming dependent in the long term on an app if they find they are able to develop normal speech. At the end of the day speech is so much more flexible than typing or using an app.
supersue
2 Apr 16#26
It is surprising how many "full-time mummies" (or even worse permutationed self-styled descriptions based on their - not Autistic but dysfunctional - children) on Facebook have Fibromyalgia, whose symptoms only appear at medical and DLA or PIP appointments. They spoil it for genuinely sick people and for people who are genuinely on the Autistic Spectrum. There, that word spectrum wasn't too hard to understand in its proper context, was it? Also: Developers (who are often on the Autistic Spectrum themselves and will have struggled to get into that job in the first place) do need to be paid for their work, and as mentioned on here, the DLA or PIP is intended to pay for the resulting adaptive technology and anything else that helps with the effects of the disability.
dragonking0141
2 Apr 16#27
there's an app on android call LETMETALK. it's not much but free.
zyany
2 Apr 16#28
Thank you OP.
GR2
3 Apr 16#29
I can't argue with that, as similarly I don't know you. I certainly would not discourage you or others in a similar situation to you (who have the ability to eloquently put forward a point in writing but struggles with speech) from using APPs that help you communicate.
My hope and expectation is that APPs like these start to become more accessible (free), and the likes of NAS and others do more in this area.
My point on dependency on smart phones is really targeted at kids who have been diagnosed with Autism. In my son's case, although he's recently been diagnosed and introduced to pecs. I personally feel there is more I can do as a parent in engaging with him in the traditional sense, before I consider giving him a smart device with a pecs app and potentially other apps which will potentially result in less interaction with those around him.
Yes, in many cases an instance of ASD may be neurological and non treatable, but for a large proportion of the population that have been diagnosed it's not the case; for them £95 would be better spent on something else.
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Opening post
Top comments
All comments (30)
Today is World Autism Awareness Day, let's spread awareness, but also acceptance! <3
Although I have an issue with this ASD 'industry' in general having received a diagnosis of autism for my son I'll have to agree with others that say it's over priced for what it is.
The sentiments that the developers need to eat is pure bs. Imo, it's a case of taking advantage parents with kids who have varying degrees of developmental needs.
I'm surprised the likes of the NHS and the NAS haven't released something like this for free. It's not difficult or expensive to tender out to digital agencies that would create something like this. At least the UX design would be evidence based.
The area that this industry often ends up contradicting itself is that Autism is different for every child that has been diagnosed with it. The industry purposely uses terms like 'spectrum' to confuse parents and prevent them from understanding the basic fact that their child has 'specific' needs which requires 'specific' support and treatment. There isn't a one size fits all.
Just because your child has had a diagnosis of ASD, do not assume this APP will help them develop or help them communicate. Rather consider whether you would want your child who may be behind in their communication abilities to form a dependency on a smart phone or tablet, whereby 90% of the time, they won't be using the app, rather spend time on it on brain draining games and repeating videos on YouTube.
Without an app like proloquo2go then at best we can only communicate in words by writing, which is desperately slow - and impossible if we also cannot control our hands well. I don't know your son, but I find it hard to imagine someone who is "behind in their communication abilities" becoming dependent in the long term on an app if they find they are able to develop normal speech. At the end of the day speech is so much more flexible than typing or using an app.
My hope and expectation is that APPs like these start to become more accessible (free), and the likes of NAS and others do more in this area.
My point on dependency on smart phones is really targeted at kids who have been diagnosed with Autism. In my son's case, although he's recently been diagnosed and introduced to pecs. I personally feel there is more I can do as a parent in engaging with him in the traditional sense, before I consider giving him a smart device with a pecs app and potentially other apps which will potentially result in less interaction with those around him.
Yes, in many cases an instance of ASD may be neurological and non treatable, but for a large proportion of the population that have been diagnosed it's not the case; for them £95 would be better spent on something else.