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Friday, June 23, 2017

Where It's AT Blogiversary: Giveaway #4: Attainment's GOTalk Now & Bee Visual's Choiceworks & Calendar

*Update: Congratulations to our randomly selected main prize winner: Janet F.! A secondary congrats to our other winners: Maureen T., Angie S. & Katie C. Be sure to check out each day's giveaways!*


Today's bundled giveaway is an incredible value and one not to miss....

Thanks to the amazing folks at Attainment Company and BeeVisual, LLC, all Where It's AT subscribers will have the chance to win a copy of the AAC app GoTalk Now by Attainment Company paired with a free download of BeeVisual, LLC's Choiceworks and Choiceworks Calendar. All downloads are compatible with iOS

Additionally, 3 other lucky winners will get their own download codes for Choiceworks and Choiceworks Calendar. Read below to learn more about each of the items in today's giveaway! 





GoTalk NOW by Attainment Company

Attainment has been making augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) tools for 25 years. Our experience is front and center in GoTalk NOW, a flexible, easy-to-use, yet powerful app for people who have difficulty speaking.

NOW combines the simplicity of GoTalks (Attainment’s popular original AAC device) with the dynamic capabilities of an iPad. GoTalk NOW has all the essentials of an effective AAC app, like adjustable page layouts, customizable navigation, recorded and text-to-speech capabilities, and an included symbol set. But we sweated the details to create unique and compelling features that clearly separate NOW from other AAC apps.

The new NOW offers three styles of communication pages: Standard, Express, and Scenes. In Standard pages, the action occurs when the location is pressed. In Express pages, recorded or text-to-speech messages build in a speech bar and play in sequence when the bar is pressed. Scene pages are built around a single photo or image. When you arrange invisible hotspots over people or objects in the photo, the hotspots play speech, music, or videos! 

Features:
• Choose 1, 2, 4, 9, 16, 25 or 36 locations per page.
• Use images from your iPad camera, photo library, or the Imagine Symbol set.
• Search the Internet in-app for the perfect image or icon.
• Purchase SymbolStix or Widgit Symbols libraries in-app.
• Crop, scale, or rotate an image using your fingers.
• Combine multiple images in a single communication location.
• Color pages, borders, and text with any hue.
• Move and size text with your fingers so it feels just right.
• Record your voice or use our free text-to-speech voice.
• Buy higher quality voices for only 99 cents each, available in over 20 languages.
• Add spoken labels (auditory cues) to any button. Great for scanning, guiding visually impaired users, and identifying any new or difficult vocabulary.
• Trim videos in-app, and play them from any communication location.
• Select our alternate video interface to pause or exit the video easily.
• Link songs from your playlist to any communication location and control them with Pause/Play, Next, and Previous.
• Include a core vocabulary button for extra quick access to important messages.
• Create multimedia social stories and step-by-step instruction layouts by linking pages with an after action.
• Share complete communication books via WiFi with any iPad user who has NOW.
• Back up communication books via Dropbox or to any Mac or PC for safekeeping.
• Store and share interactive templates (each including speech, video, text, and jump to links) on our online gallery for free.
• Download and edit premade templates from Attainment’s collection on the public gallery, also free.
• Email links to your templates to parents and colleagues, who can open the template on their iPad by tapping on the link.
• Print and save communication book layouts via PDFs.
• Access Now with single or two-switch scanning.

Choiceworks & Choiceworks Calendar by BeeVisual, LLC


Choiceworks App




The Choiceworks App is a picture-based learning tool that helps children complete daily routines (morning, day, & night), understand & control their feelings and improve their waiting skills (taking turns and not interrupting). Created with the support of leading hospitals and child development specialists, this app is designed for caregivers to provide clear and consistent support to foster a child’s independence, positive behavior, and emotional regulation at home and in the community. It can also be customized for teachers in a school setting.

Key Features

■ Three boards: Schedule, Waiting, and Feelings
■ Three Companion Books supporting each board
■ Image Library preloaded with over 180 images and audio
■ Add your own images and record your own audio for limitless customizability
■ Attach video to any board image
■ Easily create profiles to personalize and manage multiple users
■ Save an unlimited number of boards for multiple children or different routines
■ Speaks boards out loud with professionally recorded audio
■ Time saving essentials like search and auto-save
■ Share boards by Email or iTunes File Sharing with other Choiceworks app users
■ Ability to print boards or save as PDF



The Choiceworks Calendar is a full-featured, kid friendly calendar app designed to help children learn concepts of time and help caregivers to keep them organized. By presenting the abstract concept of time in a structured, visual format, Choiceworks Calendar helps children organize their lives as well as understand sequence and time. 

Key Features
■ Easily create a visual calendar of upcoming events in a few minutes (examples: holidays, when visitors are coming, doctor appointments, vacations, sleepovers, parent returning from a trip or military duty)

■ Image Library preloaded with over 275 images and audio
■ Add your own images using your photo library, camera or use the preloaded image library to record your own audio and edit captions for limitless customizability
■ Create multiple personalized calendars for use with multiple children or in a classroom setting
■ Count Days Until: animated counter for the number of days until an upcoming event (example: How many days until my birthday?)
■ Speaks the daily schedule
■ Built-in visual timer
■ Automatically adds holidays
■ Easily add reoccurring events
■ Notifications and alarms with visual and audio alerts
■ Search and auto-save features
■ Share boards by Email or iTunes File Sharing with other Choiceworks Calendar app users
■ Ability to print month, week or day for offline viewing or save as PDF

Thursday, June 22, 2017

Where It's AT Blogiversary: Giveaway #3: Coughdrop License & Brookes Publishing Books

*Update: Congratulations to our randomly selected winner: Laura D.! Be sure to check out each day's giveaways!*


For day 3 it only seemed right to put together, not 1, not 2, but THREE products to giveaway to you, with totals valuing over $300!!! 

Today's giveaway comes courtesy of CoughDrop and Brookes Publishing. Be sure to enter to win a full AAC license by CoughDrop [valued at $200} and TWO hardcopy titles from Brookes Publishing:
 Teaching Communication Skills to Students with Severe Disabilities [valued at $50] and Alternative and Augmentative Communication [valued at $85]. Read below to learn more about each of the products available! 


The first item of today's giveaway is a download of the augmentative communication license by CoughDrop

At CoughDrop they believe that every voice should be heard. Disabilities like autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Angelman syndrome and Rett syndrome make it harder for individuals to communicate on their own. Many people use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) tools in order to help make their voices heard.

CoughDrop works to help bring out the voices of those with complex communication needs through powerful open-source technology that actually makes things easier and supports everyone in helping the individual succeed.

The following video provides an overview of the powerful tool created by CoughDrop.




The final two items of today's giveaway are brought to you by 

The mission at Brookes Publlishing is simple: All people—regardless of ability or background—deserve to achieve their goals and lead fulfilling, self-directed lives. Partnering with top experts, the publishing company delivers relevant, high-quality, research-backed content in optimal form.

Brookes Publishing provides the latest printed and e-books, and book series on critical topics spanning from Early Childhood to K-12 to Higher Education to Community Supports.

The first book is included in today's giveaway is...

Kathryn D. Peckham-Hardin

Synopsis: How can educators and therapists support effective communication for students with severe and multiple disabilities? Today's best research and strategies are in the NEW third edition of this trusted textbook and teaching guide. Current and future education professionals will get up-to-date information and practical guidance on the entire process of supporting communication for students of all ages, from assessing their communication skills to involving peers and adults in intervention. An important textbook and professional reference, this comprehensive volume will help educators, paraprofessionals, SLPs, and other school staff skillfully support every student's right to communicate.



The second book included in today's giveaway is...

by David R. Beukelman and Pat Mirenda


Synopsis: As AAC use continues to flourish and new technology revolutionizes the field, tomorrow's service providers need current, authoritative information on AAC for children and adults with communication disorders. That's why David Beukelman and Pat Mirenda have revised and updated the bestselling Augmentative and Alternative Communication—the trusted, widely adopted graduate-level text on communication disorders and AAC. The foundational textbook for SLPs, OTs, PTs, teachers, and other professionals in clinical and educational settings, this fourth edition is a definitive introduction to AAC processes, interventions, and technologies that help people best meet their daily communication needs. Future professionals will prepare for their work in the field with critical new information on

  • advancing literacy skills (new chapter by Janice Light and David McNaughton)
  • conducting effective, culturally appropriate assessment to determine AAC needs
  • choosing AAC interventions appropriate for age and ability
  • selecting AAC vocabulary tailored to individual needs
  • using new consumer technologies as easy, affordable, and non-stigmatizing communication devices
  • understanding types of symbols and how individuals use them
  • promoting social competence
  • supporting language learning and development
  • providing effective support to beginning communicators
  • planning an inclusive education for students with complex communication needs
Readers will get a thorough overview of communication and AAC issues for people with specific developmental disabilities (including cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, and autism) and acquired disabilities (such as aphasia, traumatic brain injury, and degenerative cognitive and linguistic disorders). And with helpful photos, figures, and photocopiable forms, readers will be ready to collect and use important information on assessment, individual communication needs, classroom supports, and more.

An essential core text for tomorrow's professionals—and a key reference for inservice practitioners—this new fourth edition expertly prepares readers to support the communicative competence of children and adults with a wide range of complex needs.

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Where It's AT Blogiversary: Giveaway #2: Don Johnston DeCoste Writing Protocol and Plugable Color Keyboard

*Update: Congratulations to our randomly selected winner: Lenette S.! Be sure to check out each day's giveaways!*
*In order to be eligible to win you must be a confirmed subscriber of the blog by signing up on the right side! Then add your information to the Google form below!*

Click for the ENTRY FORM
One winner will be randomly selected tonight at 11:59 PM EST


Today's giveaway is an incredible score of two invaluable tools to support writing. Be sure to enter to win the DeCoste Writing Protocol eBook by Don Johnston and Plugable's USB Kid Keyboard. Read below to learn more about each of the products available!


Don Johnston's DeCoste Writing Protocol is a formative assessment tool that helps educators identify factors affecting an individual student’s ability to produce writing. It compares a child’s individual performance across handwriting and keyboarding tasks and examines spelling performance and writing skills so educators make more informed decisions about instructional strategies and the appropriate use of technology to meet classroom demands. To take a more extensive look at what the DeCoste Writing Protocol offers visit the Don Johnston website and watch the webinar below!




Plugable's USB Kid Keyboard is the perfect tool for any home or classroom! It features large brightly colored keys that are color coded so it’s easy to identify and recall letters, numbers, punctuation and certain functional keys. Purple keys are designated for vowels, green keys for consonants, orange keys for punctuation and blue for function and editing keys. The keyboard's standard layout with extra large keys and sturdy flip-up tilt feet make it easy for kids to learn.  Visit the Plugable website to learn more about this amazing product! 


Monday, June 19, 2017

Where It's AT Blogiversary: Giveaway #1: C-Pen Reader by Scanning Pen

*Update: Congratulations to our randomly selected winner: Heather P.! Be sure to check out each day's giveaways!*

The time has come to officially celebrate the one year anniversary of Where It's AT with the first of MANY giveaways. And the best news of all is there are SO many giveaways the celebration is being extended into next week too! 

*Please make sure you are a confirmed subscriber of the blow and enter the form below to be entered to win! A winner will be drawn tonight at 11:59 PM EST*

Enter below to win your own C-Pen Reader by Scanning Pen. This giveaway is valued over $250. If you have not had the chance to explore the wonder of the C-Pen, this is your chance to do so. The C-Pen Reader is a portable device for independent reading, data capture and dictionary lookup that reads aloud in both English (US & UK) and Spanish.  Struggling readers now have the power to read right at their fingertips. After submitting your entry below, read the information and check out the video to see the C-Pen Reader in action! 





Motivational Monday


Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Calling All New Englanders.....A Professional Development Opportunity

Click here or on the image of the flyer above to enlarge the details and register!

Webinar Wednesday: Check for Understanding with Book Creator

If you haven't had the opportunity to use Book Creator, you are truly missing out. Join fellow blogger, Monica Burns (@ClassTechTips), for this free webinar to explore a variety of ways students can “show what they know” across subject areas when creating ebooks with Book Creator.
- Formative assessment best practices - Scaffolds and supports for student projects - Providing feedback and action steps to students The webinar is on Friday, June 30th from 1:00-1:45 PM EDT and will run for approximately 45 mins, with time for questions at the end.

You will be creating books along the way so you’ll need to have the app open and ready.


Don't have Book Creator? We have you covered....Be sure to become a Where It's AT subscriber by email today for your chance next week to win a free license of Book Creator


Check for Understanding with Book Creator webinar.