In this presentation, you will learn what Alexicom AAC is, how to access your communication pages on your iPad and on our Internet-based AAC server, and the basics of programming in the app and "in the cloud".

1. Staci Neustadt, M.S., CCC-SLP
September 25th, 2012

2. Tonight you will learn….
 What Alexicom AAC is
 How to access your child’s
communication pages (via
iPad/internet)
 Programming the Alexicom
app on the iPad and in “the
cloud”

3. Alexicom Tech
 Created the first internet-based, but not
dependent, AAC system (patent-pending)
 iOS and Android apps – load on all of
your technology to use everywhere!
 Alexicom AAC app – full access/full
language app
 Privilege of Pieceful Solution students
 Covered by DDD if recommended by an
AAC evaluator

4. Alexicom AAC app
 Many language page sets
 Page sets selected to best meet
your child’s needs
 Need to be personalized
 Can use symbols or “real”
pictures

5. Personalize… 1,2,3…..
1. Edit/Create
2. Publish
3. Use

6. In app Editing – in the moment

7. Creating a page:
in the free iOS and Android apps
 In the app, go to the “Select a Page” tab
 Select “Edit” on top left (may need to enable in
Settings)
 Edit an existing page by selecting a page from the list
 Create a new page by pressing “[+]” on the right
○ Give the new page a name, specify number of rows and
columns and picture size
 Edit the cells on the page just as you would on
the internet. Just press “Edit” on any cell to
edit its content.
 Take a picture with the device camera or select an image from
your saved albums, including pictures saved from the web
 Add a label and/or spoken text
 Optionally link to another page

8. Creating a page: iOS
Page list in app
Creating a new page in the app

9. Online editing:
www.alexicomaac.com

10. Editing an existing page
 Determine the page name
(usually categorical such as
school, food, snacks)
 Select your child’s name as the
“client” and then select the page
from the alphabetical pull down
menu

11. Editing/creating on the website –
http://www.alexicomaac.com

12. Publishing
 To use pages you have created on-line
you must “publish” the pages first
through the app *NOT THE WEB

13. Ways to identify/plan messages
and vocabulary:
Sentence-based messages
 Sentence-based messages are those which need to be
communicated quickly and will get immediate response from the
communication partner. “Can I go to the bathroom?” “I need
help, please.” “My pencil broke. Can I sharpen it?”
 These are examples of sentence-based messages that may
have implications for the regular classroom.
 Comments may also be sentence-based. “That’s cool.” “Oh,
gross!”
Care should be taken in selecting and programming
comments that are age appropriate and ones heard by
typical peers. Listen to students for suggestions!!
*Caution! Too many sentence-based messages will limit the student’s
understanding of language and the ability to create self-generated
message forms.

14. Identify/Plan messages, cont’d
Phrases
Phrases are “starters” that will be
completed with a student’s choice. “I
like…” “I want…” “Can I have….?”
Phrases are usually based on a situation
where scripted conversation is useful.
For a student who has potential to self
generate sentences, this is a keystroke
reduction for a longer form that is available
in the word-based vocabulary.

15. Identify/Plan messages, cont’d
Words
Words in an AAC system are the most powerful means for the
student to self-create.
However, words must be well planned into an organization system
that allows for access (memory of where the needed vocabulary is
located)
Many AAC devices come with pre-programmed vocabulary
packages.
The tendency is to start a student with lots of “nouns”.
However, nouns are not the most common words used by typical
speaking children.
Think of teaching words in ways that they can be combined to
generate a “sentence.”
You may want to use this word list to help you think about how
these words are used by other children within the classroom
activities.

16. Tips
 Keep consistent placement to encourage
motor planning
 Put vocabulary in the appropriate
category
 Use vocabulary your child or a child
would use, not what we want them to use
 Make vocabulary age appropriate

17. Settings
in the free apps
Auditory output on selection
Auto load home page
Disable from main iPad Settings!
Edit & delete enable/disable
Scanning
Auto-scan, step-scan
Linear, row/column scanning
Auditory Scanning
Scan speed 0.5 - 8 s
Hold time 0.01 - 1 s
Scan sound
Include header buttons in scan
Direct touch only (keeps keyboard
from popping up in scan mode)

18. Settings
in the free apps
Screen settings
Highlight selected cell
Adjust frame width
Zoom/bounce on/off
1x-3x cell magnification for scan/touch
Text-to-Speech settings
Onboard TTS
Speak each word
Male/female voices
Adjust pitch, speed, variance
Word prediction
150,000 word library
Learn new words
Track frequency of work use
Prompt for dictionary reset

19. Text to Speech

20. Fun Friday!
 “Like” Alexicom Tech on Facebook for
Fun Friday activities posted once or
more a month
 Username funfriday, password funfriday
 Publish pages to your iPad and link
them to an existing page

21. Stay supported
 Contact me at school
 support@alexicomtech.com