My previous list post on the top free iPad apps for children with special needs fared extremely well, receiving thousands of views, so I figured that you guys would also benefit from the Top 10 AAC iPhone and iPad Apps Under $30! These are the results of my research, and I hope that you find some inexpensive AAC apps for your kids. I know that these aren’t the cheapest, but AAC apps can get as expensive as $300, so in comparison, these apps are great deals.
Look2Learn AAC App
Look2Learn is a $15 AAC App that was designed for the iPhone, but still works on the iPad. (The images are just blown up.) L2L helps kids with visual skills and assists in verbalization of needs and wants.
This user-friendly application was created with the belief that many augmentative systems are either too complicated or lack the ability to customize to the individual’s needs. L2L offers a variety of features that can be quickly learned by the user and offers outstanding individualization.
In addition to using included images, this app, developed by MDR, allows you to use your own voice and images. Awesome AAC app for under $30! (English)
Download Look2Learn on iTunes: Look2Learn – AAC – MDR
TapToTalk AAC App
I know that I’ve done several posts on TapToTalk, developed by Assistyx, but the thing that makes it great is the depth and freedom of the app. By freedom, I mean that it’s free! Yes, TapToTalk is one of the few free AAC apps available on iTunes! If you’re looking for more information on TapToTalk, check out my in-depth post on the app. (English)
Download TapToTalk for Free on iTunes
My First AAC
My First AAC is for iPad only, and is a wonderful AAC application for kids with special needs. You can choose different categories, and then select certain things to vocalize within those categories.
My First AAC is an affordable augmentative and alternative communication application for the iPad that is specifically designed for toddlers and preschoolers with delayed speech or severe speech disorders. Intuitive and child-friendly, My First AAC helps young children to communicate with family, caregivers, teachers and other people they meet in everyday life.
My First AAC is $25, developed by NCSoft, and has over 250 icons! This is a wonderful app for kids with special needs and verbal communication issues. (English)
Download My First AAC on iTunes: My First AAC – NCsoft
iConverse AAC App
iConverse is a wonderful AAC app designed specifically for kids with autism. This app is only $9.99, an amazing price for a solid AAC iPhone and iPad app.
iConverse is an educational tool designed for young children, autistic individuals, and individuals with other communicative disabilities, and also toddler-aged children who have yet to master language. iConverse is an Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) application for the iPhone and iPod Touch that replaces bulky and expensive communication devices used in the past. iConverse gives users the ability to carry an AAC device in their pocket creating a means of communication that is appropriate, effective and discreet.
iConverse, developed by Xcellent Creations, has two available voices: male and female, and also has a screen of Common Buttons for easy access! (English)
Download iConverse on iTunes: iConverse – Assisted Communication – Xcellent Creations, Inc.
Verbal Victor AAC App
Verbal Victor is an AAC app for $6.99, developed by Seed Stage Associates, that helps kids on the spectrum with special needs verbalize their needs through pictures and recorded voice. Verbal Victor is compatible with both iPhone and iPad, making it a versatile app for children with special needs.
Verbal Victor is an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) software application for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. Verbal Victor is designed primarily for individuals with emerging communication skillls and developmental delays
Verbal Victor is yet another great AAC app for under $30! (English)
Download Verbal Victor on iTunes: Verbal Victor – Seed Stage Associates
ComApp AAC Application
ComApp is another free AAC application that can help your kids communicate with the people they meet, and the people that they already know and love! It was developed by Special Learning, a company dedicated to kids on the spectrum. (English)
Download ComApp on iTunes for Free: ComApp – Special Learning, Inc.
Voice4U AAC Application
Voice4U is an AAC application developed by Spectrum Visions that is available on iTunes for $29.99. This wonderful in-depth application allows kids to tell you what they want very easily in a fun and simple to navigate interface.
Voice4u is highly recommended for children and adults with communication impeding disabilities, stroke, traumatic brain injury, along with the therapists, teachers, and parents that must bridge the communication gap with them. It is a perfect solution for learning and communication for autistic individuals and people around them. With it, you will never have to guess at an individuals’ wants and needs and will break down the barriers of communication for individuals with special needs. It delivers quick, easy communication on the go. (English, Japanese)
Download Voice4U On iTunes: Voice4u – Spectrum Visions
Verbally Free AAC App
Verbally, developed by Intuary, is yet another wonderful free AAC app for kids with special needs. Verbally takes a bit of a different approach, and instead of using images, has a text-based interface that is better for some people who are on the spectrum. Keep in mind that Verbally is only for iPad.
Verbally is an easy-to-use, comprehensive Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) app for the iPad. Verbally brings speech to those without and enables real conversation with its simple, intuitive design. Just tap in what you want to say and Verbally speaks for you. (English)
Download Verbally for Free on iTunes: Verbally – Intuary
iComm Free AAC App
iComm is an amazing free AAC app developed by Mia’s Apps that is compatible with both the iPhone and iPad devices. The app allows you to record your own spoken words so that you can customize your kid’s AAC experience.
The iComm (short for I Communicate) is an app providing an affordable, custom built and easy to use communication system using pictures and words – both written and spoken. It is ideal for children under three until they are able to express their needs through well formed speech. The iComm is also very useful for children with a broad range of disabilities who have trouble communicating such as cerebral palsy or autism.
(English)
Download iComm for Free on iTunes: iComm – Bappz
My Choice Board AAC App
My Choice Board AAC App is only $9.99, and was developed by Good Karma Applications. If you’re looking for more information on this app, check out my in-depth post. My Choice Board is for iPhone only. (English)
My Choice Board – Good Karma Applications, Inc
I hope you loved this article, and I encourage you to Like Autism Plugged In on Facebook! Also, check out my article on the top 10 free iPad apps for children with special needs!
[...] watching him learn and grow! If you like this post, please check out my recent article on the top 10 AAC apps under $30! See.Touch.Learn By Brain Parade See.Touch.Learn is one of the top free iPad apps for [...]
Thank You Jack Kieffer for an excellent post!
Since this directly relevant to your article I would like interested people to know that I recently released last week (September 21, 2011) a new App called “Touch Voice” in the Apple App store for the iPad which is also under $30. In fact, at this time it is only $19.99.
Touch Voice is a text-to-speech based app using a male or female computer synthesized voice. It is designed to address those with medical conditions such as stroke and a list of other conditions, which can affect speech. For more info see the links:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/touch-voice/id463214871?mt=8
http://touch-voice.com/
The AACSpeechBuddy APP is great –
http://aacspeech.com
No other AAC app gives you the ability to share your created, customized, personalized
speech sets with others.
Speech Sets can be shared with your child’s speech therapist and can be loaded on multiple devices.
With the easy to use web management, parents and teachers can collaborate and work on Speech Sets from any Internet Browser on your computer or mobile device.
[...] Autism Plugged In – Top 10 AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) Apps: iPhone and iPad apps for under $30. [...]
[...] Autism Plugged In – Top 10 AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) Apps: iPhone and iPad apps for under $30. [...]
[...] here to read Top 10 AAC Apps: iPhone and iPad Apps under $30 from Autism Plugged [...]
I wrote an early AAC app for use in special needs classrooms, if you’d like to take a look. I’m eager to make changes or add features to help out your kids, if you let me know.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/speech-buttons/id495853688?ls=1&mt=8
Dave
[...] Top 10 AAC iPhone and iPad Apps Under $30 [...]
[...] http://www.autismpluggedin.com/2011/09/top-10-aac-iphone-and-ipad-apps-under-30.html [...]
[...] iToucan Talk application, which is Android-specific (no iOS version), is honestly the best AAC application that we have ever reviewed! I’m not exaggerating – things are easy to find, the icons [...]
[...] that you may deem appropriate for the app.I would like to note that the synthesized voice, which speaks text that you type, is extremely high-quality.Storyspots and more features of AutisMate!Storyspots are like hotspots, [...]
Alexicom AAC and “Elements” apps are full language apps with core words. They teach kid how to develop language and create novel phrases, not just pre-stored phrases like “I want.” It also has great features like scanning, text-to-speech, ability to take pictures directly in the app to use as the symbols, and much more. Check it out in iTunes, oh and Alexicom AAC is FREE! http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/alexicom-aac/id395122088?mt=8
[...] Top 10 AAC Apps for iPhone and iPad Under $30 [...]