Attainment Company, a family-owned assistive-technology business in Wisconsin, is known for its apps geared toward students with intellectual disabilities and autism. Our App Search Tool includes several items from Attainment’s GoTalk® and GoVisual apps series:
- GoTalk NOW (for creating AAC communication boards on iPads)
- GoTalk NOW Español
- GoTalk NOW LITE (a free version of GoTalk NOW, limited to five communication boards)
- GoTalk WOW (the Apple Watch version of GoTalk NOW: includes recording and text-to-speech features)
- GoVisual Experience (allows users to highlight images or text in videos: useful for creating customized displays as AAC tools, or for practicing literacy skills)
- GoVisual Scene Maker (the free version of GoVisual Experience, identical except for limits on creating and saving images)
Good apps, especially apps with multiple communication features, encourage outside-the-box thinking: so students, teachers, and others have found many uses for “Go” apps beyond small talk and academic work. Below, Daryn Ofczarzak, BridgingApps team member and ESGH Speech Language Pathologist, shares some of the uses clients have discussed.
- At the beginning of the school year, teachers can make videos of their classrooms, highlighting where students will put their things, where to turn in papers, what centers to go to for which class activities, and any special routines.
- For a first visit to a dentist or doctor, parents can create a picture board or video explaining what to expect. For young adults especially, this can include instructions on participating in the appointment. Example: go to Suite 320; go to the front desk; wait for someone to help you; sit down and wait in the lobby; when the nurse comes, go down the hall with her and sit in the big brown chair.
- When commuting to a new job, a young adult with IDD can use a video or picture board to navigate the route. Example: wait at the bus stop by McDonald’s; watch for the number 21 bus; get on the number 21 bus; swipe your card/pay your fare; watch for the Shell station on the other side of the freeway; pull the cord when you see the station; get off the bus; walk across the side street to the job location.
- “Go” visual productions are also good for learning basic routines and chores, especially when navigating life changes. Users and their families/caregivers have created sequence-based instructions for brushing teeth, making lunch, packing for school, folding laundry, and much more.
- And of course, there are “pure fun” uses. For example: to share the story of a family vacation or special event, upload pictures and videos from favorite moments. Then add hotspots (highlighting) and a voice recording or a text narration.
The apps come with sample demos of the above and more.