We at TapToTalk are proud to have real people available to answer your questions on the use of TapToTalk and TapToTalk Designer. We often respond within two hours of receiving your support request. It is a rare occasion when we cannot respond within the same business day. Though our official hours are Monday through Friday, 9am-6pm Pacific Time, we often respond to email and support form questions "after hours."
The Contact page on our web site gives you several ways to contact Tech Support. We highly recommend that you use the Support Form accessed with the link that says "THE FASTEST WAY TO GET PRODUCT & TECH SUPPORT" on the Contact page takes you). That form can also be accessed from the Customer Zone using the link that says "Contact Tech Support." The Customer Zone also provides a quick link to our Online Help and Documentation page, where you can find lots of TapToTalk documentation and instructions (this same material can be accessed using the Help link in TapToTalk Designer).
The more detail that you can give us about the problem you are having or where you are getting "stuck" the better. Regardless of how you contact us, please include the email address that you use to log into TapToTalk Designer.
We know you may be tempted to pick up the phone and call. However, you will not get faster service that way. Support requests are answered in the order that they are received regardless of whether they come through email or the phone.
On the other hand, please do not hesitate to contact us as described above when you need help. You will get answers a lot faster that way than by posting a question on our Facebook page. Facebook is not monitored by our support team, so your question or concern may be missed and response will certainly be delayed. And we want to respond quickly and individually to your support needs.
We also understand that sometimes you just need to talk to a real person. But, please give us a chance to answer your question via email. If this doesn’t work, we can and will schedule a telephone session. We can even use a remote support tool where we can see what you’re doing or can show you how to do something when we are both at the computer. Scheduling a session does take a little planning so that we aren’t playing telephone tag.
Please take advantage of our Tech Support if you have ANY questions. We are here to make sure that you and your child are successful with TapToTalk.
If you have a TapToTalk idea or story you'd like us to share with other TapToTalk users, please email us at blog@taptotalk.com.
The TapToTalk Team
http://www.taptotalk.com/
blog@taptotalk.com
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Empowering Families to be Self-Sufficient with AAC
An SLP from Ireland told us,"One of my goals in speech and language therapy is to support and encourage families to get involved in programming devices, adding on family pictures, etc. so that ultimately they will be as independent as possible in the use of such systems."
To which we add a loud and hearty "YES!"
Today, thousands of families use TapToTalk Designer to create and update AAC content for TapToTalk. They organize the pictures into albums the way they want them. They choose their own pictures from our library and add their own as they see fit. They record the sounds played, so they have control over the language, vocabulary, and accent. And they do it from any PC or Mac computer with web access.
Many of these families start out with help from an SLP, OT, teacher or other professional. Often, they collaborate, which web-based TapToTalk Designer makes easy. Sometimes, the teacher handles the album for school and mom does the one for home. Sometimes the professional support continues; sometimes, it does not.
Often, really great things happen when the TapToTalk user gets involved in the design. After all, it his/her communication device. What do you want to be able to say? What picture would you like for that? As TapToTalk Mom Caroline Louise Curran said, "Emel told me she wants me to make her a McDonalds album for her TapToTalk so she can order her own food. That's my job for tomorow. She just loves her TapToTalk."
Our goal is empowering kids by helping them communicate--by giving them a voice. Empowering families is a great way to do that.
If you have a TapToTalk idea or story you'd like us to share with other TapToTalk users, please email us at blog@taptotalk.com.
The TapToTalk Team
www.taptotalk.com
blog@taptotalk.com
To which we add a loud and hearty "YES!"
Today, thousands of families use TapToTalk Designer to create and update AAC content for TapToTalk. They organize the pictures into albums the way they want them. They choose their own pictures from our library and add their own as they see fit. They record the sounds played, so they have control over the language, vocabulary, and accent. And they do it from any PC or Mac computer with web access.
Many of these families start out with help from an SLP, OT, teacher or other professional. Often, they collaborate, which web-based TapToTalk Designer makes easy. Sometimes, the teacher handles the album for school and mom does the one for home. Sometimes the professional support continues; sometimes, it does not.
Often, really great things happen when the TapToTalk user gets involved in the design. After all, it his/her communication device. What do you want to be able to say? What picture would you like for that? As TapToTalk Mom Caroline Louise Curran said, "Emel told me she wants me to make her a McDonalds album for her TapToTalk so she can order her own food. That's my job for tomorow. She just loves her TapToTalk."
Our goal is empowering kids by helping them communicate--by giving them a voice. Empowering families is a great way to do that.
If you have a TapToTalk idea or story you'd like us to share with other TapToTalk users, please email us at blog@taptotalk.com.
The TapToTalk Team
www.taptotalk.com
blog@taptotalk.com
Monday, February 14, 2011
Serenity Gets Popsicles, Ice Cream and Happiness with TapToTalk
Leanna George, TapToTalk Mom, recently shared some of her Serenity's earlyTapToTalk experiences with us on our Facebook page. We think you may enjoy following Serenity's progress.
Eight-year-old Serenity, she says, is "developmentally like a two- or three-year old." She had been using TapToTalk just a few weeks when, "Serenity had an MRI today. As she was in the recovery room she used her TapToTalk on her iPad to tell us what color of popsicle she wanted. Who'd have thought Serenity preferred green popsicles over the other colors?"
Who indeed? But now Serenity can make her preferences known and get them met.
A couple of weeks later:
"We visited a dermatologist today about a fingernail that had been damaged on Serenity's hand. When the doctor walked in, he commented, 'Nice iPad,' as she was playing with Fluidity. I said the iPad helps her in many ways, but this is the reason we got it. I loaded TapToTalk and flipped it for her to her emotions folder. I asked how she was feeling and she tapped, 'I'm happy,' and looked up at me and the doctor with a big grin on her face. Later, at dinner, she got fussy, but we had left the iPad in the car. I pulled out my Android phone and flipped to a foods folder. She used my phone to request ice cream. Her daddy melted like a popsicle on a hot summer day and got up to get her an ice cream (after we had talked about it deciding no ice cream right then)."
Good for you, Serenity! How could a dad resist?
We thank Leanna for sharing this with us. We love to hear about how a child's life can change when she is given a voice.
If you have a TapToTalk idea or story you'd like us to share with other TapToTalk users, please email us at blog@taptotalk.com.
The TapToTalk Team
www.taptotalk.com
blog@taptotalk.com
Eight-year-old Serenity, she says, is "developmentally like a two- or three-year old." She had been using TapToTalk just a few weeks when, "Serenity had an MRI today. As she was in the recovery room she used her TapToTalk on her iPad to tell us what color of popsicle she wanted. Who'd have thought Serenity preferred green popsicles over the other colors?"
Who indeed? But now Serenity can make her preferences known and get them met.
A couple of weeks later:
"We visited a dermatologist today about a fingernail that had been damaged on Serenity's hand. When the doctor walked in, he commented, 'Nice iPad,' as she was playing with Fluidity. I said the iPad helps her in many ways, but this is the reason we got it. I loaded TapToTalk and flipped it for her to her emotions folder. I asked how she was feeling and she tapped, 'I'm happy,' and looked up at me and the doctor with a big grin on her face. Later, at dinner, she got fussy, but we had left the iPad in the car. I pulled out my Android phone and flipped to a foods folder. She used my phone to request ice cream. Her daddy melted like a popsicle on a hot summer day and got up to get her an ice cream (after we had talked about it deciding no ice cream right then)."
Good for you, Serenity! How could a dad resist?
We thank Leanna for sharing this with us. We love to hear about how a child's life can change when she is given a voice.
If you have a TapToTalk idea or story you'd like us to share with other TapToTalk users, please email us at blog@taptotalk.com.
The TapToTalk Team
www.taptotalk.com
blog@taptotalk.com
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
TapToTalk AAC for Rett Syndrome
Children with the nervous system disorder known as Rett syndrome, almost always girls, have delayed or curtailed growth and development, accompanied in most cases by expressive language disorder. Seizures, gastrointestinal disorders and repetitive motions are common symptoms. Rett is often confused with Angelman syndrome and cerebral palsy. There is some controversy as to whether or not Rett syndrome should be considered a part of the autism spectrum.
The TapToTalk Team
www.taptotalk.com
blog@taptotalk.com
Children with Rett syndrome have the same need (and right) to communicate as do all other kids. We have heard from many parents of children with Rett syndrome that they have had great success using TapToTalk as their AAC solution. Most tell us TapToTalk was recommended by other parents. TapToTalk provides portable, customizable, socially acceptable and affordable AAC for children with expressive language problems. We are proud to be able to help them help their kids communicate.
Here are some resources for families dealing with Rett syndrome:
International Rett Syndrome Foundation
Rett Syndrome Research Trust
If you have a TapToTalk idea or story you'd like us to share with other TapToTalk users, please email us at blog@taptotalk.com. International Rett Syndrome Foundation
Rett Syndrome Research Trust
The TapToTalk Team
www.taptotalk.com
blog@taptotalk.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
