"There's an App for that!"
Today I want to look at an app designed to be used with students with autism. iPrompts (49.99) combines 3 visual strategies into one application. iPrompts is not intended to be a communication device but rather a device which can be used by parents and professionals working with individuals on the autism spectrum. It features a picture schedule which can be customized using photos from the iTouch photo library or using photos contained in the small iPrompts library. The second feature is a 2 picture choice board which can also be customized with pictures from the iTouch photo library or the iPrompts library. By turning the iTouch to landscape mode, when the student touches his choice the other choice is shaded. Finally, the last feature is a visual timer. A picture can be included along with the timer that gives the student a visual cue as to how much time is left in a particular activity.
In the initial release of iPrompts many people had difficulty loading pictures from the iTouch library. Recent updates have fixed this feature, however, I have still had some issues with frequently changing the choice board pictures. I usually fix this problem by exiting the application and restarting the application with more success. However, for portability of the visual strategies without the bulkiness of a PECs books or picture schedules this app has possibilities. For a quick look of iPrompts in action check out this You Tube video: