HOW USEFUL IS AN IPAD AS A MEANS TO COMMUNICATING?

[jillannf6]

I HAVE A NETBOOK WHICH I NOW FIND DIFFICULT IN TAKIGN ANYWHERE - TOO HEAVY)

WOULD AN IPAD BE A BETTER MEANS WITH HTE APP OF PROLOQUO FOR COMMUNITCATING?

[CateT]

HELLO JILL,

MY MUM USED AN IPAD FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND WE DID FIND IT USEFUL TO A POINT. I HAVE READ A LOT OF YOUR POSTS ON HERE AND I THINK THAT YOU ARE A LOT MORE TECHNICALLY SAVVY THAN MY MOTHER SO I DO BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH IT MORE AND GET MUCH MORE USE OUT OF IT.

THE DIFFICULTY WITH IT WHICH WE FOUND WAS THAT THE SCREEN IS VERY TOUCH SENSITIVE AND IF MY MUM'S CO-ORDINATION WAS NOT COMPLETELY UP TO SCRATCH, THEN SHE WOULD BRUSH AGAINST OTHER LETTERS BY ACCIDENT AND WE USED TO TEASE HER THAT SHE WAS WRITING IN CZECH!

PROLOQUO 2GO DOES HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF PHRASES, WORDS EG TYPES OF FOOD ETC PROGRAMMED IN SO IF YOU CAN GET TO GRIPS WITH NAVIGATING AROUND IT, IT WOULD BE A FANTASTIC RESOURCE. MY MOTHER NEVER FELT ABLE TO DO THIS THOUGH.

SHE USED IT SUCCESSFULLY TO TYPE INTO BUT NEVER REALLY USED THE OTHER 'PRE-PROGRAMMED BUTTONS'. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHERS WITH PSP FOR WHOM IT HAS BEEN BRILLIANT. PSP IS SUCH AN INDIVIDUAL DISEASE THAT I SUPPOSE YOU WOULD NEED TO TRIAL IT AND SEE HOW YOU GET ON. WE ARE GOING TO TRY A LITEWRITER FOR MY MUM AS THE BUTTONS ARE NOT AS TOUCH SENSITIVE, BUT AT THE MOMENT SHE HAS A LAMINATED CARD WITH LETTERS AND SHE POINTS AND SPELLS THINGS OUT. COMMUNICATION IS OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM AT THE MOMENT.

IF YOU DO GET THE IPAD I WOULD ALSO RECOMMEND BUYING THE STAND SO THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HOLD IT ON YOUR LAP - THIS MADE IT EASIER FOR MY MUM TO SEE IT. WE ALSO BOUGHT A MUSIC STAND TO PROP IT UP ON SO THAT IT WAS AT EYE LEVEL WHEN SHE WAS SITTING DOWN.

HOPE THIS IS HELPFUL.

ALL THE BEST

CATHY

[jillannf6 in reply to CateT]

hi cathy

many thanks for your reply -v helpful

i see the point of the stand too!!

will investigae further...

love jiill

[PSPA_JillL]

Speak to your speech and language therapist before buying any equipment so they can assess and see what would be best.

[jillannf6]

hi jill@pspa

i have done this but she was not aware of some of he technology which is available..

however she is referring me to the assistvie teichnology section at the hospital then i can hopefully get demos and "try b4 i buy"

tbanks for the reply

Jill

xx

[PSPA_JillL]

Thanks, let us know how you get on.

[wclizzy]

We got my mom an iPad and she uses it all the time. She can't walk without a walker anymore, so she can now check her email anytime she wants without having to get up and risking a fall. She also plays, "Words with Friends" regularly and we're happy that she's doing mental activities.

[jillannf6]

hi all

i am ito tryt an IPAD with the prolog2go package , courtesy of the Aintreee assisive technology group

i am really looking fwd to being able to ocmmunicate better!!

love jill