Special Learning, Inc. Launches ComApp3, the Newest Version of its Communicating Basic Needs App, for Android and Kindle Fire

ComApp3, the latest version of the highly sought after Communicating Basic Needs app for Android and Kindle Fire, is easy-to-use and allows children with language deficits to communicate their basic wants and needs.

Special Learning, Inc., the leading global provider of mobile technology applications and educational resources for the autism community, announced today the launch of the latest version of its popular Communicating Basic Needs app (ComApp3) for Android and Kindle Fire devices. The newest features of this highly innovative app continue to provide advanced ways for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or other language deficits, to easily and effectively communicate their basic wants and needs using the highest quality images and real voices that are now customizable directly from the user’s device.

ComApp3 offers a fully customizable adaptation of its highly effective ComApp, released earlier this year. Using a highly attractive, simple-to-use icon-based system that adheres to the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), the app gives voice to individuals affected by developmental disabilities by allowing them to express simple requests quickly and successfully. The app focuses on five main categories essential to communication: food, drink, clothing, toys and emotions.

This latest version now allows users to personalize their app, not only through the app’s online Mobile Dashboard, but also directly from the user’s device with the use of the camera, personal photo gallery and a built-in voice recorder. This means that no third-party applications are needed to upload images and voice files. Parents and providers can fully customize the app to their own liking and have the customization, whether from the device or Mobile Dashboard, appear in both locations through the use of the synchronization function.

The third version of Special Learning’s mobile communication app also includes the reporting functions offered on the previous versions that track frequency data by category and by individual item. Through the Mobile Dashboard, parents and providers can also run reports to track the frequency data from the device, and, most importantly, save the settings for future use through the synchronization function.

This app was developed under the guidance of Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and organized in a manner found to be successful in practice. The convenience of having this app in either a portable Android or Kindle Fire device is that it is readily accessible anytime and anywhere without the hassle of carrying around picture cards to communicate.

The app is also user friendly and intuitive so that all children with ASD, regardless of their level of ability, can learn to use it quickly.

Key features of the app include:

•     Provides fully customizable items per category
•     Use of device camera or photo gallery to customize or create a new item directly from the device
•     Use of the built-in voice recorder to update or create new voice files
•     High-definition graphics designed to accommodate and fully utilize large screen devices, making it more engaging and simpler for children to use
•     Intuitive and kid-friendly interface designed specifically for use of children with ASD that offers very simple navigation, making it easy for children to learn and use without a lot of instructions
•     Versatility to choose between three different photographs of every item in each of the five main categories to allow therapists to teach generalization skills to children that are ready to learn these skills
•     Customizable options categories to enable or disable photos in the “Icon Library” to select only those items that are appropriate for their child
•     Administrative functions that offer an abundance of other customization features including:

     o    Four “Voice” options;
o    Five “Themes” or backgrounds: default, aquatic, butterfly, creatures, and trucks;
o    Two “Picture Size” options: small, and large;
o    Ability to choose “Word” or “Phrase” for emotions icons;
o    Ability to enable or disable “Item Titles” which appear on top of each icon

Special Learning’s ComApp3 was released for iPhone and iTouch last month, as well as for iPad earlier this month.