Leslie Stahl reports how iPad and Proloquo2Go app give speech to kids with apraxia, autism & special needs. http://news.cnet.com/8301-27083_3-20124473-247/tablets-apps-help-autistic-people-communicate/

Point to happy.  Point to orange. You read aloud, your autistic child points. Clear colorful photos and a fun,cartoony plastic pointer make this book a joy for families with kids with autistic spectrum disorder, or other disorders involving speech. With contributions and editing by Toni Giannone CCC-SLP. $20 Workman Press, http://www.workman.com/products/9780761157151/

Phoning it in. Virtual Speech Centers and others are offering videophone Speech Language Pathology. Practitioners work with clients via web link and use iphone apps to evaluate them: http://www.pr.com/press-release/345404

An app for apraxia? Special needs apps for iPhone, iPad etc. 

Micky Ashley has a great list of apps (software) for smartphones, and tablets.

Some are free, all are meant to assist in speech, reading, learning and communication.

Many are a terrific adjunct to speech language pathology. And since kids and apps are a "natural", they can motivate and add to the "homework" which is so important for your child's progress.

http://www.childrenwithspecialneeds.com/index.php/special-needs-apps.html

 Dolphins, Royal Wedding: Cymatics & Autism. CCC-SLP Marsha Steinberger visualizing autistic kid's own sounds with CymaScope as an aid to speech. Full story at http://www.mmdnewswire.com/prince-william-and-kate-middleton-51091.html

July 6 NYC, "think-in" sheds new light on causes/ treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Full story at http://tinyurl.com/3rqesmm

Obama appoints Speech Language Pathologist to People w/ Intellectual Disabilities committee. Kudos to Annette McKenzie Anderson, Ph.D. She is President & CEO of Diversified In-Valuable Assistance (DIVA) Enterprises.  Recently, she served as an Adjunct Clinical Supervisor for Graduate Students enrolled in the Speech Language Pathology Clinical Practicum in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Howard University.  Previously, Dr. Anderson served as a certified Speech Language Pathologist at Mamie D. Lee School, the District of Columbia Public School for students with intellectual and related disabilities.  During her tenure at Mamie D. Lee School, she implemented interventions in the areas of communication, socialization, cultural arts, community involvement, and adaptive skills for students.  Dr. Anderson was recognized by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation by receiving the Louis M. DiCarlo National Award for Outstanding Clinical Achievement in Human Communication Sciences and Disorders.  She was also a recipient of the Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award presented by The Washington Post.  She holds a B.S. in Speech Pathology from Hampton University, a M.S. in Speech Language Pathology from the University of the District of Columbia (formerly, Federal City College), and a Ph.D. in Special Education Administration from Gallaudet University. http://tinyurl.com/3knmako

iPad app "Milo" engages children 3-10 in sequencing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiZ-IBPC6gU Short video demonstrates how kids, parents and Speech Language Pathologists have fun moving Milo and his friends around the screen into the correct order for activitives like baseball, or simply washing hands.

1st International Conference on Cognitive Hearing Science for Communication June 19-22, Sweden http://eventus.trippus.se/head2011attendees

CBS interviews Colin Firth tonight 7 ET/PT on playing speech therapy patient in "The King's Speech". Movie began as a drama about the reluctant leadership of King George VI at the beginning of WW II - but film researchers uncovered the secret speech disorder which threatened to prevent the King's inspiring speeches. CBS story