Talk Rocket Go and Rocket Keys

Talk Rocket Go is one of the most physically accessible apps I have ever come across. Created by the folks at My Voice, this app is ideal for children and adults that need support to communicate.

As a resource teacher I have had much experience with assistive technology devices that can be difficult to command and strip the users of the dignity they work so hard to maintain. Talk Rocket Go appeals to me both as a teacher of individuals with assistive technology needs and as the parent of a little girl with autism.

Once you have purchased Talk Rocket Go you can sign up any number of your students or children as users. You can then access the accounts from home and update, plan or arrange the app to fit a particular student's/child's needs and the info will sync to the device. Do you know what this means for teachers? For students? For parents? For individual with communication deficits? This is a chance to communicate using an app so intuitive that, through time and use, it will become a voice for that person. Not a method of greeting or answering a simple question, but a true voice, specific to the user.


You do NOT have to be considered non-verbal to use this app. Any visual learner with a communication deficit can benefit from the visual schedules that can be personalized with REAL PHOTOS! No more silly representations and stick people. It will be so much easier to generalize skills when the users can see the actual objects and places.


But wait, there's more (I've always wanted to say that). There is a second app called Rocket Keys which is pretty ground-breaking, in my opinion. This is a keyboard, one that you can design to your specification (QWERTY no more, unless you're into QWERTY, and that's ok , too). This keyboard's word prediction (ideal to overcome spelling challenges) is based on Twitter. This is huge and let me tell you why: Twitter is arguably the most relevant social media platform in terms of current events. This allows the user to discuss relevant topics without searching in vain for the terms. This also ensures that the autocorrect contains current slang and is fluid and can change with the days events. Can you say brilliant?! To top it off, while there are a number of voice options available, you can also customize one for yourself or your child. Furthermore, the cursor on this keyboard is so adaptable it allows people to type with any part of the body. No finger needed; you can use your elbow or a stylus to customize what you want to say.

I am truly a fan of a this company because they have developed a product that our community needs and they did it for the sake of the people who need it. This is not a company that saw a niche and filled it; this is a company who has employees with family members who use this program. These are good people that have tested and retested this app to make sure it is worthy of you and your family's needs.

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