iAutism

Third part of the adventures of Milo mouse and his friend Melvin. Doonan Speech Therapy, the developer of two apps for learning verbs and prepositions (both available in English and Spanish), offers now Speech With Milo: Sequencing, devoted to sequences of daily routines and common activities.

In brief, this app for iPad/iPhone/iPod touch allows you to practice with 36 sequences, by ordering the images that form them, reading the descriptions of each of the three images of each sequence, hearing the explanation of the complete sequence, etc., and all this in a fun way. The ultimate goal: to know these sequences and to practice narrative and even reading skills.

Sequences

Speech with Milo: Sequencing comes with 36 sequences, each one consisting of three images showing the Milo (sometimes accompanied by Melvin) performing a series of actions. There are several sequences of habits, such as dressing, washing hands, brushing teeth, tying shoes, eating a hamburger, going to school, getting up or going to sleep, etc.

Other sequences show sports and other leisure activities, like reading a book, going to the movies, building a sand castle, sliding at park or celebrating birthday. Yet another group shows parents activities, such as driving a car or baking a cake. Finally, there is one about Milo driving a rocket to the moon.

Speech with Milo: Sequencing can work with all the sequences or you may choose one by one which sequences will be used. This is something that can easily be done by checking or unchecking them. You can also choose if they are going to appear in order or randomly.

Playing

Once selected the sequences, you can start. Operation of Speech with Milo: Sequencing is always the same: a screen appears showing in the top the three images of the sequence in any order, and three empty boxes below.

You hear “Put the Cards in Order” and from there, the child has to drag each image into its correct position. Each time an image is well positioned you hear applauses, and when misplaced you hear a typical “wrong” sound while the image moves automatically to its original position.

At any time we touch the “Phrase” button, which plays a short phrase describing the sequence.

And so on, until the child has placed the three images correctly.

At that time, with Milo Speech: Sequencing offers two options: move on to the next sequence, or play an animation based on the sequence in full screen.

After 10 sequences, Milo takes a break and begins to dance a little (but without background music unless you have it turned on permanently).

Settings

Speech with Milo: Sequencing has a settings screen that allows you to adjust some aspects of the operation: if you want to hear the right and wrong sounds (usually, yes), the background music, and the texts under each image and at the bottom of the screen.

By disabling some of these options you will get a cleaner screen and possibly more suitable for children without reading skills or precisely for children with more advanced that do not need any hints.

The application also includes a manual, which explains briefly how it works and provides clues on how to use it with children by accompanying them and providing explanations, for example.

Finally, we can send comments to Doonan Speech Therapy, an e-mail to a friend or visit the company website to subscribe to its newsletter.

Rating

The first feeling I got with Milo Speech: Sequencing was ‘quality’, especially for its graphics. It is an attractive application, and animations will help get the interest of the child.

I wish that when Milo dances you could always hear a music, and the team of therapists of Fundación Planeta Imaginario that work with my daughter told me it would be nice to be able to force the kid to build the sequence in order (first the image that goes left).

And obviously, I wish there were more sequences, and that the texts were in other languages. But as it is now, Speech with Milo: Sequencing is already a very interesting and attractive app, which can be very helpful for children with special needs both to learn sequences and practice storytelling and reading skills.

-Francesc Sistach

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Speech with Milo: Sequencing  1.1.1

Web: http://www.speechwithmilo.com

Company: Doonan Speech Therapy

Languages: English.

Functions: Ordering sequences of habits and social stories.

iPhone/iPod touch version: Yes.

iPad version: Yes.

Price: $2.99 / € 2.39

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This post is also available in: Spanish