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How do I get started with TouchChat on my ProSlate?

Natasha Sellens
Updated

TouchChat  

TouchChat is a robust language system with a wide range of features and customization options.  The how-to videos linked in this article are created by PRC-Saltillo, which is the company who owns the TouchChat software.  

If you have follow-up questions about any TouchChat features on your ProSlate, please reach out to the Forbes AAC Tech Support Team and/or your local Forbes AAC Assistive Technology Specialist.

Please Note:  If you have one of our ProSlate loan devices, TouchChat will be one of the loaded software systems.  If you have a funded ProSlate, the loaded software will be the one that your speech-language pathologist recommended following an evaluation. This software may or may not be TouchChat.

Getting Started with TouchChat

This video provides a broad overview of some of the first things you'll want to get familiar with within TouchChat.  It includes the following topics:

Using "Word Finder"

Learning a new AAC system is like learning any new language, which means that it takes time to build a level of fluency.  Part of building fluency on an AAC device involves learning where buttons are and how they are organized so that you can efficiently access them when you need to.

"Word Finder" can help AAC users and their communication partners quickly find words on the device without having to spend hours sorting through various folders to find them.  "Word Finder" is also helpful to use before you program new buttons to ensure that the button you're programming is not already on the device.

Written instructions for using "Word Finder" can be found here:  Word Finder

TouchChat Settings Overview

This video provides an overview of many important settings that are available in TouchChat.  Topics include customizations related to:

Key TouchChat settings are also summarized in this written article:  TouchChat Settings Overview

Editing Buttons in TouchChat

Customizing buttons helps to ensure that the vocabulary available to the AAC user is meaningful and motivating to them.  We highly recommend working with your speech-language pathologist to ensure that any edits also take into consideration the validity of the language system, the consistency of the motor plan, and the overall plan to grow the user's language/communication skills.  

This video covers several editing options, including:

  • Editing button labels & messages (written instructions here:  Editing Buttons)
  • Adding a symbol or photo to a button (written instructions here:  Change Button Images)
  • Changing the button color and outlines (written instructions here:  Change Button Styles)
  • Resizing buttons (written instructions here: Change Button Size)

  • Moving buttons on the page (written instructions here: Move or Hide Buttons)

    Note:  Do this with caution!  We want to ensure that, as much as possible, buttons remain in a consistent location.

  • Copying and pasting buttons

  • Hiding buttons (written instructions here:  Move or Hide Buttons)

    "Hiding buttons" allows you to make certain buttons invisible (without deleting them).  This can be useful in situations when full display of all of the pre-programmed vocabulary may be too overwhelming.  Please work with your speech therapist to ensure that there is enough vocabulary visible so that the user has ample words to explore and grow into, and that the words available to the AAC user are fun, motivating, and meaningful.

  • Customizing the skin tones for Symbolstix people symbols

Linking a Page to a Button in TouchChat

Have you created a custom page or imported a page into TouchChat?  If so, you probably want the user to have an easy way to access that page.  In these cases, we recommend linking the new/imported page to a specific button within the vocabulary file that is being used.  This video will walk you through how to do just that: 

Restricting Menu Access

It can be helpful to password-protect menus to prevent accidental edits, especially while everyone is first learning the software!  Within TouchChat, you can both password- protect the menu and hide the menu button completely.  The instructions provided below explain how to do both:

Setting a Menu Passcode

  1. While in the AAC user's vocabulary, select "Menu" in the upper right corner of the screen.
  2. Select "Settings."
  3. In the menu that appears, scroll down to the "Editing" heading.
    1. Type a passcode into the box next to "Menu Passcode."
    2. Toggle "Use Menu Passcode" to "on."

  4. Now, if you select "Menu," a prompt will appear to input a passcode.

    Note:  Full written instructions can be found here:  Restrict Access to Editing Menus

Hiding the Menu Button Completely

  1. Exit "TouchChat," and open the iOS settings (grey cog app)
  2. On the left side of the screen, scroll until you find "Apps," and select it.
  3. Select "TouchChat" from the list that appears on the right side of the screen.
  4. Under the "Editing" heading, toggle "Allow Editing" to off.
  5. Now, if you return to TouchChat, the "Menu" button will not be visible.

Preventing Vocabulary File Deletion

Recent TouchChat updates allow you to put an extra layer of protection on custom vocabulary files so that they cannot be accidentally deleted.  To do so, complete the following:

  1. While in the AAC user's vocabulary, select "Menu" in the upper right corner of the screen.
  2. Select "Settings."
  3. In the menu that appears, scroll down to the "Editing" heading.
    1. Toggle "Allow Vocabulary Deletion" off
  4. Now, if someone attempts to delete the vocabulary file, they will receive a notification that says "Deleting vocabularies not allowed."

Backing Up TouchChat

Backing up your language software regularly is highly recommended.  This ensures that you will always have a saved copy of your custom language file should anything happen to your communication device.  

Many communication apps recommend that you back up custom vocabulary files via Dropbox or Google Drive.  Forbes AAC does load Dropbox and Google Drive apps onto all ProSlate devices before they ship, but we do NOT set up any associated accounts, so these are accounts that you would need to create yourself.  More about the account set-up process can be found in the following articles:

Written instructions here:  Transfer or Back Up Vocabulary Files

Would you or your team benefit from AAC training?  You are more than welcome to reach out to your local Assistive Technology Specialist:  Find a Specialist | Forbes AAC | Augmentative Communication 

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