I will give her all the options that I get.  My hesistation with this suggestion is that this PALS is 38 with two kids (one small, one teenager), is a single mother, and works full time.  The intent is for her to have something lightweight that she can carry around everywhere.  But that might not be feasible so as I said, I will present her with all the options people give me.
 
A
 
Alisa Brownlee, ATP
Clinical Manager, Assistive Technology Services
ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) Association
National Office and Greater Philadelphia Chapter

Direct Phone Number: 215-631-1877

From: "xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, December 6, 2011 6:25 PM
Subject: RE:Fiona where are you?

I could not easily find what choices you have for voices, but this might work - internet connection required:
http://www.texthelp.com/north-america/our-products/readwrite/features-pc/web-apps#Speech  They have a web app - not sure how this works?

A workaround that could work for the next six months - again, internet connection required:
- use a desktop replicator app, I use Splashtop, on the iPad and then you can use the ipad just like the computer.  Whatever software she is using should come through on the iPad.  I have a mac desktop computer and I just tried it.  I use the text to speech feature built into mac quite often to proofread text. I just typed the hotkey on the iPad like I do on the desktop and my iPad is talking!

Let us know what you find out.


Antoinette Verdone, MSBME, ATP
Assistive Technology Consultant
ImproveAbility, LLC
Phone/Text: 512-522-1705
Fax: 888-501-1009
Address: 7301 Burnet Rd, Suite 102-265, Austin, TX 78757
 
DARS Provider# 1-274278960-0-000

"One cannot consent to creep when one has the impulse to soar" -- Helen Keller
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-------- Original Message --------
Subject:
From: "Alisa Brownlee" <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, December 06, 2011 3:38 pm
To: "National ALS Association AT Listserv" <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
<xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx>

Hello my fellow AT Professionals.
 
I am hoping you can help me out to assist a PALS (see email below)  She wants an iPad but can't find her "voice" on any apps.  Currently, she is using Fiona voice on NextUp and wants it on the iPad but the NextUp folks have said their app is about 6 months away. 
 
I am familiar with quite a few apps but don't know if the RealSpeak voices are on any of the communication apps.  Do any of you know?  Reading her email (which is below) makes me sad and so desperate to help her. 
 
Thanks everyone!
 
Alisa
 
 
---------
From my PALS:
The voices on other apps like Speak It are are clear but they aren't 'me' if you know what I mean.  They get the job done but they make me sad.  I had a nice voice that was a mix of European and American, I used to be on the stage and was eloquent, it was beautiful and unique if I do say so myself.  Fiona is the only voice that has personality that I can relate to.  I know it seems petty but I have had to give up so much of my vanity with this disease that when I found this one small thing, I clung to it. 
 
Alisa Brownlee, ATP
Clinical Manager, Assistive Technology Services

Follow me on Twitter @alsassistivetec
or visit my blog on assistive technology for people with ALS: http://alsassistivetechnology.blogspot.com

Direct phone number 215-631-1877