App Review: Upcard for IOS and Android Devices

By: Maria Mazzola, EC-SEAT Scholar

Name of App: Upcard

Cost: Free

Where to find: on any Apple device (purchase in the Apple Store) and Android

About the App: Upcard is an iOS and Android app that allows children who are non-verbal to communicate what they want. I found this app through my cousin who has a child with Autism and is non-verbal. Upcard has picture cards that individuals can use to place in sequences to form statements and requests. You can use picture cards that come with the app or you can make your own from your camera to make requests or statements more specific and personal. In addition, a parent can record their voice to the picture card so it is more familiar to the child. This app is also great to use because it is free.

Positive: This device allows a child to communicate their needs and wants. One positive as I stated above is that you can create personalized cards to fit a child's specific needs. This means you can take pictures of items in your house or in the child's school to make picture cards to use in the app. This makes requesting and making statements easier when children are familiar with the pictures on the cards in the app.

Con: One difficulty with this app is that it can be a long process recording a caregiver’s voice to each and every picture card. If a parent chooses to record their voice, they have to do it to each and every card separately which can take a chunk of time. Other than this minor difficulty this app has many positives.

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