My brother has had an iPad for 11 years and has used a $300 app called Lamp Words for Life for virtually the entire time. He can really only say CV words (one consonant and one vowel). If it is longer than that he deletes it.
About the best he can say since he was 2.5 was "Ah wa haw-haw" (I want hot dog).
With his iPad he can say "I want Domino's pizza salami olives mushrooms."
Yes, we need to work on the grammar, but verbally he could only indicate he wants pizza.
He can't necessarily do better with sign.
He can also say "I love you Xist take a shower please."
I taught him that one!
Something happened a week or two ago and my brother was very upset.
It turned out that his communication app disappeared.
I can only guess that he received some message, tried to make it go away, and the app went away, but I don't have any idea why, or what the message would be.
"For best user experience this app is being uninstalled?"
As far as we know, the iPad works perfectly, we are merely experiencing planned obsolescence.
It looks like I can walk into Walmart today and walk out with an iPad for $300.
That's 20% more than I paid for my Accord!
It is definitely less than I was expecting, but it's a year old!
I can walk into Verizon and buy a new Air for $750.
That's almost what I paid for my 2022 Civic!
It doesn't run, but still!
Hopefully that would be good for 8-10 years, but all that we will do is install the same app he has used for 11 years.
We don't need to pay for it. We can ask the support coordinator to request that my brother's insurance ask his doctor to write a script and then they will request that his SLP fills out an 8-page packet.
Presto chanjo! In 6-12 months either he has a free (to us) iPad or we are starting over!
I started seeing a client 6 months ago and the dad said they were trying to get an iPad. On Friday the dad said they needed my number so the doctor could send me information. I gave him my business card, he dropped it off, and when I got home someone from the office called and asked for my fax number.
I asked "Fax? Can I just pick it up?"
After a bit of phone tag I picked it up right when it was closing.
I need to fill out the 8 pages tonight and I will submit it the first thing in the morning.
My clients are important to me.
Anyway. It is a big process, all because Apple isn't satisfied with their cashflow experience.