For the past year, our team has been working very hard to make Proloquo2Go available to you. We did this because so many of our customers told us that there was no other way they would be able to access funding for the program unless purchases came through Spectronics. We made the process work (with considerable effort), despite the fact that all purchases still had to go via the Apple iTunes Store and we had to individually “gift” each purchase to the end-user.
Unfortunately, many schools and organisations are finding it to be too complex to purchase the program in this way, and are also telling us that it is too convoluted to be juggling contact with both Spectronics and iTunes for successful installation and implementation of the program. With many more assistive technology Apps being developed for purchase only through the iTunes Store, we have made the difficult decision not to supply any software which must be purchased in this way. As a result, Spectronics will no longer be selling Proloquo2Go after close of business on December 24th 2010.
We are disappointed to have to move in this direction, as we are very much aware of how popular this software package is. But it will be easier for our customers to deal directly with the Apps Store, or with the original developers of the software, for support needed with purchasing, installation and customisation of Proloquo2Go.
We will, of course, continue to provide support in use of Proloquo2Go to customers who have purchased a Proloquo2Go Annual Support Package. On expiration of the current packages, no further support for Proloquo2Go will be provided by Spectronics. We will direct you to iTunes or directly to the developer at Assistiveware to assist with your queries.
If you have any questions at all about this please email Jane Farrall, our AAC Support Services Manager on janef@spectronicsinoz.com
such a shame, we have this programe with a ipad and a itouch, its my daughter greatest joy we fully funded it ourselves, and to honest its the best money we have ever spent on her.
Hi Meg – Great to hear how useful it has been for your daughter. It will still be available for anyone who wants it through the iTunes Store along with all the other AAC Apps.
i use this program myself and its the best i could ever have. I’m Autistic. and being able to have a communication device on an ipod or ipad is awesome, because it makes me feel like i actually fit in with the in crowd with all my mates that use ipods for musics. just means i don’t need a big chunky one that people may tease me about, ipod can fit nicely in my jeans or what ever i am wearing. and i am so glad that i got the funding for it. its helping me so much. its disappointing to know that you guys will no longer be selling it.
i am a autism researcher as well and this program has been tested on individuals with ASD and its the best outcome that they have had so far with any communication device.
but i do understand the difficulty you guys would of had with having to deal with both itunes, etc.
HI Gabby,
Thanks for the comments. I’d love to know more about the research that you are referring to. So far, the only published items I know of have been more case studies or examples rather than large scale research and I don’t know anything comparing using the iPad with Proloquo2Go directly to other speech generating devices. I’ve been checking into the published literature fairly thoroughly for a presentation so I’d love to see this. Most things I’ve found so far haven’t been tightly controlled or researched – but I’ve been waiting for some things to start coming out.
Cheers
Jane