Pepsi has an interesting promotion ongoing. They have taken the money they would have spent on commercials during the Superbowl, and instead they are spending it on charity. They determine the charities by votes.
One idea that stands out is:
“Touch” the lives of my students with Autism.
The idea is to use the money from Pepsi (should they win) to purchase iPod touch’s and install Proloquo2Go software on them. Proloquo2Go is an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) program for the touch.
I first heard about this program on Change.Org, in a post by Dora Raymaker, New iPhone and iTouch AAC Solution. I’ve seen it and it looks very good.
Here is the proposal from Jennifer Luckart, a special ed teacher trying to obtain the Pepsi grant money:
Goals
* To start a 10 unit iPod Touch Communication Lab.
* To increase the communication skills of my students with Autism.Overview
An iPod Touch Communication Lab will provide the technology to change the lives of 25 amazing students with Autism. These students are currently challenged to communicate with others and understand the world around them. An iPod Touch Communication Lab will build functional communication skills. The Proloquo2Go application has over 7,000 symbols and text to speech capabilities, turning an iTouch into a communication device. The students will learn to use this device and it will:
Help them effectively express themselves across many different learning environments. (classroom, cafeteria, playground)
Provide visual cues to help the students successfully transition throughout the school day.
Foster independence through instruction on how to access functional information on the web. (directions, schedules, phone numbers)
Be a tool used to promote relationships between students with Autism and their typical peers.
This idea is currently ranked 16th. The top 10 ideas get funded in this category.
If you are curious about this software, here is a YouTube video on Proloquo2Go.
Left Brain Right Brain 
Thank you so much for featuring my project. I am currently using one iPod Touch with the Proloquo2Go application with my students. My students are having great success. My dream is to have a 10 unit lab. Please vote everyday. I am #14 and must reach top 10 by April 30th. Let’s fund a project supporting Autism during Autism Awareness Month.
I forgot to add the direct link.
http://www.refresheverything.com/touchautism
Jennifer Luckart,
I’ll be voting. Good luck. It is a really cool platform from what I have seen.
I’ve heard a lot of very good things about Proloquo2go, and it’s one of the options that we’re considering for my son as we look at different communication devices.
Good luck Jennifer! I voted for you…anything that helps with promoting reasonably priced communication devices is pretty great in my books. I hope that things go well for your class.
just a note – you can vote every day. project is # 12. Needs to get to #10 by the 30th.