Boardmaker Plus! v.6

Boardmaker Plus! v.6, by Mayer-Johnson is a computer program designed to help you make communication and learning boards. This version, unlike the last one, has the Speaking Pro program included. This means that you can create interactive boards that speak. It comes with a detailed user's guide to help you learn how to operate the program and a technical support site easily found on the back of the book.

This program is as easy or difficult as you want it to be. For those of us just learning our way around it, there are templates already made up for you. There are also sample interactive boards ready for you to use. If you are ready for a challenge, you can create your own templates and boards from beginning to end. I found the language in some of the User's Guide instructions to be a bit complicated, but I was able to figure things out.

I am not a computer programmer. I know very little "tech" talk. This said, I did find several applications that were very easy and useful for me to use with my 9 year old, nonverbal son. Creating a template was easy. Connecting the boards to each other, took a couple of attempts. Setting each cell to talk was easy also. I am still trying to figure out the "if" and "then" actions.

I highly recommend this for any parent that has good program operating skills. If you don't, but are up to the challenge, you can make use of the technical support number. They can walk you through any problems you have. There are also Yahoo groups that are available for those wanting to share boards they have created. Plus, each month, you can visit the Mayer-Johnson website to download new and ready to use interactive boards.

In this newer Boardmaker version, you can still upload your pictures and pictures from the web directly into your library. If you have the older version, the boards and pictures you have created will merge into the newer version. I was relieved about this point. All in all, I was extremely satisfied with this product and recommend it to others.