Tiimo the amazing assistive technology that is always there when you need it

Some of you may have seen my Facebook post this week about how Tiimo helped me out in a tricky situation.  This really reminded me why Tiimo is so amazing, I have lots of visuals and PECS cards but I don’t have them with me all the time.  I do however always have my phone to hand and this is where the Tiimo app really comes into its own.

Managing unexpected change with Tiimo

For those that missed it my son excitedly choose to go swimming and we turned up at 11am to find the kids pool was closed until 1.30.  It was a simple mistake on my part but not one my autistic 4 year old could understand or cope with.  Plans change all the time and Tiimo gives me the ability to change our visual schedule as it happens.  Yes my son wasn’t impressed that swimming was shifted until after lunch but once he saw it moved on the app to after lunch he understood.  Swimming was still happening just later, this understanding meant he was able to leave the pool knowing we were coming back.

If a friend calls to say they are popping round I can add it into our plans from my phone and show the boys before they arrive.  When I need to pop to the shop for that item we forgot I can add it in at a moment’s notice.  Unexpected change can be a huge trigger for people on the autistic spectrum but generally my boys are much more able to manage unexpected change with some preparation.  There are always going to be times when that preparation isn’t possible but being able to provide visual clarification in these moments makes so much difference.

What is new with Tiimo?

There are a few new things I want to let you know about Tiimo, firstly there has been an update.

Updated app

There is a new updated app.  You can download the new version and use your existing log in.  I have found the new app is quicker to load and respond.  It also has a nice new function where you can start and finish activities easily by dragging the arrow around the activity icon.

Tiimo is more accessible

Free access to the web calendar

You can now use the Tiimo web calendar for free, this is a brilliant way to take a look at the calendar and its functions.  I use it to set up our daily schedules and activities. I particularly like to use the routines function as my kids have set morning and evening routines that I can then use the repeat function with. 

This web calendar gives you an overview of the day or week and a great visual calendar which can be personalised with your own photos or icons.  This is great for me as I can add photos of people and icons that we already use and the boys are familiar with, such as our toilet visuals or PECS Icons.

When you have got your head around the calendar and you can then sign up for the 30 day free trial and use the app to see if it works for you and your family.

If you haven’t tried Tiimo yet I would recommend signing up for the free web calendar access and taking a look. You will need to do this online not in the app.

Why isn’t Tiimo free?

The main way to fund a free app and sustain the employee’s salaries is through in app advertising. However the point of Tiimo is to provide focus on the activity / schedule and including disruptive advertisements within the app would make it less effective.  Having said that Tiimo are committed to making the app as accessible as possible and that is why they will be introducing and trialling different pricing options over the coming months.  They are currently looking at ‘pay what you can’ schemes and a less expensive pricing model.  You can read more about this in their blog post on why Tiimo isn’t free. I will also keep you updated on my social media channels as new options arise.