u/SensationalSelkie

How have I never heard of real-time text (RTT) before today? Stumbled upon this completely by accident. I wanted to share because I know phone calls are a major obstacle for us, and this definitely seems like something that could help.

Edited to Add:

The rabbit hole continues. Samsung Galaxy has a feature called text call that is basically the same thing except an automated voice will answer ask the caller why they are calling after you pick up and convert what you type afterwards into speech. Here's an article about how to use it if interested: click here

Hi, all,

I realized I forgot to add a flair for sign language. Complete oversight on my part. That has been corrected. 😊 As part of that correction, I'll kick off the new flair with this post.

I use some functional signs with my loved ones. The most common one I use is "I love you" since I am lucky to have a spouse who really steps up when I'm down. I also use "help," "thank you," and "stop" a lot. I don't really need to say "safe" to others much, but I love the sign and doing it makes me feel safer, so I use it with myself haha.

What about ya'll?

I wasn't too specific in the title because I didn't want people to get freaked out if they haven't thought about this yet.

How are you coping the 24/7 covert surveillance Flock and stealth camera tech like the perv glasses make possible?

A video came up on my feed about a woman who realized the male plastic surgeon she'd been speaking with wore the Meta glasses.

Then, there's the fact that abusive cops instantly weaponized Flock cameras pretty much en mass.

Like. It was bad enough when the whole our phones really are secretly recording all the time thing came out. I am a survivor of familial trafficking. My abuser used to say that kind of crap to keep me quiet, and I was considered to be crazy when I repeated it as a kid trying to get help once. But at least my garbage dad did not actually work for the NSA and have access to do anything with the secret phone audio capabilities.

The Flock cameras are different. A lot of cops are abusive AND are involved in trafficking. Sure, existing street cameras were already an issue, but Flock is an entirely new beast.

The glasses could be worn by anyone. Men in places with undressed women and children is a major concern, but there's also so many more ways they can get someone's personal info now too if they work a job with access to that stuff. People are a lot more likely to notice someone taking a picture of confidential papers than someone looking at them through their glasses. The internet already has hacks to record without the light being on and ways to make the glasses look more normal.

And I am just spiraling. It makes me so angry Zuckerberg started out making that rank women thing. Just another piece of garbage monster running the world. Just another example of how the world is built by the literal monsters who hurt me so much as a kid. I don't know how to cope. It feels like the past few years are just giant trigger after giant trigger from no one caring about Trump's "grab 'em" comment to no one caring about the Epstein files to no one caring about how all this tech is being used to hurt women.

So, how are you guys coping? With the tech or just the world?

Okay, ya'll. It started with me writing a Fiyero as Scarecrow yearning to save Elphaba fanfic and ended with me spiraling about Ozian politics.

Because. Like. Fiyero is heir to the throne of Winkie Country. Pretty sure my dude can kinda step up and become king at anytime.

Would the best way to help Elphaba not be to take the throne of the giant section of Oz he'd run and make a sanctuary for the Animals? Sure, maybe it'd lead to an Ozian civil war but that would probably have a better chance at defeating the Wizard than Elphaba going solo. Especially if Glinda used her influence to get Gilkin on board. Or if they got Nessa, freaking governor of Munchkinland, to join.

Like. That friend group had a TON of political power they just didn't use to fight back at all.

Fiyero, you spent four years chasing a girl who can fly on horseback instead of being King! What are you doing?!?!?!

Tl;dr: What are your thoughts on using AI to help communicate with AAC?

Hey, all! AAC user and professional AAC fanatic here. I participated in a demonstration of a dedicated AAC device's features, and there was an AI chat function where a microphone records someone talking to the AAC user and then potential responses are generated. I feel like the rep wanted me to be excited, but I kinda froze with a ton of mixed feelings. I tend to need time to process stuff anyway, but I am legit kinda mixed up about this. Here's my initial thoughts:

The Pros-

AI can definitely increase the speed of an AAC user's replies to keep up with conversations. Generated responses may also be easier for folks who struggle to think of what to say. AI giving the basic sentence which a user can then customize might be easier than composing the entire message from scratch.

The Cons-

I worry AAC users will feel pressured by others to use these tools due to their speed at the expense of saying what they really want to say. I worry this will become a way for folks to avoid accommodating us by giving the wait time we need, and it will shape our words to give AAC users an AI sounding vibe. Like how you can kinda tell a piece of writing was AI generated but with our voices if that makes sense.

AI will be a part of the AAC world. I see major developers pivoting towards it. Again, I'm torn because I see the benefits, but I've also got my worries. What are yall's thoughts?

Hi, all,

I am hoping to get some ideas to help a client I am working with. The client is an autistic teen with a severe intellectual disability. He was given a dedicated device with LAMP by a former SLP prior to coming to me. I'm a special educator and assistive technology professional. I was hired to teach him how to use it. He has made great progress with device training (and his caregiver is a modeling pro!) and is now "independently" communicating with 1-3 words.

Independently is in quotes because he currently prefers someone to support his forearm near the elbow. Right now, this is provided by his caregiver or me. He can access the device without support, but this decreases accuracy and increases fatigue. He also gets frustrated more easily and seems to prefer the arm support. His AAC device is at an angle with a stand, long story but keyguard was a no go, and activate upon release was a no go because he gets frustrated if there isn't immediate feedback when pressing a button. So, I need to find a way for him to get that support independently with a tool that is mobile between all his environments.

I have seen his skill in accessing the device improve over time, so I think he will eventually be able to use it comfortably without arm support so long as the work to keep building his fine motor skills and arm strength is done. He is motivated and his caregiver is awesome, so I am confident he'll get there.

Until then, though, are there any ideas for tools to provide that arm support? Is an ergonomic arm rest or something similar overkill? I wish he had an OT supporting but right now the IEP team has denied OT services, so I am turning to you, kind internet folks. Thanks so much!

Hi, all,

Thanks in advance for your help! I am an autism teacher and have a student I have been teaching functional sign. The student also goes to ABA and has an RBT come to school with him. He had an RBT who ultimately got dismissed from his case after she continually overstepped boundaries. One boundary she overstepped was teaching him signs from sources other than Lifeprint, the resource I asked the team use to make continuity easy for current and future caregivers.

She said the sign means "give me space." It starts with both hands together like in a classic prayer pose and then the hands separate while keeping that same handshape.

I didn't catch that she was introducing random signs until it was too late, and the student has now adopted this sign. Does anyone know this sign? I couldn't find anything similar when looking for signs for give me space, space, alone, etc. The closest I found was separate but that still doesn't look exactly the same.

Thanks again!

Edited to add: It's like a blend of the sign for open and person.

Edit 2: Thanks so much everyone! Sadly, seeing the comments has made me pretty sure she just made something up. She continuously underestimated him and acted like having any expectations was ridiculous, so it kinda tracks. Smh. 🙄 He's getting back track and has a great RBT now though, so all good. Thanks again!

Hey, all,

If you haven't already, check out our community bookmarks! There's helpful links and resources for AAC users, folks supporting AAC users, and developers. If you have any questions or have additional resources that you'd like to share with our community, comment below! 😊

Easy mode on Android is awesome! I also like Assistive Access on IOS. The larger icons and simpler tools really makes using technology less stressful for me. I only use the same handful of apps, so reducing all the rest of the billion stuff the devices come with is helpful. I feel like these tools were intended for children, the elderly, or folks with more severe cognitive disabilities than me, but I really benefit from using them. Am I the only one who finds these layouts preferable and less overwhelming? Or the only one easily overwhelmed by all the apps and controls technology comes with in general?

Hey, all,

This online conference has some amazing presentations to support AAC use in the classroom. Some of the the presentation slides are packed full of legitimately amazing free resources and you can get CEU credits! Like. I am not kidding when I say these resources are so good, and I am seriously excited. All the presentations are available for viewing online. Sharing to save a life if you, too, are spending summer getting some PD hours and scraping the web for highly modified free curricula lol.

Hi, everybody,

Me again. I was doing research for articles to help a client's family understand the validity of AAC use for folks who can verbally speak some, and I found this. As someone who can speak at some times but not others and whose ability to fully articulate my thoughts verbally fluctuates from master orator to single choppy words, this gave a framework to better understand the whole "what the f*** is happening to my mouth words right now" conundrum I so often find myself in. I wanted to share because idk about ya'll but I spent a lot of years STRESSED and ashamed about my communication struggles (so much so it became a special interest and career lol), so finding stuff like this makes me feel seen and not insane.

Hey, everybody,

I'm an ATP at a school for autistic students and most of the work I do is with SGDs. I'm also a part time AAC user. When I started on my AAC journey I, like lots of folks, thought you had to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars to use it. I have since learned some great news: there are tons of free apps out there that are awesome! It's kinda become my unofficial life mission to spread the word about these so folks don't feel forced to shell out money or give up on AAC due to using a free app that wasn't built according to best AAC practices. I don't have any affiliation with any of these apps, so this isn't any kind of paid promotion. These are just the apps I use personally and professionally or have had recommended to me by other AAC users. I really feel like for most users' needs WeaveChat is comparable to the paid pictorial based apps out there (and it is built with motor planning in mind- if you know you know!) and TypingTalk is comparable to (or even better than some tbh) the paid text based apps. I know knowledge of these has made a world of difference for me, and I hope it helps ya'll as well.

• Typing Talk AAC

Typing Talk AAC features:

✅IOS

✅Android

✅Pictorial based functionality (including custom images and importing pictograms directly from ARASAAC)  

✅Text based functionality

✅Screen reader accessible

✅Highly customizable 

❌Not developed with input from SLPs 

✅Developed entirely by an AAC user  

✅Supports multiple languages and you can favorite multiple voices and switch between them

✅Clear instructions on how to use the different functions in the app as you click on them but no other support learning to use the app offered by the developer 

✅Easily compatible with phone calls and allows AAC messages to be shared via text or email!

✅Allows for audio recordings.

• WeaveChat

WeaveChat features:

✅IOS

✅Android

✅Pictorial based functionality 

✅Text based functionality

✅Screen reader accessible

✅Highly customizable 

✅Developed with input from SLPs 

✅Developed with input from AAC users 

✅Free support learning to use the app offered by the developer 

✅Multiple pre-made vocabulary options

✅Supports multiple languages

✅WeaveChat can be used via their website (weavechat connect) instead of soley through an app.

✅WeaveChat allows AAC messages to be sent via text, email, connected to search engines, etc.

✅WeaveChat has a feature that allows buttons to take users to websites or youtube videos.

✅WeaveChat offers partnerships with schools and organizations to provide the app and staff training for free.

✅Allows for audio recordings.

• CBoard (free version)

CBoard features:

✅IOS

✅Android

✅Pictorial based functionality 

✅Text based functionality

✅Screen reader accessible

✅Highly customizable 

❌Not developed with input from SLPs

✅Developed with input from AAC users 

✅Free support learning to use the app offered by the developer 

✅Supports multiple languages

✅Cboard can be used via their website instead of solely through an app.

✅Allows for audio recordings.

• ChatterBoards

ChatterBoards features:

✅IOS

❌Not Android

✅Pictorial based functionality 

✅Text based functionality

✅Screen reader accessible

✅Highly customizable 

✅Developed with input from SLPs

✅Developed with input from AAC users 

✅Free support learning to use the app offered by the developer

✅Multiple pre-made vocabulary options

✅Supports multiple languages

✅Allows for audio recordings.

• SpeechAssistant (free version)

SpeechAssistant features:

❌Not IOS

✅Android

❌No pictorial based functionality 

✅Text based functionality

✅Highly customizable

❌Not screen reader accessible

❌Not developed with input from SLPs

❌Not developed with input from AAC users 

❌No free support learning to use the app offered by the developer

✅Supports multiple languages

✅Allows for audio recordings.

• VisualVoice

VisualVoice features:

✅IOS

❌Not Android

✅Pictorial based functionality 

❌No text based functionality

❌Not screen reader accessible.

❌Not highly customizable 

✅Developed with input from SLPs

❌Not developed with input from AAC users

❌No free support learning to use the app offered by the developer

✅Supports multiple languages

✅VisualVoice has a routines feature to easily build pictorially supported schedules.

✅Allows for audio recordings.

TW: ableism

I was doing research for the work side of my AAC use and came across this video. It was created by AAC users and calls out the much too common practice of denying people with complex communication needs access to AAC and comprehensive literacy instruction. I am lucky to not have experienced everything mentioned in this video, but I still felt seen when the creators called out the ways teachers don't always presume competence and keep disabled folks from the supports we need to succeed. I thought ya'll might feel validated by this video too, so I wanted to share.

Also, sorry for the repost. I forgot to add a flair the first time around. Epic fail.

Hello, community,

As our subreddit works on balancing the posts advertising AAC apps with our core purpose as a space centered on AAC users' voices first and foremost, I am going to try a new system. Those wishing to advertise a new app, including requests for feedback on their app, should post their advertisement in the comments below. This allows our community to remain a resource for developers and our users to have the chance to engage with new apps if desired, but simultaneously doesn't drown out our posts amongst all the ads. There are plenty of AAC centric spaces already that do not center the users themselves; it is important we have guardrails in place to prevent that from happening here.

Advertisers, please note our subreddit has protections against bots that may result in your comment being automatically unpublished until it is given moderator approval. Thank you for patience as we move through the que as quickly as we can.

Hey, everyone,

Sped teacher, AAC specialist, and part time AAC user here. I made a list of free apps for another sub and thought it could be useful here. I hope this helps make learning to use AAC and modeling with it easier! 😊

Paid Apps That Offer Free Account Teacher Accounts:

The free accounts are offered through the app's Partner Program where you can gain access after attending a free training or through a mentor/coach program where you can gain access to support a student using the system.

PRC Satillo Apps:

• LAMP
• TouchChat

Assistive Ware Apps:

• Proloquo Coach is free to download to support Proloquo users. Note, Proloquo is not the same as Proloquo2Go.

Free AAC Apps:

• WeaveChat

✅IOS
✅Android
✅Pictorial based functionality 
✅Text based functionality
✅Highly customizable 
✅Developed with input from SLPs 
✅Developed with input from AAC users 
✅Free support learning to use the app offered by the developer 
✅Multiple pre-made vocabulary options
✅Supports multiple languages
❔WeaveChat offers partnerships with schools and organizations to provide the app and staff training for free.

• ChatterBoards

✅IOS
❌Not Android
✅Pictorial based functionality 
✅Text based functionality
✅Highly customizable 
✅Developed with input from SLPs
✅Developed with input from AAC users 
✅Free support learning to use the app offered by the developer
✅Multiple pre-made vocabulary options
✅Supports multiple languages

• CBoard (free version)

✅IOS
✅Android
✅Pictorial based functionality 
✅Text based functionality
✅Highly customizable 
❌Not developed with input from SLPs
✅Developed with input from AAC users 
✅Free support learning to use the app offered by the developer 
✅Supports multiple languages
❔Cboard can be used via their website instead of solely through an app.

• LetMeTalk

✅IOS
✅Android
✅Pictorial based functionality 
❌No text based functionality
❌Not highly customizable 
✅Developed with input from SLPs
❌Not developed with input from AAC users 
❌No free support learning to use the app offered by the developer
✅Supports multiple languages

• SpeechAssistant  (free version)

❌Not IOS
✅Android
❌No pictorial based functionality 
✅Text based functionality
✅Highly customizable 
❌Not developed with input from SLPs
❌Not developed with input from AAC users 
❌No free support learning to use the app offered by the developer
✅Supports multiple languages

• VisualVoice

✅IOS
❌Not Android
✅Pictorial based functionality 
❌No text based functionality
❌Not highly customizable 
✅Developed with input from SLPs
❌Not developed with input from AAC users 
❌No free support learning to use the app offered by the developer
✅Supports multiple languages
❔Visual routines section to easily make visual schedules.

See the pinned comment for more information.

• WeaveChat

✅IOS
✅Android
✅Pictorial based functionality 
✅Text based functionality
✅Highly customizable 
✅Developed with input from SLPs 
✅Developed with input from AAC users 
✅Free support learning to use the app offered by the developer 
✅Multiple pre-made vocabulary options
✅Supports multiple languages
❔WeaveChat can be used via their website (weavechat connect) instead of soley through an app.

❔WeaveChat offers partnerships with schools and organizations to provide the app and staff training for free.

• CBoard (free version)

✅IOS
✅Android
✅Pictorial based functionality 
✅Text based functionality
✅Highly customizable 
❌Not developed with input from SLPs
✅Developed with input from AAC users 
✅Free support learning to use the app offered by the developer 
✅Supports multiple languages
❔Cboard can be used via their website instead of solely through an app.

• ChatterBoards

✅IOS
❌Not Android
✅Pictorial based functionality 
✅Text based functionality
✅Highly customizable 
✅Developed with input from SLPs
✅Developed with input from AAC users 
✅Free support learning to use the app offered by the developer
✅Multiple pre-made vocabulary options
✅Supports multiple languages

• LetMeTalk

✅IOS
✅Android
✅Pictorial based functionality 
❌No text based functionality
❌Not highly customizable 
✅Developed with input from SLPs
❌Not developed with input from AAC users 
❌No free support learning to use the app offered by the developer
✅Supports multiple languages

• SpeechAssistant  (free version)

❌Not IOS
✅Android
❌No pictorial based functionality 
✅Text based functionality
✅Highly customizable 
❌Not developed with input from SLPs
❌Not developed with input from AAC users 
❌No free support learning to use the app offered by the developer
✅Supports multiple languages

• VisualVoice

✅IOS
❌Not Android
✅Pictorial based functionality 
❌No text based functionality
❌Not highly customizable 
✅Developed with input from SLPs
❌Not developed with input from AAC users 
❌No free support learning to use the app offered by the developer
✅Supports multiple languages
❔VisualVoice has a routines feature to easily build pictorially supported schedules.

I'm a sped teacher at an autism school. I've been workplace bullied my whole career. Long story short, it became apparent today my colleagues gossiping about me in front of their students and lie about my capabilities/disabilities (I have neurological issues that sometimes require accommodation in addition to the autism). I don't even know anymore. I'm really good at my job. Like, highest test score raises and the person admin asks to train the other teachers good at my job. But everyone still loves to talk about how my disabilities make me weak. Everyone still kinda hates me even though I never do anything to them or even talk to most of them. I'm tired. This has been the story of my life. I try to mask. Try social strategies taught to me. Try to be confident or cool or whatever. Nothing works. It's a idk what the point of living is kinda night. I hate myself so much more than the bullies ever could. ​