Device Description
Speech Assistant AAC is a speech Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) app/language system designed to help individuals with a variety of communication difficulties communicate, who can read and spell without picture/symbol support. It is used by people with a wide range of diagnoses, including developmental disabilities (like autism, apraxia, and cerebral palsy) and acquired disorders (like laryngectomy, ALS, stroke, or traumatic brain injury). Speech Assistant AAC can be used to produce speech by anyone who can type and spell.
With the app you can create categories and phrases, which are placed on buttons. With these buttons you can create messages that can be shown or spoken (text-to-speech). It is also possible to type any text using the keyboard.
If the Speech Assistant AAC app is requested through Oklahoma ABLE Tech’s Device Loan Program, it will be downloaded on one of OK ABLE Tech’s iPads to trial.
Note:
Speech Assistant AAC is only available to trial on an iPad through Oklahoma ABLE Tech’s Device Loan Program; however, when acquired for long-term use Speech Assistant AAC can be used on an iPhone or iPad.
Features Include:
• Ability to save frequently used phrases.
• Access to categories to organize phrases.
• History option for quick access to previously typed phrases.
• Option to select photos from photo library or symbols to add on the buttons.
• Autocomplete feature that shows phrase suggestions in a drop-down list.
• Option for tabs for multiple conversations.
• When app is acquired for long-term use, there is the ability to make phone and FaceTime calls with Speech Assistant AAC.
• The size of the buttons, the textbox, and the text can be adjusted.
• The app has various color schemes, and ability to create a personal color scheme.
• Ability to change the order of the buttons in the settings with drag and drop.
• Ability to change the colors of the icons on the buttons.
• Ability to add, change or delete your own categories and phrases.
• Ability to create an unlimited number of categories to organize your phrases for quick access.
• Create users with their own categories, phrases, and settings for different languages or persons.
• Option to share messages to mail, text, and social media.
Speech and Voice Options Include:
• The app uses the built-in iOS text-to-speech voices.
• There are 90 voices in 27 languages available.
• Option to record speech onto a button and to import voice recordings into the app.
• The rate and pitch of the speech can be adjusted.
• Option to speak each word or character directly while typing.
• Option to pause and resume speaking by tapping the speak button.
Accessibility Features Include:
• Optional highlighting of the spoken words.
• Connect a Bluetooth keyboard and create shortcuts for actions.
• A custom keyboard can be enabled in the settings with customizable size, color, and layout.
• Option for preventing double tapping by disabling the button for a short time after touching.
• Abbreviations expansion to reduce keystrokes.
• Attention sound button on Main and Full screen.
• Option to select symbols from the set of 3400 Mulberry Symbols (mulberrysymbols.org).