The ProSlate™ Series from Forbes AAC are iOS-based speech generating devices that can run almost any AAC app on the market using iOS-based software. Check out our previous posts highlighting Proloquo2Go and Grid for iPad. This week’s blog post aims to highlight the many different features and strengths of the AAC app CoughDrop! Unlike any other AAC app out there, CoughDrop is cloud-based AAC, meaning any changes you make to a board is automatically saved and backed up the next time your device syncs. No need to manually back things up! This also allows the app to run on any device! CoughDrop ..read more

ALS is a progressive disease that affects nearly 5,000 people in the United States each year (CDC, 2022). Approximately 80-95% of individuals with ALS will require the use of AAC to support their communication needs (Beukelman et al., 2011). Every May, people from all over the world come together to raise awareness about ALS. This month, Rich Sommers and his family share their ALS story. My Dad, Rich Sommers was diagnosed with ALS in February 2021. He fought a hard fight until he found peace on Aug. 18, 2022. My Dad was fit, healthy, fun, hardworking, and loved his family more than anything ..read more

“Hi Emily, A few months ago you asked me to email you about the voice the foundation funded for me. I wasn't done banking yet - and then because of a mic issue, I actually had to start over. I'm happy to say that I now have had my voice for a while and it is working great. As far as the impact on me that it has had... I knew it would be huge to be able to speak using a voice that sounded much closer to mine than the sample voices. My wife always said it was weird for "Will" (the name of the sample voice I was using) to wish her goodnight. Then there are the specific phrases that I recorded th ..read more

Did you know? May is Better Hearing and Speech Month! Better Hearing and Speech Month is recognized by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) as an opportunity to increase awareness of communication disorders (ASHA, n.d.). Although the title of the month explicitly only recognizes speech, Better Hearing and Speech Month aims to increase awareness of all communication modes and needs. The theme of Better Hearing and Speech Month 2023 is Building a Strong Foundation. More than 2 million people who have significant language impairments use AAC to supplement and/or replace spoken ..read more

Occupational Therapy Month is a month-long celebration that occurs every April in the United States, dedicated to raising awareness about the field of occupational therapy (OT) and recognizing the contributions of occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants. Occupational therapy is a healthcare profession that helps individuals of all ages participate in the activities and tasks that are meaningful to them. During Occupational Therapy Month, various activities and events take place to highlight the importance of occupational therapy in promoting health and well-being. These ma ..read more

The stories we tell can shape the world. They connect us, they transform us, they crack us open. Our story began back in 2010, but that’s a tale for another blog. Today I’m sharing the reason why my husband and I chose to tell our story. Back in 2018 I was laid off from my corporate job, that change set us off on a new trajectory that neither of us were expecting. I decided to transition from the corporate world into the entrepreneurial world, a brand new terrain filled with leaps of faith, big questions, thrilling opportunities and massive trust falls. I began to work as a life coach, guidin ..read more

April is World Autism Month! For individuals with autism, it is important to learn how to communicate with first responders and to learn the vocabulary and language needed to communicate in emergencies. It is equally important that first responders learn strategies for communicating with individuals with autism in emergency situations and for them to be alert and attentive to those who may be autistic. This week’s blog post discusses strategies for addressing safety for individuals with autism as well as a feature from a guest blogger, Jessica Smith, a high school senior who shares her story a ..read more

Spring is a time of change. Change is uncomfortable, but it is a necessary and natural part of life. People tend to like to cling to what is familiar to them because it is predictable, and they know what to expect. However, if we cling to what we already know and have experienced for a while, further growth will be halted. Successful and meaningful change occurs when it is accompanied by thorough planning. Planning is crucial for those with complex communication needs. As the end of the school year approaches, the time to plan for the future of learners with complex communication needs also a ..read more

April is Autism Awareness Month! Every April the world celebrates World Autism Month, beginning with the United Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day on April 2. This year marks the 16th annual World Autism Awareness Day. How can we at Forbes AAC support individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)? Approximately 30-40% of individuals with ASD have limited functional speech skills and can benefit from AAC (Howlin et al., 2014; Iacono et al., 2016; Pickles et al., 2014). We at Forbes AAC aim to support any individual who needs a voice! What is Autism? Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD ..read more

Identifying which AAC app or software to trial can be overwhelming. With so many options available, how do we determine what best fits the communication needs of each unique AAC communicator? This week’s blog will discuss strategies on how to compare and contrast the features available in different AAC systems. First, it is important to understand what the purpose of a trial is. When we think about AAC trials, there are many misconceptions. Is the purpose for a user to master an AAC system? No! The purpose is to determine if the AAC system can meet the user’s needs and how it compares to oth ..read more