AAC apps that actually got used — what stuck for your kid (or you)?
Posted May 10, 2026
AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) covers everything from picture cards on a ring to dedicated speech-generating devices to apps on an iPad. It's a huge category, and the "best" one depends almost entirely on the person using it.
What we've learned the hard way:
- The "prerequisites" myth. You don't have to demonstrate readiness to deserve a way to communicate. Modeling AAC alongside speech doesn't slow speech down — research consistently shows the opposite.
- Robust > simple. A system that only has "yes/no/more/all done" hits a ceiling fast. Look for vocabulary that grows with the person.
- Buy-in matters. The fanciest device that lives in a backpack is worse than a low-tech board that's actually present.
Let's crowdsource. If you've used AAC — as a parent, a user, or a clinician — please share:
- Which app/device/system you tried.
- Age and context (early communicator? AAC alongside speech? gestalt language processor? fully non-speaking?).
- What stuck and what didn't.
- One thing you wish you'd known at the start.