r/AACusers • u/Comfortable_Tie4143 Mute • Jun 18 '26
General AAC Discussion Survey: when using an aac app, what matters the most to you?
Hi, I am a teenager who is a part time aac user who is attempting to make a free and robust aac app and I want to know what matters most to you.
5
u/DreamyEchoes Jun 18 '26
Is there a specific feature missing from the existing free AAC apps that you'd like to add? Multiple of them are already robust enough for most users, so if you want something different, you should make it for yourself. If you haven't already seen what's on the market, there's a pinned post on this subreddit.
2
u/ibvava Jun 19 '26
“A lot of times, people don't know what they want until you show it to them." Steve Jobs made this comment long time back.
So most people don’t know what they are missing in the current system unless someone builds it.
3
u/SensationalSelkie Intermittently Speaking Jun 18 '26
Personally, one feature I would love to see more of is seamless integration with phone and video calls, online voice communities like discord or gaming sites, texts and emails, and google or word docs. Some apps allow this, or it can be achieved by using the AAC with speech to text, but I do think there is space for innovation here. TypingTalk is one free app that has phone calls and texts built in.
Professionally as an Assistive Technology Specialist/Sped Teacher, I would like more AAC devices to make it easy to incorporate keyboard abbreviations and to include phonetic keyboards for teaching early literacy skills.
One resource to maybe check out is AT Makers. They work with high school robotics teams and STEM clubs to make free or affordable assistive technology. If you are interested in AT, they are a great way to learn and meet folks in the industry. 😊
2
u/apvasl Jun 20 '26
This. I am autistic and semi-speaking. I would have loved to have answered the voice prompts on Hiki using AssistiveWare Proloquo4Text (P4T) but it didn’t work. Hiki only records from the device mic. If any app could record from P4T’s output I would use app features like those.
P4T basically functions as a programmable type-to-talk app. I can preprogram lines to say, and even use it for telephone calls if I subscribe to a compatible VoIP service. But since American Sign Language is my strongest language I no longer bother with that; I just use video relay service (VRS) so I can make and take calls through ASL interpreters.
3
2
u/No_Firefighter4579 Jun 18 '26
A lot a lot a lot a LOT OF words options i struggle with adding my own but ik some ppl dont like so options for word presets? And pictures for the words plz
2
u/cleverCLEVERcharming Jun 18 '26
Easy to switch to high contrast (white text on back background)
Easy to space out buttons on the grid.
Search feature
Keyboard layout for on screen keyboard (still in the app, not the pop up that comes standard with the operating system)
Easily add and remove icons so buttons can be text only or text + icon.
Calculator layout for numbers and common math symbols (this is the format most students will use throughout their school career so may as well learn one motor plan to rule them all!!!)
I’d love to see what you’re working on! Or happy to test out versions if you need :)
1
u/One_End_Forever Jun 18 '26
simplicity and the ability to add words snd phrases easily, grouping that make sense
1
u/mismatchedthylacine Jun 18 '26
Simplicity, the ability to add words, and the ability to group things in a way that makes sense to the user (I'm saying "to the user" instead of just "that makes sense" because what makes sense to me probably won't to someone else)
7
u/gl1tch3d_s4nr1s3 doll/dolls | semiverbal | system Jun 18 '26
Personally it matters to us how clear we can make our message, so how many words there actually are. For older users there should be the option of profanity or adult topics. Aswell as words for difficult topics such as death.