Rethinking AAC Awareness Month Every October, AAC Awareness Month reminds us of something profound: communication is a basic human right. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices and apps have opened doors for people who have lost their ability to speak—due to a stroke, brain injury, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or other conditions. But even with all this progress, a problem persists. Too many people are handed expensive, complicated “big company” devices that...

When most people think of dementia, Alzheimer’s usually is the first thing to come to mind. But another form of dementia—Lewy Body Dementia (LBD)—quietly affects more than a million Americans and their families. It’s complex, it’s often misdiagnosed, and it takes a heavy toll not just on the person living with it, but also on caregivers who struggle with exhaustion and compassion fatigue. Recently, two well-known families—those of comedian Robin Williams and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos—have been...

When I think about my work with APP2Speak, my favorite part is always the same: hearing people’s stories. Every person who uses the app has a unique background, a unique voice (whether spoken or digital), and unique communication needs. Some discover that APP2Speak becomes a lifeline for them, while others realize it’s not the right fit for their situation. Both kinds of stories matter deeply to me, because they help me understand the real-world ways people live with communication...

I receive questions about our APP2Speak app frequently. Usually, I just answer the person who asked the question directly and leave it at that. But periodically, I think it’s a good idea to answer some of the most common questions in blog post form so many people can benefit from the answers at the same time. So, without further ado, here are four of the frequently asked questions I receive here at APP2Speak. Hopefully, this post will answer your burning question before you’ve even had time to...

With Mother’s Day and Father’s Day just recently in the rear-view mirror, I wanted to take the opportunity in this month’s blog post to talk about a dual crisis in the country that you don’t hear much about. That dual crisis involves the fact that: The current growth of the U.S. population aged 65 and over, fueled by the aging Baby Boomer generation, is unprecedented and The younger family members of these aging adults are under a great deal of stress and strain as they try to assist their...

Janet loves her husband deeply. But ever since his stroke took away his ability to speak, the days feel longer and heavier. She finds herself guessing at what he needs, second-guessing whether she's doing enough, and wondering why she's so tired all the time—even when nothing dramatic has happened. I see this situation play out all the time in my work as a Speech Language Pathologist. And if you’re a caregiver like Janet, this might sound all too familiar to you, as well. The truth is, caring...

There has been a lot of talk about autism in the news lately—and not just because it’s once again Autism Acceptance Month. Unfortunately, much of the talk I’ve been hearing has involved people disagreeing about the root causes of autism and whether autism is becoming more prevalent or simply being reported at higher rates due to changes in the definition of the condition in the last couple of decades. I think what’s really important to people with autism and their loved ones—namely,...

If you’ve read even a few of the posts in this blog, you know that I’m a big proponent of communication apps for nonverbal adults. After all, as a Speech Language Pathologist, I regularly use speech assistance apps like the one I developed, APP2Speak, when working with my patients. For adults who have lost the ability to speak due to a stroke, brain injury, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, laryngectomy, or some other medical condition, communication can become a daily challenge. For many of these...

The Heartbreaking Challenge of Speech Loss Imagine waking up one day unable to express your thoughts, needs, or emotions. For millions of people worldwide with degenerative conditions like ALS, MS, or Cerebral Palsy, this is a daily reality. Losing the ability to speak can lead to deep frustration, social isolation, and a loss of independence. However, amazing advances in assistive technology now offer new ways to bridge the communication gap and restore a sense of control. Augmentative and...

Recently, I watched a new movie on Disney+ called Out of My Mind, and it really hit home. The movie, about a mostly nonverbal sixth-grade girl with cerebral palsy, brought up so many memories (good and bad) of my early career as a Speech Language Pathologist. But more than that, it delivered a powerful message that I think any nonverbal adult or child—or their caregivers, for that matter—needs to hear. That’s why I decided to talk a bit about the movie and my reactions to it in this month’s...