About OpenAAC

OpenAAC is a free Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and speech-generating web application. It can be utilized both online and offline, with a local download option for both male and female voices. Developed with ease of use and the end user in mind, each screen features unique and easy-to-identify icons that represent words or concepts. Clicking or tapping on each icon voices the word or concept and adds it to a text field, allowing users to create and voice phrases.

Primarily developed for children and students, OpenAAC offers several features to help parents and teachers effectively communicate with speech and language-impaired children. These features include a simple YES/NO screen, a speak and spell application to help develop spelling and word-building skills, and an ADD MORE WORDS application. The latter allows parents, teachers, or users to build a library of site-specific phrases for easy recall and use. It also includes a save/load feature to store frequently used words and phrases not included in the core set of words and concepts in OpenAAC.

OpenAAC was created out of both love and necessity by the developer, who has a nonverbal autistic daughter and was frustrated with the prohibitively high costs of commercially available AAC software and the low quality of free AAC applications. OpenAAC was developed with parents of non-communicative children in mind and is offered free of cost. It is hoped that this easy-to-access and navigate AAC application will help parents and their children communicate and develop language skills.

OpenAAC is a continual work in progress, so check back for updates to the core words and concepts and for new and updated features. This application was developed by Mike Gray. Suggestions and notes for further releases can be emailed to mikegraymikegray@gmail.com.