Audible Assistive Communication Board

A sizable percentage of children with cerebral palsy have some difficulty talking, and nearly a third are completely nonverbal. To help these people express themselves, they may use a form of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), which can be anything from sign language to facial expressions. Taking things a step further, aided AAC employs various devices to help with this process.

Ethan, a child who has both epilepsy and cerebral palsy, is nonverbal, and uses a picture board to help communicate with the wold. This was a simple array of 12 icons printed on paper, but to enhance his experience, WSUAssistiveTech created a solid icon board with physical buttons for each. When buttons are pressed, the board outputs the corresponding words voiced by his brother, via an Adafruit Audio FX sound device.

Wiring for this device is fairly simple, with the Audio FX board providing the main electronics for the setup, and wires running to each button. A rechargeable battery pack powers the device. The board's structure is made out of laser-cut ¼ inch plywood should allow it to withstand the bumps and bruises of everyday use. The button interfaces themselves look quite robust as well, with each one made out of a solid 3D-printed block, positioned above a smaller button that does the actual switching.

Ethan is reportedly quite pleased with his new sound making board, and it seems to have been quite a smooth transition to the new hardware. Having an audible cue should also make it much easier for caretakers to understand his intentions.