Turn Your iPhone into an AAC Device (Augmentative-Alternative Communication for Non-Verbal)

Your iPhone now works as an AAC device! How cool is this??? The new iOS update has built-in functionality where a non-verbal person could use their iPhone to talk to others, call for help, and more!
Check out the new built-in features that will let someone who can't speak...
- Introduce themselves to someone
- Tell someone they can't speak
- Type messages and have them spoken aloud
- Call for help
- Describe what kind of pain they are in
- And more!
Obviously this wouldn't replace a full, robust AAC device for someone who needed it for everyday communication, but it would allow for so much more independence and a lot of great quick communications. I am imagining this as a great tool for a teenager who spends time alone at home sometimes or who doesn't want to carry around a big, bulky communication device all the time. Almost everyone has smart phones now so using your smart phone to communicate quick messages for you would be no big deal!
This new feature is SUPER cool but definitely has room for improvement. Share this video with friends so we can get more people using it! The more it is used, the more development time Apple might put into improving it!

[@Melissa-re3fh]

thank you thank you thank you - my son is non-verbal and wants a phone so much! This is a HUGE help!

[@homosoftommorow]

Thank you so so much for this. -a sometimes AAC user trying to figure out resources.

[@CarrieClarkCCCSLP]

Absolutely! So glad we can help!

[@Michelle-yp3md]

Hi thank you so much. How do we find them?

[@diesel8732]

Great feature, thanks for sharing! Fyi: it took me a while to figure out that I had to add 'AssistiveTouch' in settings before I could create the shortcuts...thought I'd share in case there's any other 'technology challenged' folks out there like me-lol:)

[@derricksmith2546]

I can’t do it

[@jacquelinegolden1038]

How did you find thst feature to type whst you want tit to say

[@wandadebellis6883]

HI THERE, WHERE DO I FIND THE APPS TO LOAD ONTO SHORTCUT,THANKYOU

[@HelpMeGrowSpeech]

I love AAC!! We need more of it everywhere!

[@CarrieClarkCCCSLP]

I agree!! This is a great first step!

[@LindySouthern243]

I can’t find this in Shortcuts. How do I activate it?