How To Write With Your Communication Device

High-tech augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) empowers individuals to participate in personal, school, and workplace environments. AAC devices allow you to communicate needs, wants, questions, opinions, and so much more in spoken and written formats.

Use Your Communication Device to Write

Setting up your speech-generating device to write or enter text on a computer varies based on your device hardware and software. Communication partner support may be needed, especially at the beginning. Here are device-specific resources to get you started.

Accent® Devices with Empower® Software, Via® Devices, or AAC App on Your iPad®

Sending words from your AAC vocabulary to a computer is a similar process whether you’re using an Accent device with Empower software, a Via device with LAMP Words for Life®, TouchChat®, or Dialogue® AAC, or any of those apps on your personal iPad®.

The following three-minute video shows you how to write in a Google™ Doc using a voice typing feature with your device or app. Tutorial highlights include:

• how to turn on the voice typing feature in a Google Doc to transcribe words from your AAC vocabulary
• how to use the speak speech display bar feature to help create context for voice typing

Accent Devices with NuVoice® Software

Use your Accent device to write text in a document by connecting the USB/mini USB cable included with your device to both your device and your laptop or desktop computer.

Note: Most communication devices are shipped in dedicated or locked mode to meet insurance funding requirements. Your Accent device needs to be unlocked for a nominal fee to connect to a computer. Learn more and start the unlocking process or contact our order management team at 800.262.1933.  

Watch the following four-minute video to learn how to:

• connect your Accent device to your computer
• turn on external output controls in the toolbox
• use your Accent as a keyboard and mouse for your computer
• send text from your AAC vocabulary to an open document

Newer Accent devices with NuVoice 2.35 or later can also be paired with the InputStick to enjoy writing and connecting with friends. Learn more. 

NovaChat® Devices

Pair your NovaChat device with the wireless InputStick to write text in a document (and so much more!) on a Windows®-based PC, Mac® or Chromebook™. InputStick works as though it’s part of your device for a seamless typing experience. You can efficiently complete writing-related tasks using the computer controls built into your WordPower® vocabulary file and NovaChat features like word prediction.

The following seven-minute video shows you how to:

• set up and pair your NovaChat device (Android 4.4 or higher) with the InputStick
• program buttons into your vocabulary file to use computer controls
• turn computer controls on and off
• use the computer controls with a document

Emergent Writing Supports Literacy

Using an AAC device or app to write is helpful for AAC literacy learners. Seeing their spoken words in written form supports literacy and promotes print awareness. Engage in writing with both high tech and lite tech. Make it fun!

• With shared writing, your AAC author can recall words on a speech-generating device or lite-tech board that may be handwritten on a document by a communication partner or through computer integration with a device or app
• Give your AAC learner a way to write with all 26 letters of the alphabet so they can do independent writing such as magnetic alphabet letters, letter stamps, lite-tech boards that show all the letters, as well as the keyboard of a computer, tablet, app, or speech-generating device

Additional Options for Completing Writing Projects

• Take a photo of the speech display bar with the words the student has said; print the photo and attach the printed picture of the selected image that was the subject of the writing activity
• Someone writes the words selected by the AAC user on a document that also has the image

Explore the PRC-Saltillo Literacy Planner and Calendar for more ideas on reading and writing with AAC!