When this feature is turned on, the user can press and hold certain core tiles to see more language options without taking up extra space on the main board.

How it works

• Supported core tiles show a small colored dot in the top-right corner
• Press and hold one of these tiles to open grammar options
• Available options may include forms such as different tenses or related grammar choices

Best for

• Users who are already combining words
• Learners ready for more advanced language
• Communication partners who want to support sentence growth without changing the main layout too much

Important
This feature is usually best for more advanced AAC users. If the learner is just getting started, it may be better to leave this off until they are comfortable with the main board.

The post Enabling Gammatical Support For Core Buttons appeared first on AAC Device For Autism and Speech Therapy.

It is designed for learners who may do better starting with a smaller set of core words and adding more words over time. As the learner grows, more vocabulary becomes available in progressive stages while keeping button locations as consistent as possible.

How it works

• Core words appear first
• Additional vocabulary unlocks step by step
• Button locations stay as stable as possible as new words are added

This can help reduce overwhelm while supporting steady language growth.

Best for

• Learners who are new to AAC
• Users who benefit from fewer choices at first
• Communication partners who want a simpler starting point

Important
Changing the grid size will reset this setting. It is best to choose your preferred grid size first, then turn on Build Vocabulary Over Time.

The post Build Vocabulary Over Time appeared first on AAC Device For Autism and Speech Therapy.

• From the Settings menu, tap “Edit Tiles”, then tap “Add Tile”.
• From the “Create Tile” screen, tap the “Upload” button.

• The upload screen will show up as below:

Follow the instructions on the Upload screen by:

1- connecting the device to the same Wifi as your phone by tapping the “Open Wif-Fi Settings” button on the top right. You will be presented with a list of available wifi networks. Connect to the one your phone is connected to.

2- Once you are connected to the same Wifi network as your phone, scan the QR code on the upload screen with your phone and tap the highlighted link button on your phone camera.

3- Your phone should bring up the AAC Upload Image screen. Tap the “Upload” button to select an image form your phone to upload onto the AAC.

4- Once you have selected an image, wait for the upload progress bar to finish, and you’ll see the new image on your device.

5- From there, just tap the “Select” button to assign the newly-uploaded image to your new tile.

The post How to Upload a Custom Image to Your AAC appeared first on AAC Device For Autism and Speech Therapy.

• Click on the “Settings” button from the top bar

• From the settings menu, click “Edit Tiles”

• From the Manage Tiles screen, click “Add Tile.”

• From the new Screen, enter the tile label (what the AAC will speak when the new tile is tapped). You may also assign a color, symbol, image or even record a custom audio to be played when the tile is tapped.

The post How to Create a New Tile Button in TalkingTiles AAC appeared first on AAC Device For Autism and Speech Therapy.

Sometimes, repetition is needed to show your learner the steps required to find and tap on the needed vocabulary/tile in your TalkingTiles AAC board.

For example, using the “Sentence Building” mode in your AAC, if you want to coach your child on finding that tile by navigating into folders and showcasing it multiple times might be necessary for their motor planning and future autonomy in selecting that tile.

To enable the “Search & Coach” function:

• Tap the “Settings” button in the top right corner of your home screen.
• While the “Settings” tab is selected, scroll all the way down to the “Navigation” section
• Toggle the “Show Search & Coach” button on

• Close out of the settings, in your home screen’s top navigation bar, you will see a new “search” button on top

• To demonstrate, the following shows what happens when you tap on the button and search for the “juice” tile

• Once you select the first “Juice” row, the screen will dim out all of the other tiles except the tiles/steps required for your learner to follow. In this case, the “Food & Drinks” folder will still be lit.

• Once you direct your learner to tap the “Food & Drinks”, the next screen will direct your learner to swipe to the left

• Once your learner swips to the left, the system will light up the “Juice” button for your learner to tap.

• With repetition, using the “Search & Coach”, your learner will start to gain the motor planning to find the “Juice” tile on their own.

The post How to coach your learner on the location of a certain button on your AAC board appeared first on AAC Device For Autism and Speech Therapy.

To change the grid size for your AAC board, follow these simple steps:

• From your home screen, tap the settings button in the top right corner
• From the “Tiles & Layout” section, tap “Edit Tiles” -> then tap the purple “Grid Size” button

• A grid size selector window will appear

• From there, you may choose the grid size by tapping on any of the available sizes or choose the “Custom” button if you prefer to set your own grid size

The post How to change the grid size for your AAC board appeared first on AAC Device For Autism and Speech Therapy.

• To bring up the keyboard, from your home screen, tap the “keyboard” button from the top navigation bar

To change your keyboard layout, tap on the “settings” button the top right corner.

• While the “Settings” tab is selected (highlighted in black), scroll down till you find the “Keyboard & Typing” section
• From there, you can choose between QWERTY and ABC layouts.
• You may also toggle the “Speak keyboard key as I type” to allow the keyboard to speak the keys aloud as your learner types.

The post How to adjust keyboard layout in your AAC board appeared first on AAC Device For Autism and Speech Therapy.

• Assigning a research-based AAC symbol to your tile:
  • The easiest way to assign a symbol to your tile is to choose from the suggestions row that appears as you are typing up the tile’s label.

• If you want more suggestions and symbols. Tap on the “Symbol Library” button from the same “Create Tile” screen.

• You can also take a picture of an object or place familiar to your loved one and assign it to a tile. To do so, just tap the “Take A Photo” button from the same screen, and you’ll be presented with the device Camera window to take a picture.

• You may also upload your own images from your phone directly onto the device. See the “How to Upload Custom Images to Your AAC” page under /help.

The post How to Add a Picture to Your Tiles/Button appeared first on AAC Device For Autism and Speech Therapy.

• From the settings menu, tap “Edit tiles”, then tap “Create Folder”.

• In the Create Folder screen, type the label as “Food” and select the first suggested symbol, then tap “Save” to save your new folder onto the board.

• Once your folder is saved, tap the “Create New Tile” button on the Create Tile screen, type “Cereal” and select the first suggested symbol.
• Tap “the Do you want to move this inside a folder” button, a folder selection menu will show up, select the newly-created “Food” folder. Tap save. Repeat the same for the “Fries” tile.

• Go back to your Home screen, you should see the new “Folder” tile, tap it, and you will see the “Cereal” and “Fries” tiles inside of it. This allows a cleaner board and easier accessibility for your loved one to access tiles based on familiar categories.

The post How to Add a Folder (Category) to Your AAC Device appeared first on AAC Device For Autism and Speech Therapy.

Start with the basics

Begin by showing communication partners the most important parts of the device setup, including:

• the current starter board
• key folders or pages
• where high-use words are located
• any important accessibility settings
• how to charge and access the device

The goal is to make sure everyone understands the learner’s current setup before expecting them to support it.

Teach what the learner uses most

Focus first on the words and phrases the learner needs most often. Show staff and family where to find important vocabulary such as:

• help
• bathroom
• break
• yes / no
• more
• stop
• favorite people
• common requests
• social words

This helps communication partners support the learner during real activities right away.

Show how to model

Teach communication partners to use the device while they speak. They do not need to model every word. Start by showing how to model one or two important words during everyday moments like meals, play, transitions, classwork, or routines.

Keep expectations simple

Training should feel manageable. A good starting goal is:

• know where the most important words are
• keep the device available
• model during real activities
• give the learner time to respond
• acknowledge communication attempts

Simple, consistent support is often more effective than overwhelming staff with too much information at once.

Explain what to avoid

It is just as important to explain what not to do. Communication partners should know to avoid:

• moving buttons or folders without approval
• putting the device out of reach
• speaking for the learner too quickly
• over-prompting
• treating the device as something only used during therapy
• using the device only for requesting

Train across real routines

The best training happens in environments where the learner actually communicates. Show staff and family how to support the device during:

• arrival
• classroom instruction
• transitions
• meals and snacks
• bathroom routines
• play or leisure
• therapy
• community outings
• bedtime or home routines

This makes training more practical and easier to carry over.

Keep everyone aligned

Parents, teachers, paraprofessionals, and therapists should all understand the learner’s basic setup and support plan. A shared handoff sheet, short training guide, or quick check-in can help keep everyone on the same page.

Update training as the device changes

As vocabulary, layouts, or routines change, communication partners may need quick updates. Keep training ongoing and simple so everyone stays confident, supporting the learner over time.

Helpful tips

• start with the learner’s most-used words
• train people on real daily routines
• show how to model without pressure
• explain what to avoid
• keep the device available and consistent
• use a shared handoff sheet for support teams

Helpful tip

The goal is not to turn every adult into an AAC specialist. The goal is to help each communication partner feel confident supporting the learner in everyday life.

The post How to Train Paraprofessionals, Teachers, and Family Members appeared first on AAC Device For Autism and Speech Therapy.