Who is AssistiveWare?
AssistiveWare® develops leading Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) software designed to help people communicate, learn and participate more independently.
Their apps turn iPads and tablets into powerful communication devices. Using symbols, text-to-speech and visual supports, users can express needs, build sentences and interact with others in everyday situations.
These solutions are designed to grow with the user, from early communication through to full language development.
Proloquo – Next Generation AAC
Proloquo is a comprehensive AAC app available for iPad and iPhone, expertly crafted to fit everyone from toddlers to adults. It’s more than just a communication tool; it's a gateway to language development and effective communication.
Proloquo offers an extensive vocabulary unmatched in size and efficiency that can support the growth of language skills at any age. With a user-friendly interface and innovative features, Proloquo ensures everyone can discover, learn and love language.
Proloquo2Go – Symbol-Based AAC Communication
The app includes thousands of symbols organised in a structured vocabulary system that supports language development over time.
Users can:
- communicate using symbols and text-to-speech
- build sentences with predictive vocabulary
- customise buttons, voices and layouts
- develop language skills gradually
It is commonly used by autistic individuals, people with cerebral palsy, apraxia and other speech conditions.
Pictello – Visual Stories and Social Narratives
Pictello helps users understand routines, events and social situations through visual storytelling.
Therapists, teachers and families can create personalised visual stories using photos, text and voice narration.
These stories help individuals:
- prepare for new experiencesl
- learn step-by-step routines
- understand social situations
- build confidence and independence
Pictello is widely used in therapy, special education and home environments.
simPODD - PODD AAC App for iPad
simPODD by AssistiveWare is the only iPad app that combines PODD digital page sets and book printing in one place, making it a complete solution for anyone on a PODD communication journey.
Developed with parents and speech therapists, it includes all major PODD page sets alongside intuitive editing tools for families, educators, and clinicians. Over 60 natural-sounding voices are included at no extra cost, with regional Australian English vocabulary and support for Apple Personal Voice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Proloquo and Proloquo2Go?
What is the difference between Proloquo and Proloquo2Go?
Proloquo and Proloquo2Go are both AAC apps developed by AssistiveWare for iPad and iPhone, but they serve different user profiles. Proloquo2Go is AssistiveWare's established, symbol-based AAC app - it uses a grid-based layout with symbol icons that users tap to build sentences and generate speech. It is widely prescribed by speech pathologists and has been used in AAC for over a decade.
Proloquo is AssistiveWare's next-generation AAC app, designed to combine the best of symbol-based and text-based communication in a single, unified interface. It features a more modern design, improved navigation, a larger built-in vocabulary, and is built to support users from early communicators through to fluent language users within the same app. For new AAC users starting fresh, many speech pathologists now recommend beginning with Proloquo rather than Proloquo2Go.
Both apps are available in Australia through Assistive Tech and can be purchased individually or as part of an iPad AAC bundle.
Can AssistiveWare AAC apps be purchased using NDIS funding?
Can AssistiveWare AAC apps be purchased using NDIS funding?
Yes - AssistiveWare apps including Proloquo, Proloquo2Go, and simPODD are commonly funded under the NDIS as communication aids or assistive technology supports. Approval is required from the NDIS prior to purcahse via a Replacement Supports Application.
In most cases, an AAC assessment or letter of recommendation from a speech pathologist will be required to support the application for approval.
Assistive Tech is a registered NDIS provider and can issue invoices, quotes, and supporting documentation for plan manager payments. Contact our team on 1300 088 222 for help with NDIS purchasing.
What is PODD communication and is simPODD the right app?
What is PODD communication and is simPODD the right app?
PODD stands for Pragmatic Organisation Dynamic Display - a communication system developed by speech pathologist Gayle Porter that organises vocabulary in a way that supports a wide range of communication functions, including requesting, commenting, asking questions, and having conversations. PODD is widely used in Australia and is particularly recommended for AAC users who need a robust, high-vocabulary system that supports full language development.
simPODD by AssistiveWare is the only iPad app that combines PODD digital page sets with book-printing functionality, allowing users to have both a digital device and a printed low-tech backup. It includes all major PODD page sets, over 60 natural-sounding voices, Australian English vocabulary, and support for Apple Personal Voice (which allows a user to create a personalised synthetic voice using their own recordings).
simPODD is best suited to AAC users who have been assessed as benefiting from a PODD system, and implementation is typically guided by a speech pathologist experienced with PODD. It is used across a range of ages and communication profiles. Assistive Tech stocks simPODD and can provide guidance on purchasing and NDIS funding support.
What is Pictello used for and who is it suitable for?
What is Pictello used for and who is it suitable for?
Pictello is an AssistiveWare app for iPad that allows users, therapists, teachers, and families to create personalised visual stories and social narratives. A visual story is a simple, step-by-step account of a routine, event, or social situation - told with photos, text, and recorded or text-to-speech narration.
Visual stories are used to help individuals prepare for new or unfamiliar experiences (such as a medical appointment, a school excursion, or a family event), learn multi-step routines (such as getting ready for school or making lunch), and understand social expectations in situations that can cause anxiety or confusion.
Pictello is suitable for children and adults across a wide range of diagnoses including autism, intellectual disability, acquired brain injury, and anxiety disorders. It is widely used by speech pathologists, occupational therapists, special educators, and support workers in both therapeutic and home settings. Stories created in Pictello can be shared between devices, making it practical for consistent use across school, home, and therapy.
Do AssistiveWare apps work on iPhone as well as iPad?
Do AssistiveWare apps work on iPhone as well as iPad?
Proloquo and Proloquo2Go are available on both iPad and iPhone, and a single app purchase covers use on all devices associated with the same Apple ID - meaning a user can access their AAC system on an iPad at home and an iPhone when out in the community without paying twice. Vocabulary, settings, and profiles sync across devices via iCloud.
Pictello and simPODD are primarily designed for iPad, where the larger screen makes visual storytelling and PODD page navigation most effective. They can technically be used on iPhone but the interface is optimised for the iPad display.
For most AAC users, iPad remains the recommended primary device - the screen size makes symbol selection faster and more accurate, particularly for users with motor difficulties. Apple Watch can be used as a complementary device alongside an iPad for prompts and reminders, but does not run AAC apps directly.