The AAC Revolution | World of Matthew

In the noughties, technological advancements in portable computers and tablets gave a voice to the non-verbal (non-speaking).

The AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) tablets (and some laptops) developed in the mid-2000s allowed disabled people to communicate their needs and wants.

The advantage of AAC over sign language is three-sided. Most people don’t understand sign language, but Text to Speech overcomes that. Sign language requires good-enough fine motor skills. AAC normally uses images and has commonly used phases in easy to remember places.

The problem in the 2000s was that AAC devices were medical devices, requiring expensive R&D costs, which led to a limited market of manufacturers producing products they knew could have any price tag added.

For example, the featured image is a Liberator Pathfinder. A Windows XP-based AAC tablet (pre-touchscreen physical keys).

In 2005, a Liberator Pathfinder cost at a minimum £6,650 (£11,915 in February 2026). A price out-of-reach for disabled people unless the NHS or local authority funded one for them. At that price, those originations would have done everything to avoid providing funding.

The iPad difference

The iPad found use as a disability aid.

In 2012, I had a severely nonverbal (non-speaking) autistic friend. He used an iPad (iPad 2?) with AAC software to communicate (Proloquo2Go?).

Makes sense. When the iPad 2 was £399 at launch and Proloquo2Go at £129.99. £528.99 for the tablet and AAC software. Add £50 for a case, and that is over 90% cheaper than a Liberator Pathfinder cost 7 years before.

The AAC companies have reacted with devices at a wider range of prices and addons for iPads. Yes, that includes Liberator.

It’s, however, a shame that not much technology research is dedicated to helping severely disabled people become verbal (speaking). As I’ve heard that NHS speech and language services are oversubscribed, with people unable to get help.