Written by Ayana Signh, Founder & CEO, Equal Speaks
My name is Ayana Singh, and I am a 16-year-old high school student and the founder and CEO of Equal Speaks, a youth-led nonprofit working to make communication more inclusive and accessible.
Equal Speaks began with a personal understanding of how difficult it can be for individuals and families to access consistent communication support. Seeing these challenges within my own family showed me that communication is not simply a convenience – it shapes a person’s independence, relationships, and ability to participate in everyday life. That experience motivated me to create ConnectAAC.
ConnectAAC is an AI-powered augmentative and alternative communication app designed to help people express themselves more easily. Traditional AAC systems can sometimes require users to move through several pages or categories before finding the words they need. ConnectAAC instead provides personalized, context-relevant communication suggestions based on what the user is trying to express.
For example, during a medical appointment, at school, or in a community setting, the app can present useful phrases related to that specific situation. The goal is to reduce the number of selections needed to form a response while still allowing the user to remain in control of what is communicated.
ConnectAAC is intended as an additional communication resource rather than a replacement for an individualized AAC evaluation or a professionally prescribed communication system. I hope it can complement existing supports while making flexible, personalized communication technology available to more people.
The app can be accessed through its web version at: https://connectaac-frontend.onrender.com/
ConnectAAC is also available for Android through the Google Play Store by searching for “ConnectAAC.”
To learn more about ConnectAAC, Equal Speaks, or opportunities to provide feedback and collaborate, please visit: https://www.equalspeaks.com/
At Equal Speaks, we believe every voice deserves to be heard. Through ConnectAAC, I hope to help build a future in which more people have the tools and opportunities to communicate in the ways that work best for them.