TouchChat AAC Software

In April 2026 the Harvard Schools Trust funded six TouchChat iPad accessibility software licenses for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

Expanding AAC Access in Harvard Schools

Lynne Copeland, a Speech Language Pathologist at Hildreth Elementary School (HES) and The Bromfield School (TBS), applied for a grant titled "Expanding access to AAC in our Schools". This initiative focuses on providing communication tools to students who experience difficulties producing spoken language.

"AAC can give a 'voice' to children or adults who are unable to speak or effectively communicate with people in their environment." 

What is AAC?

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is used for individuals who have difficulty with or are unable to produce spoken language. This technology supports a range of learners across the district, including:

• Children and adults with Autism or neurodegenerative conditions.

• English Learner (EL) students who benefit from visual and verbal modeling.

• Children with severe speech sound difficulties or limited verbal output.

• Students enrolled in the SAIL and Life Skills programs.

  
  

Long-Term Benefits and Community Impact

By integrating iPads equipped with TouchChat accessibility software, this project addresses the personal well-being of students and helps them find belonging within the school community. Key long-term benefits include:

• Reduced Frustration: Helping students communicate more successfully with the adults and peers in their environment.

• Peer Connections: Providing opportunities for typically developing peers to learn about AAC, offer communication modeling, and build relationships with device users.

• Project Continuity: Ensuring lasting impact through continued staff training, targeted student lessons, and regular software updates managed by school staff.

  
  

Implementation and Success Tracking

The project is scheduled to begin as soon as the iPads and TouchChat licenses are received, starting with two students in the preschool program.

To evaluate the success of the initiative, the school will collect data on student language acquisition and expansion using rating scales, rubrics, and Google Form surveys distributed to teachers. The Harvard Schools Trust supports these efforts to ensure all students have equal access to communicate their wants and needs.