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Tala AAC app for kids with autism and speech delays
Tala
Say it your way
Download on the App Store
Free to try · Easy set up for parents & teachers
No ads
Private & safe
Family-friendly
Privacy Policy

What is AAC?

AAC stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication — tools that help children who are nonverbal, pre-verbal, or have limited speech express their needs, feelings, and ideas. Instead of relying only on spoken words, children tap pictures on a screen that speak for them.

Who benefits from AAC?

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), speech delays, apraxia of speech, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other conditions that affect communication can all benefit from AAC. It's also helpful for children who are still developing language — giving them a way to express themselves while their verbal skills catch up.

Why Tala?

Tala is an AAC app designed for kids and the families and teachers who support them. It uses AI to create personalized communication boards in minutes, so your child can start communicating right away — no specialist training, no weeks of setup, and no laminating cards.

Tala AAC communication board showing Popular category with cards like Can I have water, I want a snack, I need the toilet, and Something hurts

PECS-Style Communication Boards

Tala's picture-based boards follow the same principles as PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) — your child taps clear, friendly symbols to say what they need. Unlike physical PECS cards, everything lives on one device with text-to-speech that speaks each selection aloud.

Whole phrases, not single words

Tala is designed for gestalt language processors — children who learn language as complete chunks, not one word at a time. Every card speaks a full phrase aloud: "I want water," "Can I have a hug," "Something hurts." One tap, one sentence, instantly spoken in a clear natural voice.

1,000+ symbols across every category

  • Organized categories: Mealtime, Feelings, Activities, People, Body & Needs, and more
  • Hand-illustrated symbols designed for children to understand at a glance
  • Natural-sounding text-to-speech voices (not robotic)
  • AI creates personalized boards based on your child's name, age, and interests
  • Add custom images — upload a photo of your child's actual cup, pet, or classroom
Tala AAC app — picture-based communication boards designed for teachers and speech-language pathologists

Built for Parents & Teachers

Tala is designed for the people who spend the most time with these children. Parents get AI-personalized boards tailored to their child's name, age, and interests. Teachers and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) get free access with a simplified 3-step setup.

Classroom-ready communication tools

Use Tala as a communication tool in special education classrooms, speech therapy sessions, or at home. Customize boards and upload photos of classroom items. Supports 9 languages — English, Spanish, Swedish, Italian, Portuguese, German, French, Norwegian, and Danish — ideal for multilingual classrooms and bilingual families.

  • Teachers and SLPs get Tala Plus completely free, forever
  • Add, remove, or rename communication boards
  • Upload custom images for any word or activity
  • Whole-phrase cards designed for gestalt language processors
  • 9 languages for multilingual support, all native-speaker reviewed

200+ Free Social Stories

Prepare your child for everyday situations — the dentist, a haircut, the first day of school, and more. Browse, customize, and print. No app or account needed.
Browse all +200 social stories →

How Tala Works

Three steps. Two minutes. No specialist training needed.

1

Sign up

Enter your email. No password needed — we send you a secure code. Teachers select "Teacher" for free access.

2

Tell us about your child

Name, age, language, and interests. Tala's AI builds personalized communication boards instantly.

3

Start communicating

Your child taps a card, Tala speaks the whole phrase. Add custom cards, photos, and boards as you go.

Frequently Asked Questions

AAC stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. It's for anyone who has difficulty with spoken language — including children who are nonverbal, pre-verbal, have autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, apraxia of speech, cerebral palsy, or other conditions that affect communication. Tala makes AAC accessible with picture-based boards and whole-phrase text-to-speech designed for gestalt language processors.

Tala works for children of all ages who need communication support — from toddlers just beginning to learn language to school-age children and beyond. It's especially helpful for children with autism, speech delays, and apraxia. The vocabulary and boards adapt to your child's needs and can grow with them over time.

Traditional PECS uses physical picture cards that children hand to a communication partner. Tala brings the same picture-based approach to an iPhone or iPad — with 1,000+ symbols, AI that personalizes boards to your child's interests, and whole-phrase text-to-speech in 9 languages. No laminating, no lost cards, and every card speaks a full sentence aloud — designed first for gestalt language processors.

Tala is free to download with the core communication boards. Tala Plus unlocks unlimited custom boards, custom cards, and photo uploads for $2.99/month with a 30-day free trial. Teachers and speech-language pathologists get Tala Plus completely free, forever — just select "Teacher" or "SLP" during setup. There are no ads and no hidden fees.

Tala supports 9 languages: English, Spanish, Swedish, Italian, Portuguese (Brazilian), German, French, Norwegian, and Danish. The entire app — communication boards, text-to-speech voices, and interface — is available in all 9 languages, all native-speaker reviewed. You can switch languages at any time, making it ideal for bilingual families and multilingual classrooms.

Yes. Teachers and speech-language pathologists get Tala Plus completely free, forever. The app includes a simplified 3-step setup for classroom use, customizable communication boards, custom photo uploads, and support for 9 languages — ideal for special education classrooms and speech therapy sessions.

Communication boards work fully offline — your child can always communicate, even without internet. Bundled voice audio for the core boards plays instantly with no network. Features that use AI (like generating new personalized boards) require a connection, and new word audio is fetched and cached as it's used.

Yes. Tala is built with children's privacy as a top priority. There are no ads, no data selling, and no tracking of children. All data is encrypted and stored securely. We take COPPA compliance seriously, and your family's information is never shared with advertisers or third parties.

Ready to help them communicate?

Try Tala free for one month. Set up in 90 seconds.

Download on the App Store

Support

Need help? Have questions? Contact us at support@talaaac.com

Download on the App Store