PRC-Saltillo

Non-speaking users purchase PRC-Saltillo speech-generating devices to talk when oral speech is impossible.

ENABLE Model location

• Post-launch Compensations → Use Assistive Technologies

What it is

Non-speaking individuals can use speech-generating devices such as those by PRC-Saltillo to enable communication. These devices serve as a primary means for users to express themselves, interact, and participate in various environments. These devices provide a way to generate speech output from typed or selected words, allowing users to participate in conversation, education, and work when oral speech is not possible.

Why it matters

When mainstream systems are designed without accounting for diverse communication methods, people who cannot speak are left to supply their own tools to participate. Using PRC-Saltillo devices allows non-speaking individuals to communicate across settings, reducing exclusion. While the need for such devices signals a lack of inclusive design in many environments, these tools also serve as a powerful means for users to express themselves, maintain autonomy, and engage in daily life.

While speech-generating devices are powerful tools that enable autonomy and participation for non-speaking individuals, they are not always anticipated in the design of mainstream systems. When builders assume all users communicate through oral speech, compatibility with these devices may be overlooked. This creates additional work for non-speaking individuals, who must acquire, bring, and configure their own technology to interact with those systems. Supporting speech-generating devices by default reduces that burden and ensures people who use them can participate on equal terms.

What care sounds like

• "Our team is designing this interface to support all forms of input, including communication devices like speech-generating systems¹".
• "We must ensure our voice AI can process and understand diverse speech patterns, and if not, we will provide an accessible alternative for users with different communication needs".
• "We have included individuals who rely on communication devices in our user testing to ensure full compatibility before launch".
• "Our definition of done for new features includes full compatibility with assistive communication technologies".

What neglect sounds like

• "Our system is only designed for direct spoken input, and we don't have time to adapt it for other communication methods".
• "We'll consider compatibility with communication devices later, but it's not a priority for the initial release".
• "We assumed our users would primarily interact using standard verbal communication, so we didn't test for alternative input".
• "It's not legally required for our sector to support non-standard speech, so we won't prioritize it".

What compensation sounds like

• "I rely on my assistive technology to communicate, but sometimes when I use it to talk to customer service, they struggle to understand, or the automated system hangs up".
• "I had to purchase this communication device because the online forms and phone systems at my bank don't offer any other way for me to provide information".
• "Using my device allows me to participate in meetings, but it can feel like an extra step that others don't have to take".
• "It's frustrating when systems aren't set up to receive input from my communication device, and I have to explain how it works every time".

Footnotes

1. Speech-generating device ↩