One Two Three

by Laurie Frankel

My AAC—Augmentative and Alternative Communication device—used to require a whole high-tech speech-generating big to-do. Now it’s an app on my tablet and Tom-tweaked speakers that go wherever I do. With my perfect right hand, I can type something in, and my Voice reads it aloud. Or, because typing is slow, I can speak with symbols. Touch the Food folder and a list of things I might want to eat pops up, and I can say to my mother, or really anyone, “Ice cream please.” Touch the Daily Life folder, and a few strokes later I can say that I’m tired and ready for bed. Touch the Let’s Talk folder and I can say, “Fine thank you” or “How is your day today?” Touch the Frequently Used Phrases button, and I can say, “Monday! Shut up about yellow things!” It’s smart, predictive, so it’s learned my speech patterns, which words most frequently follow which, how teenage girls talk, how I am different from most teenage girls.