We have curated a collection of companies that create assistive technology products. During the research process, we invited each company to contribute a blog post. The purpose is to facilitate more connection between readers and these companies.

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Smartbox is a leading global provider of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) solutions that enable disabled children and adults to have a voice and live more independently. We have offices in the UK, the USA, and work closely with a global network of Partners to ensure our technology is accessible around the world.

Those that are familiar with us know that Grid AAC software sits at the heart of everything we do. It is a flexible communication package that supports a wide range of conditions and literacy levels, with symbols and text, environment control features, internet browsing and much more.

This software is continually developed based on user feedback and is available on Windows devices and iPad. We offer a 60-day free trial so that AAC users can experience Grid without restriction to determine the best possible fit for them.

For iOS we offer Grid for iPad either as a monthly subscription or one time purchase via our app store. For those of you working in schools we also offer volume purchase discounts for multiple licenses.

To complement our software, we provide a range of hardware solutions that are designed to work seamlessly with Grid software. People with complex communication needs and physical disabilities can interact with the devices in the way that suits them – from eye tracking technology and pointing devices, to switches and touchscreens.

We have an expert in-house team of software and content specialists who show up for work every day, providing AAC users with access to language strategies like Super Core - a hugely respected symbol-based communication tool, alongside our comprehensive text-based grid sets. SLPs will know that symbols, whether they are letters in an alphabet, words, or pictorial representations, have an utterly massive impact on the cognitive and psychological development of a person. We take this very seriously at Smartbox and work hard to ensure that our content reflects empirical research, best practice, and the motivations of people using AAC.

Spoken language, however, only comprises a percentage of how we interact with our world. For many, the real power of Grid is how it performs as a platform for all interaction including email, phone, messaging, environmental control, and a wide range of accessible apps including YouTube, Facebook, Disney+, Instagram, and more.

As a company we pride ourselves in offering an easily accessible, knowledgeable, caring support team. We constantly strive to ensure that each of our devices, Grid and other Smartbox solutions offers the best possible chance of successful communication, socialization, and cognitive development from start to finish whether that is through a personal phone call, online chat, or in-person visit.

The team is expanding as we continue to introduce Smartbox Grid AAC software and Speech Generating Devices (SGDs) across the US. At the beginning of 2021 we welcomed two new US Smartboxers. Melanie Gylling, an experienced and respected speech-language pathologist, joined us as a Product Specialist for the Upper Midwest, and Michael Hooks came aboard as our VP of Sales. We also very recently welcomed Doug Cutler, a speech-language pathologist and AT expert, as a Product Specialist in Arizona, and Colorado. Our team continues to grow, so keep an eye out for opportunities to meet and learn from us as we expand in the coming months.

We have some exciting new products to launch in the next few months too. These key AAC solutions respond directly to customer need and the Smartbox team is looking forward to introducing them to the market.

For more information about Smartbox visit thinksmartbox.com, or follow us:

• Smartbox Facebook

• Smartbox Twitter

• Smartbox Instagram

Thank you Smartbox for contributing a post to the NWACS blog! You can view our summary page for this organization here. View our full curated collection here.

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