AAC software for schools: how to support multiple AAC users
Updated October 29, 2026
Choose AAC software for a school by checking that it can serve many students on the school's devices, keep each student's vocabulary and progress separate, and be shared with home. Under IDEA, schools must provide assistive technology a child needs as part of their special education (34 CFR 300.105). Train every communication partner, not only the SLP.
What do US schools have to provide?
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a school must make assistive technology (AT) available when a student needs it. Each public agency must make AT devices or services available to a child with a disability "if required as a part of the child's" special education, related services or supplementary aids and services (34 CFR 300.105(a)).
- AT device: "any item, piece of equipment, or product system… used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of a child with a disability" (34 CFR 300.5). AAC software can fall under this definition.
- AT service: any service that directly helps the child "in the selection, acquisition, or use of" an AT device, including evaluation, acquiring and customizing the device, and training for the child, family and staff (34 CFR 300.6).
- The IEP team decides. When developing each IEP, the team must "consider whether the child needs assistive technology devices and services" (34 CFR 300.324(a)(2)(v)).
- Home use. On a case-by-case basis, a school-purchased device must be usable at home or in other settings "if the child's IEP Team determines that the child needs access to those devices in order to receive FAPE" (34 CFR 300.105(b)).
This is general information, not legal advice. Check with your district and state.
Who does what on a school AAC team?
AAC in a school is a team job. ASHA states that implementing AAC in schools "is the responsibility of the school-based team—which includes the school SLP—and may include support from an AAC specialist" (ASHA Practice Portal: AAC).
ASHA lists these roles, among others, for school-based SLPs:
- Consider the student's need for AT, including AAC.
- Request, coordinate or conduct a transdisciplinary AAC evaluation in the student's natural environment and educational setting.
- Provide trial periods with AAC systems and collect data.
- Provide no-tech, low-tech and high-tech supports so the student can communicate across school settings.
- Write and carry out AAC-related goals as part of the IEP team, and make sure AAC use is documented in the IEP.
- Provide initial and ongoing training to teachers, parents and support staff.
What should AAC software do when a school supports many students?
Use this vendor-neutral checklist when you compare options. For choosing a system for one student and running a trial, see our guide to choosing an AAC device.
| Check | What to ask |
|---|---|
| Separate student profiles | Does each student get their own vocabulary, settings and progress record? |
| Staff and family access | Can the teacher, SLP and parents see the same student's board and data, with the right permissions? |
| Device fit | Does it run on the devices the school actually has (iPad, Chromebook, Android, Windows)? Check before buying. |
| Offline use | Does it work without Wi-Fi on buses, in gyms and on field trips? |
| Access options | Switch access, adjustable button sizes, high contrast |
| Student data privacy | How is student data stored and protected? What are the vendor's COPPA practices? Will it sign the district's data-privacy agreement? |
| Licensing and buying | School or district plans, education pricing, invoicing, a trial period |
| Training and support | Help articles, tutorials and a support contact for staff |
How do you roll AAC out across classrooms?
Treat it as a team process led by the IEP decisions, not a software install.
- List the students and their IEP decisions. Start from each IEP team's AT decision (34 CFR 300.324).
- Match devices to what the school owns. Confirm the software runs on them.
- Set up each student's profile with the vocabulary the team agreed on.
- Train every communication partner: teachers, aides, related-service staff and families.
- Model on the device in class. ASHA describes "augmented input" (also called aided language modeling): the communication partner says words while also using the AAC symbols.
- Send the device home when the IEP team says so (34 CFR 300.105(b)).
- Review use and data at IEP meetings.
See how to build a home–school support network.
Why does staff training matter?
A device only helps if the people around the student know how to use it. ASHA says the SLP "trains multiple communication partners, including other professionals who work with the AAC user", and notes that "inadequate training of communication partners has been identified as a barrier to device use" (citing Bailey et al., 2006). Plan training time for every adult who works with the student, not only the SLP.
How InclusiveSpeak works for schools
InclusiveSpeak is our product.
- Devices: a native app for iPhone and iPad (iOS 18 or later), plus a web dashboard that works in any modern browser. There is no Android or Chromebook app today, so check your school's device mix first.
- Who it's for: InclusiveSpeak lists parents, SLPs, occupational therapists, special-education teachers, school districts and clinics among its users, with a web dashboard "for parents, therapists, schools, and clinics".
- Features: customizable visual boards, text-to-speech, word prediction, a symbol library, progress tracking and goals.
- Offline: full offline AAC use on the iOS app, with cloud sync when connected.
- Access: switch control, adjustable button sizes, high-contrast modes, color-coded categories, screen-reader friendly.
- Data: encrypted at rest and in transit, with GDPR-aware and COPPA-aware data-handling practices for minors. See the privacy policy.
- Languages: English (US and UK) today.
- Plans: a free tier with core AAC features; paid plans include a 30-day free trial with no credit card required; annual billing is 20% off; educational institutions get special pricing. Contact the team about school and enterprise plans; enterprise customers can pay by invoice.
- School accounts: support multiple students, staff roles, shared progress and bulk setup.
Contact us about school plans · Download on the App Store
Related reading: What current AAC research covers, Choosing AAC for a child, and Accessible communication at school.
See features, pricing, and the FAQ.
Frequently asked questions
Do schools have to provide AAC devices?
Under IDEA, a school must make assistive technology devices or services available when a student needs them as part of special education, related services or supplementary aids and services (34 CFR 300.105(a)). The IEP team must consider whether each student needs assistive technology (34 CFR 300.324). This is general information, not legal advice.
Can a student take a school AAC device home?
Yes, when the IEP team decides it's needed. Under 34 CFR 300.105(b), on a case-by-case basis, a student must be able to use a school-purchased assistive technology device at home or in other settings if the IEP team determines the student needs that access to receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE).
Who should be trained on a student's AAC system?
Every communication partner, not only the speech-language pathologist. ASHA describes the school-based SLP's role as training teachers, parents and support staff, and notes that inadequate training of communication partners has been identified as a barrier to device use. Plan training time for every adult who works with the student.
What should a school ask an AAC software vendor about student data?
Ask where student data is stored, whether it's encrypted, how long it's kept, what the vendor's COPPA practices are, and whether it will sign your district's data-privacy agreement. InclusiveSpeak encrypts data at rest and in transit and follows GDPR-aware and COPPA-aware practices for minors, described in its privacy policy.
Does InclusiveSpeak work on Chromebooks or Android tablets?
No. InclusiveSpeak is a native app for iPhone and iPad running iOS 18 or later, plus a web dashboard that works in any modern browser. There is no Android or Chromebook app today, so schools should check which devices their students use before choosing it. InclusiveSpeak recommends an iPad for its larger screen.
Does InclusiveSpeak offer school pricing?
Yes. InclusiveSpeak has a free tier with core AAC features and paid plans for families, therapists, schools and enterprises. Paid plans include a 30-day free trial with no credit card required, annual billing is 20% off, and educational institutions get special pricing. Contact the team about school plans; enterprise customers can pay by invoice.
Do InclusiveSpeak school accounts support multiple students?
Yes. InclusiveSpeak school accounts support multiple students, staff roles, shared progress and bulk setup. That means a school can add many students, give staff their own roles, share each student's progress and set students up in bulk. Contact the team about school plans; paid plans include a 30-day free trial.
InclusiveSpeak is a product of Pulse Real LLC, Sheridan, Wyoming, USA.