TippyTalk, a solution for people with a verbal disability to communicate

admin on 8 July 2021

Kids using TippyTalk on a tablet. Picture taken from TippyTalk website.

Application that allows people with nonverbal autism to express themselves through images representing elements of everyday life. By choosing different icons, they can decide who they want to talk with – their mother or father, for example – and tell them what they need, how they feel or what draws their attention. Parents, or the caregiver, receive a text message that allows them to understand what the person with autism cannot explain by words.

The person who takes care of someone with autism can download the app from the App Store or Play Store, and create several items that will be chosen by the person who uses it. These can be your own photos, drawings or any image, and anyone doing this will also be able to write the text that you will receive via SMS according to the selected items. For example, when a fridge is pressed, it means that the person is hungry. In addition, you can also typeset a sound or a word that sounds each time an item is selected.

Currently, the application is only available in English, although you can change settings to put the words in any language. In terms of subscription, TippyTalk is a paid application, but they offer 14 days of free trial.

Characteristics of innovation

Bank of innovations, Childhood, Disability, Families and upbringing, Independent living, Lab, Link with the community, New service, New technological tool, Personalization of the service, Proximity care

Location

Limerick, Irlanda

Partners/Funders

Users finance the app with subscriptions, in addition to the awards received.

Genesis

Rob Laffan has a child called Sadie, a girl with nonverbal autism. This condition made it difficult for him to know how she felt, what she thought, or what his daughter’s needs were, as they could only communicate with visual elements. Traditional images cards used by people with communicative difficulties did not allow them to be in contact if they were far from each other, so Laffan created the tool that connects people with nonverbal autism and those who take care of them.

Level of implementation

This app has been downloaded by more than 10 000 families.

Moreover, TippyTalk has received the following awards: Enterprise Ireland New Frontiers Special Commendation Award (2016), June Limerick Person of the Month (2015), Engineers Ireland Innovative Student of the Year award (2015), Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur of the Year award (2015) and International Society of Automation Individual Innovation award (2014).

Further information

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Helpper, people with support needs connect with people willing to help them

admin on 16 June 2021

Young helpper helping an elderly woman to do groceries. Retrieved from Helpper’s website.

Service that connects people who need some support for their daily life tasks (helppies), with people close to them, in the same neighbourhood or village, who are willing to help them (helppers).

Helppper is a model that seeks the comfort of both sides, because it allows helppers to specify what their availability is (schedule, types of service they can offer, if they offer it free or with remuneration, etc.); and the helppies to select the support to be received (what person, for which support needs, schedule, modality, price, etc.). Helpper offers three subscription modalities: Basic, Standard and Premium, to make it easier for each person to personify the level of assistance they want to receive.

People with disabilities, with chronic diseases, elderly people, parents and mothers who are very busy, and even carers who need help in caring for dependents, can access the service.

The types of assistance or possible tasks to offer/receive include: small home repairs; food aid; support with administrative processes; travel and transport support; company to mitigate unwanted loneliness; babysitting; etc.

The service is available in French and Dutch.