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Assistive Technology: Opening Up New Ways to Communicate and Learn

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Assistive technology includes simple and advanced tools that help children with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) communicate, learn, and feel more confident. From visual aids to apps and devices, the right support can reduce anxiety and enable children to better express themselves and thrive in everyday life. In this article, we hear from Helen Bond, Director of Strategic Engagement at Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum, who shares insights into how assistive technology can make a meaningful difference and highlights practical ways these tools can be used to support children and families with SEND.
A pre-school child is sitting on a sofa with a man, who is supporting her use of a tablet.

When we hear the phrase assistive technology, many of us immediately think of tablets, apps, or specialist communication devices. In reality, for a child or young person with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), assistive technology can be anything that helps them access the world more easily.

For some children, that might be a wheelchair designed to support posture and independence. For others, it could be something as simple as a visual timetable, a reading ruler, or a favourite app on a tablet.

Communication support

In our own family, technology became a lifeline during periods of situational mutism. Speaking in unfamiliar environments became incredibly difficult for our child, but thankfully they were able to read, write, and use a phone or tablet to communicate through text. At times, this became our only reliable way to communicate and helped reduce anxiety for everyone involved.

Communication support does not always need to be complicated. Many children benefit enormously from visual prompts and routines. Simple photographs or symbols can help children understand expectations and feel more secure. More structured systems, such as PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System), allow children to request items, answer questions, and express choices using pictures.

It’s also important to remember that assistive tools do not have to be digital. Something as simple as holding a ruler beneath a line of text or using a paper window to reduce visual distractions can make reading much easier and less overwhelming.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

As technology has developed, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) has become increasingly accessible. AAC includes communication apps and devices that support children and adults who struggle with speech. Used alongside guidance from a Speech and Language Therapist, AAC can be transformational.

I’ve had the privilege of watching one young person gain confidence through using a simple AAC device. Before having access to the right tools, they had far more understanding than people realised but no reliable way to express themselves. Once they could communicate their needs, frustration reduced dramatically. Within months they began copying sounds and eventually started singing nursery rhymes aloud for the very first time. Watching their world open up has been amazing.

Many families already have access to phones or tablets, and there are countless affordable tools available. In our home, we’ve used apps like Nessy to support spelling and maths, handwriting apps to build confidence, and voice-recording tools that help capture thoughts before they disappear.

The right support looks different for every child, but assistive technology can often provide the bridge between frustration and confidence, helping children communicate, learn, and thrive.

Some useful resources shared by Parent Carers:

For more information on Assistive Technology in Gloucestershire, please see the article in the May 2026 edition on the pilot project.

For more information on Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum, please visit the Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum website or Facebook page.

 

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