Together with other partners, they improve the lives of children and young people through technology.Īcapela Group, leading player in voice solutions for more than 30 years, is constantly creating new voices to better interact with users, thanks to voices that adapt to the context. NSGK supports the children’s voices project from it’s Technology program. Proloquo2Go is used for iPad, iPhone, iPod touch and Apple Watch.ĭe Nederlandse Stichting voor het Gehandicapte Kind (NSGK) helps children and young people with disabilities to enjoy equal opportunities to play, learn, live and work. The award-winning app has provided a voice to over 175,000 people worldwide who use it in English, Spanish or French. It is used by people with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and other diagnoses for everyday communication and language development. Proloquo2Go is an award-winning symbol-based communication app that gives a voice to those who cannot speak. Later this year, they will be made available for other companies to license, allowing even more children to speak with a voice they can identify with. That’s why we are supporting this wonderful initiative” says Henk-Willem Laan, NSGK director. For these children being able to communicate with a child’s voice is so important to be able to express themselves, communicate and be heard. There are thousands of children who are unable to make themselves heard with their own voice, and some with access to only an adult’s voice on their AAC system. “For NSGK it’s vital for children with disabilities to be included at school, sports clubs, in the playground – everywhere. It is important to all the partners that all Dutch children who need AAC can have access to these voices. Combined with Proloquo2Go, Dutch children who are unable to speak will for the first time be able to say whatever they want in a voice that matches their age and gender.” explains founder and CEO of AssistiveWare David Niemeijer. This release is extra special for AssistiveWare, “As a Dutch company we are truly excited to be able to deliver the first ever Dutch Text to Speech children’s voices together with our partners Acapela Group and NSGK. ![]() The award-winning iOS app already gives a voice to over 175,000 children, teens and adults around the world. Over 20 voices in different languages are already available, and we look forward to keep continuing offering voices for kids all over the world,” says Nicolas Mazars, Business Unit manager of Acapela Inclusive.įrom today, the voices will be available to download exclusively in Proloquo2Go. Together we have contributed to change the daily lives of children and their families that are using Acapela voices with AssistiveWare’s award-winning solutions. “AssistiveWare has been our partner since the inception of the children voices. These formed the basis to make genuine, natural-sounding Text to Speech voices that will allow children to say anything they want. They made recordings of all kinds of sentences, sounds and expressions. Last summer, two children (a boy and a girl) spent days in the studio. This ground-breaking project introduces the first ever Dutch Text to Speech children’s voices. For many of these children, high tech AAC is the best opportunity for them to communicate. It is vital for them to have access to a means to communicate. Hans van Balkom.Īn estimate of over 50,000 dutch speaking children are unable to make themselves understood with their own voice. It will become a part of who they are.” says Professor Dr. This means that they will be able to identify with their AAC more than ever. It’s so exciting that technology has made it possible for them to speak in such a fantastic sounding child’s voice. “Children using AAC have always been limited by adult voices. They will benefit children who cannot speak and rely on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems. The Dutch voices, named Thijs and Merel were recorded by and for children. The voices were developed in collaboration with Acapela Group and supported by Nederlandse Stichting voor het Gehandicapte Kind (NSGK). ![]() Today AssistiveWare, assistive technology pioneer, adds Dutch children’s voices to its symbol-based communication app Proloquo2Go.
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