Proloquo2Go

Proloquo2Go is assessed with the highest possible safety rating of 5 out of 5, making it an exceptionally low-risk and highly effective Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) application for children, adolescents, and adults aged 4-18. Developed by AssistiveWare, Proloquo2Go is a mature, award-winning AAC solution specifically designed for individuals with diverse communication challenges, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, and Aphasia, allowing them to express themselves confidently and participate fully in daily life. Its design is fundamentally centered on providing a secure, professional, and therapeutic communication experience, which is reflected in its maximum safety score and selection by organizations like Common Sense Media.1. Privacy and Data Security (Safety Score: 5/5, Tracking: No tracking reported) The paramount safety feature of Proloquo2Go is its dedication to user privacy. The application explicitly reports *No tracking reported* in its data policies, a critical advantage for an app used by vulnerable populations whose communication content can be highly sensitive.

This means the app is not designed to collect or share personally identifiable information (PII) or track user activity for marketing purposes. This strict commitment to privacy ensures a trusted, safe communication environment, meeting or exceeding global child data protection regulations like COPPA and GDPR. The app's functionality also includes robust security measures: it supports user backup via secure cloud services like iCloud, Google Drive, or Dropbox to ensure that personalized vocabulary and user progress are safe and never lost, while still giving users full control over their data. The high safety score is a direct result of this focused, non-commercial, therapeutic design that prioritizes the child's well-being over data monetization. Furthermore, the app is available as a one-time purchase with no in-app purchases, removing the risk of unexpected charges or exposure to commercial content that can be distracting or inappropriate for children.

2. Core Function and Language Development (Category: AAC) Proloquo2Go functions as a powerful, customizable, symbol-based AAC system, providing a voice for individuals who cannot speak or need help being understood. Its core educational and therapeutic value lies in its research-based approach to language development. - Crescendo™ Vocabulary: The app features the Crescendo vocabulary system, a structured, research-based framework that includes over 27,000 symbols (SymbolStix) and phrases, specifically designed to promote language growth. This vocabulary is organized to mirror natural language development, helping users progress from simple words to complex sentences. - Core Word Focus: A key feature is the emphasis on Core Words, the high-frequency words (e.g., 'I,' 'want,' 'go,' 'big') that make up approximately 80% of daily communication. These core words are consistently placed on the home page and in the same location across folders, a critical feature for developing motor planning.

Motor planning allows the user to find words quickly and efficiently without having to visually search each time, accelerating communication and reducing frustration. - Progressive Language: To support learners at every stage, Proloquo2Go includes the Progressive Language feature. This allows parents, therapists, or teachers to gradually introduce new vocabulary by hiding buttons initially and revealing them step-by-step. Crucially, as new words are revealed, the words the user has already learned do not move, which maintains the integrity of their motor plan and promotes continued linguistic development. - Grammar Support: The app includes advanced grammar support, automatically conjugating verbs (e.g., 'eat' to 'eating,' 'ate') and creating plurals and possessives for nouns, enabling the user to speak in grammatically correct, complex sentences without needing to manually find every word form. The Recents view also allows the communication team to track the words being used.3. Customization and Accessibility (Platform: iOS, Age Range: 4-18) Proloquo2Go is specifically designed to be highly adaptable to a wide range of physical, cognitive, and visual needs, making it a powerful tool for users throughout their developmental journey (4-18) and beyond. - Grid Layouts: It offers 23 pre-programmed button layouts, with grid sizes ranging from as few as one button up to 144 buttons per page.

This flexibility is essential for accommodating users with significant fine-motor or vision disabilities, allowing the user's interface to grow and change alongside their skills without needing to switch AAC systems. - Alternative Access: The application is fully accessible, supporting multiple interaction methods essential for users with limited motor control. This includes switch access (using the iPad as a switch or connecting external switches), keyguards, and integration with iOS accessibility settings like VoiceOver. - Personalization: Parents and caregivers can customize the app to match the user’s interests and environment. Users can easily add their own photographs (using the built-in camera or photo library) to buttons for familiar people, places, and things, making communication highly personalized and motivating. They can also change words and adjust the visual appearance to match their preferences. The app also supports a password feature to restrict accidental editing by the child. - High-Quality Voices and Multilingual Support: The app includes over 100 high-quality, natural-sounding voices, including real children’s voices, from Acapela Neural Voices, which provide a more natural and smoother sound.

Proloquo2Go also supports multiple languages and accents (English, Spanish, French, and Dutch regional vocabularies), and its design allows for switching between languages mid-sentence, which is a powerful feature for bilingual families.4. Ecosystem and Support for the Communication Team Proloquo2Go is supported by an extensive ecosystem to ensure successful implementation and long-term use, a key factor in its therapeutic efficacy. - Comprehensive Support: AssistiveWare provides a comprehensive support system, including a dedicated support team, online manuals, free training videos on their YouTube channel, and a vast library of *Learn AAC* articles covering topics like modeling, core words, and communication functions. This ensures parents and professionals have the resources to effectively teach and model AAC use. - Community: The app is backed by a strong community of users, caregivers, and professionals who share resources and provide on-the-spot problem-solving, supporting a collaborative environment for AAC success. - Social Sharing: Users can email, Facebook, Twitter, or copy and paste a message created in Proloquo2Go, enabling communication with peers via social media and supporting essential social functions. The combination of therapeutic features, deep customization, and an uncompromised commitment to privacy solidifies Proloquo2Go's standing as a leading, exceptionally safe, and beneficial communication solution.