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Why Nonverbal Characters on Screen Are Finally Getting It Right
For decades, nonverbal and AAC-using characters on screen were rare, and when they did appear, they were often reduced to a single plot device: the character to be pitied, fixed, or spoken for. That is finally starting to change. A Long History of Getting It Wrong Older portrayals often treated communication differences as tragedy, mystery,…
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EyeOn Air’s Onboarding Experience: What Happens After You Order
Ordering an AAC device is only the beginning. What happens in the days and weeks after delivery often determines how confident a family feels using it — which is why EyeTech treats onboarding as its own dedicated process, not an afterthought. Day One: What Arrives and What’s Next Every EyeOn Air ships with a setup…
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AAC on the Go: Backup Communication Systems for When Technology Fails
Even the most reliable device can run into a dead battery, a software hiccup, or a forgotten charger. A backup communication plan is not pessimism — it is good practice, the same way anyone keeps a spare key or a first aid kit. Why Every AAC User Needs a Plan B Communication cannot pause for…
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A Guide to Free State Assistive Technology Resources Near You
Cost is one of the biggest barriers families face when exploring AAC — but many do not realize how much free support exists at the state level before insurance or purchase ever enters the conversation. What These Programs Offer Beyond device loans, most state assistive technology programs provide short-term equipment loans, funding guidance, and sometimes…
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AAC Representation in Children’s Books: Why Seeing Yourself Matters
Screens get most of the attention when we talk about disability representation, but picture books shape how young children understand the world just as powerfully — and AAC is slowly, finally, starting to show up on the shelf. A Small but Growing Shelf For years, books featuring AAC users were rare and often clinical in…
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Behind the Design: How EyeTech Builds Eye Gaze Hardware That Lasts
An eye gaze device asks a lot of its hardware — precision tracking, long battery life, and durability across years of daily use. Here is a look at how that engineering comes together. Engineering for Real Life, Not Just the Lab It is one thing for a device to track accurately in a controlled testing…
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Supporting AAC Use During Transitions: Home to School and Back
Every transition — a new school year, a new classroom, a new therapist — creates a risk that AAC vocabulary and habits built in one setting will not carry over to the next. A little coordination goes a long way toward keeping communication consistent. Why Transitions Are Hard on Communication Systems A child who has…
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The Assistive Technology Act: What Families Should Know About Free State Resources
Every state operates a federally funded Assistive Technology Act program, and many families navigating the cost of an AAC device do not realize these programs exist — or how much they can help before, during, and after a purchase decision. What the AT Act Actually Funds The federal Assistive Technology Act provides funding to a…
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Back-to-School Stories: AAC Users Share What They Want Classmates to Know
As back-to-school season approaches, we asked members of the EyeTech community a simple question: if you could tell your classmates one thing before the first day, what would it be? The answers were honest, funny, and worth hearing. ‘Give Me a Second — I’m Still Me’ Several respondents mentioned wanting classmates to understand that a…
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EyeOn Air for Kids: Designed for Growing Communicators
Kids are not small adults, and a communication device built for a pediatric user needs to account for that — durability, engagement, and room to grow are just as important as accurate eye tracking. Built with Play in Mind EyeOn Air for Kids uses bright, engaging visuals and interface layouts designed with pediatric development in…
