At Smarty Symbols, we believe that communication is not just a skill; it’s a fundamental human right. In line with this belief, we are thrilled to announce that Expressive Go, our pioneering Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) app, is now completely free for everyone. Designed by Speech-Language Pathologist Barbara Fernandes, this initiative ensures that families and individuals who rely on AAC systems can now access the full features of the app without any cost. This transformative step is part of our ongoing commitment to creating inclusive communication opportunities for non-speaking children and individuals across the globe. By making Expressive Go free, we are furthering our mission to provide early access to essential communication tools—because every voice deserves to be heard, anywhere, anytime.

Discover Expressive Go: The Next Generation of AAC

About The App:

Expressive Go is a robust speech-generating app designed to support communication for non-speaking individuals. Built to be intuitive and customizable, the app includes various advanced features to support communication. Designed by Smarty Ears and powered with Smarty Symbols images, Expressive Go can be accessed on Apple devices such as the iPad and the iPhone.

Key Features of Expressive Go:

• Ready-to-Use Speech-Generating Boards: The app has multiple pre-built screens, including some that mirror communication boards produced by Smarty Symbols in public spaces. Users can instantly tap on symbols to generate speech, allowing non-speaking individuals to express themselves in real time.
• AI-Powered Vocabulary: Expressive Go uses advanced artificial intelligence to organize vocabulary for optimal communication. It intuitively suggests words and phrases, helping users build complex and grammatically correct sentences.
• Extensive Symbol Library: With access to over 30,000 symbols from the Smarty Symbols library, users can fully customize their boards to reflect their specific communication needs. The app offers complete flexibility, whether adding new words or rearranging existing ones.
• Personalization Options: Users can tailor the app’s interface by adjusting backgrounds, fonts, and layouts, ensuring a personalized experience that feels unique to each individual.
• Simple, User-Friendly Interface: Expressive Go is designed for ease of use. Its intuitive layout ensures that users of all ages and technical abilities can navigate the app, add new vocabulary, and customize their communication boards with minimal effort.

The Story Behind Expressive Go: From Limited Access to Full Freedom

When Expressive Go was first introduced, it aimed to provide families and individuals with an easy and effective way to communicate using  AAC. The app was designed to complement Smarty Symbols’ mission of placing communication boards in public spaces, such as playgrounds, parks, schools, and libraries, through the “All Voices, Any Place” initiative. These physical boards are equipped with QR codes that allow anyone access to download a speaking version of those boards found in their communities.

Initially, Expressive Go offered free access to digital speech-generating screens that matched the communication boards installed in these public spaces. Families could use the app for free to help their children communicate in environments like playgrounds, where the physical boards were available. However, if users wanted to customize boards, add new words, or access more advanced features, they had to upgrade the app through in-app purchases. These paid features allowed families and professionals to unlock greater customization, expand vocabulary, and enhance the communication experience.

While this tiered model helped many families get started with AAC, the goal of making communication fully accessible for all has always been central to the mission. Recognizing the need for broader access to these critical tools, Smarty Symbols made a groundbreaking decision: Expressive Go is now completely free, offering all its features—previously available only through upgrades—at no cost to users.

Now, every user can access the full suite of features without any restrictions. This means that families can:

• Customize boards to reflect the specific needs of their child.
• Access all available screens and advanced speech-generating tools.
• Add and rearrange vocabulary from the extensive Smarty Symbols library of over 30,000 symbols.

By removing the financial barrier to these advanced features, Smarty Symbols and Smarty Ears reaffirm their commitment to ensuring that every individual has access to robust communication tools—without limitations. This reflects the companies’ dedication to fostering inclusion, early intervention, and communication freedom for all.

Looking Ahead: Empowering More Voices, Expanding Access

As Expressive Go enters this exciting new chapter, our mission remains clear: to ensure that everyone has access to the tools they need to communicate. But we’re not stopping here. We are continually working to expand the app’s features and make it even more accessible to diverse communities worldwide.

What’s Next for Expressive Go?

• Support for Multiple Languages: In our ongoing effort to promote global communication access, we are actively developing new features that will make Expressive Go available in multiple languages. This will enable non-speaking individuals from all linguistic backgrounds to benefit from the same robust AAC tools.
• Enhanced User Experience: We are constantly refining the app’s interface and features based on user feedback, ensuring that Expressive Go stays user-friendly, intuitive, and adaptable to every unique communication need.
• Continued Innovation: As technology evolves, so do our tools. We’re committed to keeping Expressive Go at the cutting edge of AAC technology, integrating new advancements that make communication easier and more effective for all users.

Join Us on the Journey

We invite families, educators, speech-language pathologists, and organizations to be a part of this movement. Share your experiences with us, give feedback, and help us continue shaping a future where every voice can be heard—anywhere, anytime. Whether you’re new to AAC or an experienced professional, your input helps us make Expressive Go an even more powerful tool for communication.

A Global Movement for Communication Access

By making Expressive Go fully free, we are taking a bold step in promoting universal access to communication tools. This initiative reflects our unwavering belief that communication should never be limited by financial barriers. It is part of a larger effort to create a more inclusive world where technology bridges the gap for those who need it most.