epSpeak

epSpeak helps children with special needs communicate using pictures and words. Designed for kids, families, and the professionals who support them, epSpeak turns everyday vocabulary into an interactive, visual experience. Children tap pictures to hear words spoken aloud - building communication skills one tap at a time. HOW IT WORKS For children, epSpeak is simple. Open the app, see your categories (like Foods, Animals, or Feelings), tap a picture, and hear the word. Echo the Koala - a friendly animated character - reacts to every tap with excitement and lip-syncs along with the audio. It's engaging, encouraging, and fun. Categories are collections of related pictures and words. Some are ready to download for free. Others can be created by your family or assigned by a therapist - personalized to your child's world. FOR FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS As a caregiver, you have tools to support your child's learning: • Download free categories or create your own with photos from your phone • Record your own voice for any item - your child hears you, not a robot • Set goals and track progress - see which words your child uses most • Write notes that stay connected to your child's profile • Control which items your child sees in each category • Set up alerts for specific items - get notified when your child taps them • Manage everything from the app or the web portal Creating a custom category is quick. Going to the zoo? Take photos of the animals, name them, and publish. Your child has a personalized category in minutes. FOR PRACTITIONERS AND THERAPISTS Speech therapists, teachers, and other professionals can: • Request access to work with a child (with caregiver approval) • Organize students into classes and groups • Set individual or class-wide goals • Send categories to students for practice • Track activity and progress across all students • Create goal templates for quick assignment • Write private or shared notes on each student Everything requires caregiver approval - families stay in control. FEATURES • Free categories to get started immediately • Custom category designer with camera support • Text-to-speech audio in multiple languages • Custom voice recording - use your own voice • Echo the Koala - animated character with lip-sync • Real-time alerts when flagged items are tapped • Usage analytics and progress tracking • Goals with milestones and daily snapshots • Notes shared between caregivers and practitioners • Works offline — downloaded categories don't need internet • Warm, kid-friendly design • Landscape and portrait support • Haptic feedback on every tap PRIVACY AND SAFETY epSpeak is built with families in mind. There are no ads, no in-app purchases, and no social features. Children cannot access settings, remove categories assigned by caregivers, or interact with other users. All data is stored securely using Firebase with encryption. Caregivers and practitioners manage access through a role-based system. Nothing happens without the right permissions. GETTING STARTED 1. Create an account (End User, Caregiver, or Practitioner) 2. Download a free category from the Gallery 3. Tap a picture and hear the word 4. Explore, learn, and communicate epSpeak — Enriching Communication.