Dawn

AAC for adults

For adults who have lost some or all of their speech, after a stroke, with ALS or Parkinson's, or only some of the time. Type, tap a saved phrase or use symbols, and Dawn says it in a natural voice.

Dawn's Type view on iPad with the message 'I have something to say.' above a large keyboard

Dawn opens on a symbol board, and the keyboard is one tap away in the Type tab. You can set it up the way you talk: mostly typing, mostly saved phrases, or symbols when spelling is hard.

Ways to say something

Typing on a large keyboard that suggests words as you go. You can say anything that isn't already saved.

Saved phrases live in the Phrases tab: "Give me a moment to type", "I need to sit down", and anything else you say every day. You can save any message you've typed straight from the message bar.

Symbols help when reading or spelling is hard, which can happen after a stroke. Each word stays in the same place on the board until you move it.

Dawn's Phrases tab with large buttons such as 'I need help please', 'Something is wrong' and 'Say that again please'
The Phrases tab. A recorded phrase can sit next to typed ones.

Voices

There are over 900 voices, and Voice Studio can make any of them higher, lower, younger or older. You can also build a voice from about eight seconds of your own speech, or record phrases with message banking if your speech is likely to change. More on voice banking.

Situations adults ask about

  • Appointments. Type your questions the night before and save them as phrases, so you can get through them in a short slot.
  • Noise. Show the message full screen to the person at the counter.
  • No signal. The voices run on the device, so Dawn works in a hospital basement or on a plane. More on working offline.
  • Privacy. Dawn has no account and doesn't upload what you say.

By condition

Questions people ask

What does AAC mean?

Augmentative and alternative communication. It covers any way of communicating that adds to or replaces speech, from a notepad to an app that speaks what you type. Our guide to AAC has more.

I can still talk some of the time. Is AAC for me?

It can be. Many adults use AAC when they're tired, in a noisy place, on the phone, or when speech is slow or unclear.

Does it work on iPhone, or only iPad?

Both, with one subscription. The iPhone fits in a pocket; an iPad has bigger buttons and fits a wheelchair mount. Your boards are the same on both.

Can it use my own voice?

Yes. Dawn can build a voice from about eight seconds of your speech. You can also record whole phrases with message banking. See voice banking.

What if my hands don't work well?

You can make buttons bigger, set a hold time before a tap counts, and have Dawn ignore repeated taps. Dawn has its own switch scanning, and iOS Switch Control, eye tracking and dwell work with every button.

  • Type to speakA big keyboard with word prediction that speaks what you type, in a built-in voice or one made from your recording.
  • Voice bankingA voice built on the device from about eight seconds of your speech. Dawn's 900+ built-in voices can be adjusted too.
  • Stroke and aphasiaPictures, phrases, typing and handwriting for when words are hard to find after a stroke.
  • Talking with someone who uses AACTen practical tips for family, friends and carers: waiting, asking, and not finishing sentences.

Try Dawn on iPhone or iPad

Symbols, typing and saved phrases, spoken in a natural voice. Dawn can also build a voice from about eight seconds of your own speech.

Requires iOS 17 or later.