Jack is a funny and curious three-year-old with a big personality. Like any child his age, he loves to play, explore and make people laugh.
Watch Jack’s full story and learn more about how AAC can give children a way to share their world.
Born prematurely at just 29 weeks, Jack faced challenges early in life. At six months old, his parents noticed he was losing milestones he had already reached; he stopped rolling over, smiling and even crying.
After genetic testing, Jack was diagnosed with Leigh syndrome, a rare and progressive neurological condition that often affects motor skills, development, and speech.
For many children with Leigh syndrome, spoken language is limited or absent. That’s where AAC becomes a lifeline. While every child responds differently, AAC gives children like Jack a way to express their thoughts, needs and sense of humor.
From his very first session, Jack surprised everyone in the room. Using eye gaze, he played a learning game on the device — completing six targets in seconds. His speech pathologist was moved to tears, realizing she was witnessing something extraordinary.
Over the next four months, Jack’s world opened up. Through his Grid Pad 13, his family discovered his favorite show (Moana), his preferred toy (a penguin switch), and his treasured “blue monster” stuffed animal.
With the Grid Pad 13, Jack expresses his humor, preferences, and emotions. He jokes with the family dog, selects silly icons to make his parents laugh, and makes daily choices about activities, meals, and bedtime routines. Every interaction reinforces what his parents always knew: he’s smart, funny and full of personality.
Jack’s mother offers simple but powerful advice to other families considering AAC:
- Advocate for your child. Keep asking until you find a speech-language pathologist who supports early AAC exploration.
- Be patient. The first sessions may focus only on calibration and setup, but progress comes with consistency.
- Include everyone. Teach all caregivers how to use the device so AAC becomes part of daily life — from playtime to bedtime.
Emily
Jack's Mom
Jack’s mother offers simple but powerful advice to other families considering AAC:
- Advocate for your child. Keep asking until you find a speech-language pathologist who supports early AAC exploration.
- Be patient. The first sessions may focus only on calibration and setup, but progress comes with consistency.
- Include everyone. Teach all caregivers how to use the device so AAC becomes part of daily life — from playtime to bedtime.
Emily
Jack's Mom
For Jack, communication is now a shared experience woven into his everyday routines — playing hide-and-seek, choosing bedtime stories, and expressing how he feels at the end of each day. His story reminds us that AAC doesn’t just give a child words; it gives them connection, independence and a chance to be heard.