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An Amish farm in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
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Getting AAC in Pennsylvania

AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) means tools that help a person communicate when speech is hard: picture boards, apps and devices that speak. It is for children and for adults. This guide shows you who to ask, what is free, what gets paid for, and what you can start doing today.

Last updated September 20, 2026

What to do, in order

  1. Ask for an evaluation

    A speech-language pathologist does the evaluation, and there are two ways in. For a student, write to the school’s IEP team and ask them to consider assistive technology for communication. For anyone, child or adult, ask a doctor for a referral to a speech-language pathologist for an AAC evaluation. If the school process stalls, Parent and Education Advocacy Leadership (PEAL) Center can help you prepare. It is a federally funded parent center for families in Pennsylvania.

  2. Borrow a device before you choose

    TechOWL (Technology for Our Whole Lives) is the Assistive Technology Act program for Pennsylvania. Every state has one, and its job includes device demonstrations and short-term loans, so you can see what works at home before anything is ordered. These programs serve people of every age.

  3. Get it paid for

    If a student’s IEP says they need a device to learn, the school must provide it at no cost to the family. For a device the person owns and takes everywhere, Pennsylvania Medicaid covers speech-generating devices for children when an evaluation shows medical need, and Medicare covers them as durable medical equipment. Adult Medicaid coverage and private insurance vary, so ask for the durable medical equipment benefit in writing.

  4. Start modeling today

    You do not have to wait for any of this. Modeling means pointing to words on a board or app while you talk, so the person learning sees how it works. You can begin with a free app now and carry on with whatever device comes later.

    Open MoCo and try it now

If you are an adult, or supporting one

Ask a doctor for a referral to a speech-language pathologist for an AAC evaluation. Hospital outpatient rehabilitation departments are a common place to find one. The device loan program on this page serves adults too, and Medicare covers speech-generating devices. If you need a device for work, ask your state vocational rehabilitation agency.

Find your vocational rehabilitation agency

If your child is under 3

The early intervention program for Pennsylvania serves babies and toddlers with developmental delays. You can refer your own child, evaluations are free, and you do not need a diagnosis.

Pennsylvania early intervention, (717) 265-8900

Find a speech-language pathologist

Search for a licensed speech-language pathologist near you, and filter for AAC experience.

ASHA ProFind

Loans and funding at a glance

  • Borrow a device first

    TechOWL (Technology for Our Whole Lives) offers demonstrations and short-term loans of communication devices.

    TechOWL (Technology for Our Whole Lives)

  • Through your school

    Ask for assistive technology to be considered in the IEP. If the team agrees the student needs a device to learn, the school provides it.

    Pennsylvania special education

  • Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance

    A speech-language pathologist’s evaluation documents medical need. The clinic or device supplier then submits the request to the insurer.

Borrow and try devices

  • Pennsylvania

    Statewide program offering assistive technology demonstrations, short-term device loans, and help finding funding.

    techowlpa.org

Help with school and your rights

Your regional education agency

Your local school district works with one of these agencies. Many employ an assistive technology consultant, and you can ask the student’s school team who that is.

Show all 104 agencies

Common questions

Will using AAC stop someone from learning to talk?
No. Studies have found that AAC does not hold back speech. Many children speak more after they start using it.
Is AAC only for children?
No. Adults use AAC after a stroke or brain injury, and with conditions such as ALS, Parkinson’s disease and cerebral palsy. Many autistic adults use it too. For an adult, an evaluation usually starts with a doctor’s referral to a speech-language pathologist.
Is there an age or a skill someone needs first?
No. There is no minimum age, no upper age, and no skill a person has to show first. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association advises against asking anyone to prove they are ready before they get a way to communicate.
What is the difference between an app and a dedicated device?
Both speak words aloud when a button is touched. A dedicated speech-generating device is medical equipment that insurance may pay for after an evaluation. An app runs on a tablet or computer you already own. Many people start with an app while they wait for an evaluation. MoCo is a free app, so you can begin today.
What can we do while we wait for an appointment?
Open MoCo and try it. If you are supporting someone who is learning language, start modeling: touch words as you say them during everyday routines, without asking them to copy you. People learn AAC the way they learn speech, by seeing it used around them for a long time before they use it themselves.