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#### April 1, 2020 by

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# Another blog post

#### March 23, 2020 by [Matt](/)

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# New feature

#### March 14, 2020 by [Tom](/)

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 Cboard recently concluded a four-month pilot in Timor Leste, in collaboration with UNICEF Timor Leste and Microsoft. 

The pilot, spanning from September to December 2023, employed the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale (PIADS) methodology to assess its impact. Participants completed PIADS forms in September before using Cboard and again after 2-3 months of active engagement. A mid-pilot in-person evaluation occurred in October, featuring observations within the participating schools. The pilot involved three schools, one in Dili and two in the municipality of Baucau, with PicSeePal generously donating 60 devices to support the schools in Baucau lacking tablets and internet access. 

![Timor Leste](/images/pilot-timor-02.jpg)
*Image from one of the schools in Timor Leste using Cboard*

This report provides a comprehensive review of the pilot's outcomes, including insights into participating schools, PIADS form results, and observations gathered during in-person visits.

## **Report available for download: <a href="/public/documents/CboardTimorLestePilot2023Report.pdf" download>Click to Download</a>**


For any questions regarding the pilot, please get in touch with us: [support@cboard.io](support@cboard.io)


Final outcomes of the pilot in Timor Leste are available to download

Cboard pilot results - Timor Leste

Communication is a fundamental human right, and for individuals with communication disabilities, finding effective tools to express themselves is of paramount importance. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) software has long been a beacon of hope for many, and in an exciting development, [**Cboard, a leading AAC application**](https://www.cboard.io/), has unveiled a groundbreaking feature. Using the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI), this new feature enhances sentence creation, making it easier than ever to build meaningful phrases from pictograms.

## Cboard: A Revolution in AAC Communication

Cboard has established itself as a prominent player in the AAC software landscape, known for its intuitive interface and customizable features. It has been a lifeline for countless individuals with communication disabilities, as well as their caregivers, educators, and therapists, enabling them to communicate effectively using pictograms.

## The Power of AI in AAC Communication

The integration of AI into Cboard's platform represents a monumental leap forward in improving the communication experience for users. Here's what this innovative feature means for the AAC community:

**1. Enhanced Sentence Creation:** The AI-powered feature is designed to assist users in constructing sentences using pictograms. By analyzing user inputs and the context of their message, the AI suggest a phrase, according to pictograms and word combinations, making it easier for individuals to form coherent and meaningful sentences.

**2. Improved Predictive Text:** Cboard's AI learns from the user's communication patterns, offering increasingly accurate predictive text suggestions over time. This personalization ensures that the tool becomes more tailored to the user's specific needs and communication style.

![Improve Phrase feature](/images/app/phrase-improvement.png)
*Phrase improvement feature*

**3. Greater Speed and Efficiency:** With AI assistance, users can construct sentences more quickly and efficiently, reducing the time it takes to convey their thoughts and feelings.

**4. Language Expansion:** The AI feature is designed to grow alongside the user's language development. It can introduce new vocabulary and sentence structures, facilitating language growth and ensuring that individuals can express themselves in increasingly complex ways.

**5. Customization:** Cboard continues to offer a high level of customization, allowing users and their caregivers to fine-tune the AI's suggestions to suit individual preferences and communication needs.

## Benefits for the AAC Community

The introduction of AI into Cboard's platform is a game-changer for various stakeholders:

**- Individuals with Communication Disabilities:** This feature empowers individuals with communication disabilities by providing them with a more efficient and supportive tool for constructing sentences, enabling them to express themselves more clearly and meaningfully.

![Kid using Cboard](/images/kindergaten02.png)

**- Educators and Therapists:** Teachers and therapists will find it easier to integrate Cboard into their educational and therapeutic sessions. The AI-enhanced sentence creation feature ensures more effective communication support.

**- Parents and Caregivers:** Families and caregivers can now use Cboard more effectively with their loved ones, fostering better communication, understanding, and connection.

**- AAC Technology Advancement:** Cboard's introduction of AI to assist in sentence creation is a significant step forward in the evolution of AAC technology. It showcases the potential of AI to empower individuals with disabilities.

In conclusion, Cboard's innovative AI-powered feature for sentence creation is a groundbreaking development that significantly improves the AAC experience. By making it easier to construct meaningful phrases from pictograms, Cboard continues to lead the way in creating accessible and effective communication tools for individuals with communication disabilities. This feature not only empowers users but also exemplifies the incredible potential of AI in enhancing communication and connectivity for all.

Empowering Communication using artificial intelligence

Cboard Breakthrough: Enhancing AAC Communication with AI-Powered Sentence Creation

Communication is a fundamental aspect of human interaction, and for individuals with communication disabilities, finding the right tools to express themselves can be a significant challenge. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) software has long been a lifeline for many, enabling them to communicate effectively. In a recent development, Cboard, a popular AAC application, [**has just launched its app in the Microsoft Store for Windows devices**](https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/cboard-aac-app/XP9M5KQV699FLR). This exciting release opens up new avenues for users, allowing them to access Cboard directly from their Windows devices without the need for a web browser, and even in offline mode.

**Cboard: A Brief Overview**

Cboard is a widely recognized AAC application known for its user-friendly interface and customizable features. It has been a valuable tool for individuals with communication disabilities, as well as educators, therapists, and caregivers, who seek to empower non-verbal or minimally verbal individuals to express themselves.

**The Launch of Cboard on Windows**

The introduction of the Cboard app in the Microsoft Store for Windows devices is a significant step forward in providing enhanced accessibility and convenience to users. Here's what this launch means for the AAC community:

**1. Seamless Access:** With Cboard now available in the Microsoft Store, Windows users can easily download and install the application directly onto their devices. This eliminates the need to access Cboard through a web browser, streamlining the user experience and ensuring quick and easy access.

**2. Offline Mode:** One of the standout features of the Cboard Windows app is its offline functionality. Users no longer need a continuous internet connection to utilize the application. This is particularly beneficial for individuals who may not always have access to the internet, ensuring that communication remains accessible at all times.

**3. Enhanced User Experience:** The Cboard Windows app is optimized for the Windows platform, delivering a seamless and responsive experience. Whether you're using a touchscreen device or a traditional keyboard and mouse setup, Cboard on Windows offers a user-friendly and intuitive interface.

**4. Customization:** Cboard's customization options remain intact in the Windows app. Users can personalize their communication boards, symbol sets, and layouts to cater to individual preferences and communication needs.

**5. Accessibility Features:** Cboard has always been committed to accessibility, and the Windows app is no exception. It offers various accessibility features, such as keyboard shortcuts, high contrast modes, and compatibility with assistive technologies, making it more inclusive for all users.

**Benefits for All Stakeholders**

The launch of the Cboard Windows app has far-reaching benefits for a variety of stakeholders:

**- Individuals with Communication Disabilities:** This development empowers individuals with communication disabilities by providing them with a more accessible, offline-ready communication tool.

**- Educators and Therapists:** Teachers, therapists, and caregivers will find it easier to integrate Cboard into their teaching and therapy sessions, allowing for more efficient communication support.

**- Parents and Caregivers:** Families and caregivers can now use Cboard with their loved ones more conveniently, both online and offline, fostering better communication and understanding.

**- Accessibility Advocates:** The introduction of the Cboard Windows app represents a significant step toward greater accessibility in the AAC software landscape.

In conclusion, the launch of the Cboard app on the Microsoft Store for Windows devices is a game-changer for the AAC community. It not only simplifies access to this essential communication tool but also ensures that communication remains possible in offline scenarios. With its user-friendly interface, customization options, and commitment to accessibility, Cboard continues to be at the forefront of AAC technology, empowering individuals to communicate effectively and connect with the world around them.

Empowering Communication for Windows Users

Cboard Launches Windows App for Seamless AAC Communication

Cboard will be conducting a pilot in Timor Leste, with the support of the UNICEF local office.This endeavor is made possible through the **generous support of the Microsoft AI for Accessibility grant**, which aligns with Cboard's commitment to enhancing accessibility and inclusivity. The aim of the pilot is to reach between 50 and 70 students, at three different schools in the cities of Dili and Bacau, to evaluate the use of the Cboard app. The primary objective of this pilot is to assess the practical utilization of the Cboard app within these educational settings. The pilot is scheduled to unfold over a span of four months, from September to December 2023.

![Timor Leste](/images/timor-leste-1.JPG)
*Image from one of the schools in Timor Leste using Cboard*

One of these institutions is equipped with tablets provided by UNICEF, which will facilitate the direct utilization of the Cboard app. However, the other two schools face infrastructural challenges, including limited access to computers and tablets as well as connectivity issues. To address these obstacles, **PicSeePal, a collaborative partner**, has generously donated 60 of their low-tech AAC housing devices. These devices will enable participants to seamlessly translate their digital creations from the Cboard app into physical, printed boards. The integration of PicSeePal's devices not only serves the immediate needs of the pilot but also leaves a lasting impact, equipping the local schools with tools to support students beyond the pilot's duration.

![Picseepal and Cboard](/images/picseepal.png)
*Picseepal device with a Cboard printed board*

The assessment of the pilot's impact will be undertaken using the rigorous Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale (PIADS) methodology. Participants will be invited to complete the PIADS form twice—once before commencing the pilot and then again after 2-3 months of active engagement with the Cboard app. Furthermore, a mid-pilot evaluation is scheduled for late October, involving in-person observations within the participating schools. This multifaceted approach ensures a comprehensive understanding of the app's influence on the students' communication and psychosocial well-being.

![Timor Leste](/images/timor-leste-3.JPG)

The Cboard team eagerly anticipating this pilot in Timor Leste, marking a significant stride in their mission to democratize communication access. The insights garnered from this initiative will not only refine the Cboard app but will also contribute to the continuous development of features that better cater to the needs of users worldwide. Through such innovative ventures, Cboard continues to reshape the landscape of augmentative and alternative communication, fostering greater inclusivity and empowerment for individuals with diverse communication needs.


Cboard will be conducting a pilot in Timor Leste, working alongside the UNICEF Timor Leste local team.

Cboard pilot in Timor Leste

In a significant milestone for the world of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), CBoard, the acclaimed AAC application software, has just expanded its reach by launching its long-awaited app for iOS devices. This announcement is a game-changer for individuals with communication difficulties, as it brings the power of CBoard to iPhone and iPad users, making communication more accessible and inclusive than ever before.

### **What is CBoard?**

CBoard is an innovative AAC app designed to assist individuals with speech and language challenges in expressing themselves effectively. Developed with a deep understanding of the needs of users, CBoard empowers those with communication difficulties by providing a customizable platform to communicate with text and symbols. With its user-friendly interface and robust features, CBoard is a powerful tool that can benefit people of all ages and abilities.

![Cboard on iPad](/images/app/water-ipad-english.png)
*Cboard on iPad*

### **CBoard on iOS: A Game-Changer**

The launch of the CBoard AAC app on iOS devices, specifically for iPhone and iPad, marks a significant advancement in the field of AAC. Here are some of the key features and benefits that make this release noteworthy:

1. Accessibility for iOS Users: Until now, CBoard was primarily accessible to Android users, but the iOS launch now opens the door for millions of iPhone and iPad users to utilize this invaluable communication tool.

2. User-Friendly Interface: The iOS version of CBoard retains the user-friendly interface that has made it so popular on Android. It ensures that individuals with varying degrees of technical proficiency can easily use the app to communicate effectively.

3. Customization Options: CBoard allows users to customize their communication boards to suit their specific needs. With the iOS release, users can personalize their boards with symbols, pictures, or text, making communication more relevant and meaningful.

4. Natural Communication: CBoard enables users to communicate naturally by offering features like word prediction and speech synthesis. This helps users express themselves more fluently and confidently.

5. Multilingual Support: The app supports multiple languages, catering to users from diverse linguistic backgrounds. This feature ensures that individuals around the world can benefit from CBoard's capabilities.

6. Offline Accessibility: CBoard offers offline access, allowing users to communicate even in areas with limited or no internet connectivity. This feature is crucial for users who may rely on AAC in various environments.

### **Availability on the Apple Store**

The CBoard AAC app for iOS is now available on the Apple Store, making it easily accessible to anyone with an iPhone or iPad. The app can be downloaded for free, providing users with an essential communication tool that can significantly enhance their quality of life.

### **Conclusion**

The launch of the CBoard AAC app on iOS devices is a monumental step forward in making communication more inclusive and accessible for individuals with speech and language difficulties. With its user-friendly interface, customization options, and multilingual support, CBoard empowers users to communicate naturally and effectively.

By bringing CBoard to the iOS platform, the developers have opened up new possibilities for individuals who rely on AAC to express themselves. The app's availability on the Apple Store ensures that it is within easy reach of millions of iPhone and iPad users, making it a game-changer in the world of Augmentative and Alternative Communication.

As we celebrate this milestone, it's important to remember that technology like CBoard has the potential to transform lives, enabling individuals to connect, share their thoughts, and participate more fully in their communities. With CBoard now on iOS, the future of communication is brighter and more inclusive than ever before.

Empowering Communication for iPhone and iPad Users

CBoard AAC App Launches on iOS

On May 14, 2023, In a heartwarming announcement, the Microsoft AI for Accessibility program has selected Cboard, a groundbreaking AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) web app, for its prestigious grant. This recognition serves as a testament to the power of technology in breaking down communication barriers for individuals living with speech and language impairments. With its innovative approach, Cboard is set to transform the lives of countless children and adults, fostering connection, understanding, and empowerment.

**Unveiling Cboard: Bridging the Communication Gap**

Communication is a fundamental human right, enabling us to express ourselves, share ideas, and connect with others. However, for individuals with speech and language impairments, this basic right can often become a significant challenge. Cboard, an AAC web app, steps in as a beacon of hope by offering a unique blend of symbols and text-to-speech capabilities.

AAC systems are designed to aid communication for individuals who have difficulty speaking or cannot speak at all. Cboard stands out by providing a user-friendly and customizable platform that empowers users to express themselves effectively. Whether it's children just beginning their communication journey or adults seeking enhanced ways to interact, Cboard caters to diverse age groups, making communication accessible to all.

**Microsoft AI for Accessibility: A Beacon of Support**

The Microsoft AI for Accessibility program is a pioneering initiative that leverages the potential of artificial intelligence to empower individuals with disabilities. Its mission revolves around providing innovators with the resources and support needed to create technological solutions that bridge accessibility gaps. By selecting Cboard for this grant, Microsoft is acknowledging the app's potential to revolutionize communication for people with speech and language impairments.

**Key Features of Cboard:**

1. **Symbol-based Communication:** Cboard employs a rich library of symbols that users can select to form sentences, ideas, and thoughts. This visual approach transcends language barriers and offers an intuitive way to communicate.

2. **Text-to-Speech Integration:** The app's integration of text-to-speech technology converts the selected symbols and text into spoken words. This real-time feature enhances interaction and makes communication more dynamic.

3. **Customization:** Cboard understands that every individual is unique. With its customization features, users can tailor the app's interface to suit their preferences, ensuring a personalized experience.

4. **Accessibility:** The app's web-based nature ensures that it can be accessed from various devices, making it a versatile tool that can be integrated into various aspects of daily life.

**Impact Beyond Words: Transforming Lives**

The impact of Cboard stretches far beyond its technological capabilities. It's about providing individuals who have struggled to communicate with a newfound sense of agency and independence. For parents, caregivers, and educators, Cboard opens doors to better understand and connect with their loved ones or students. This shift in communication dynamics fosters inclusivity, empathy, and a stronger sense of community.

**A Bright Future Ahead**

Cboard's selection for the Microsoft AI for Accessibility grant illuminates a path toward a more inclusive and compassionate world. As technology continues to evolve, opportunities to make a positive impact multiply. With initiatives like Cboard and the Microsoft AI for Accessibility program, we can look forward to a future where communication is a universal right, regardless of one's abilities.

In celebrating Cboard's achievement, we're reminded that innovation guided by empathy can spark transformative change. As we continue to support projects like Cboard, we lay the groundwork for a society where technology's true potential is harnessed to uplift and empower all individuals, fostering a world of limitless possibilities.

The Microsoft AI for Accessibility program has selected Cboard.

Revolutionizing Communication: Cboard Receives Microsoft AI for Accessibility Grant

On January 14, 2021, Cboard was added to the [Digital Public Goods Alliance](https://digitalpublicgoods.net/) [DPG Registry](https://digitalpublicgoods.net/registry/). The goal of the DPGA and it’s registry is to promote digital public goods in order to create a more equitable world. Being recognized as a DPG increases the visibility, support for, and prominence of open projects that have the potential to tackle global challenges. To become a digital public good, all projects are required to meet the [DPG Standard](https://digitalpublicgoods.net/standard/) to ensure that projects truly encapsulate open source principles. 

Cboard seeks to provide an accessible open-source Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) app for everyone. Cboard strives to be an inclusive platform, works in over 40 languages, and has collaborators worldwide contributing to this project. Cboard is more than an app, it is a community.

For us, being recognized as a digital public good - defined as open source software, open data, open AI models, open standards and open content that adhere to privacy and other applicable laws and best practices, do no harm, and help attain the SDGs - means we are achieving our mission of adhering to the highest standards of inclusivity and sustainability. 

For any inquiries on Cboard please reach out to Katrina Cohen Cosentino at [support@cboard.io](mailto:support@cboard.io). For more information on the Digital Public Goods Alliance please reach out to [hello@digitalpublicgoods.net](mailto:hello@digitalpublicgoods.net). 

The Digital Public Goods Alliance is a multi-stakeholder initiative endorsed by the United Nations Secretary-General, working to accelerate the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals in low- and middle-income countries by facilitating the discovery, development, use of, and investment in digital public goods.

**Our most sincere thank you from the Cboard team to everyone who has made this possible.**


The goal of the DPGA and it’s registry is to promote digital public goods in order to create a more equitable world.

Cboard added to the Digital Public Goods Alliance!

Podgorica, 1 December 2021 – Seid is a cheerful, calm six-year-old who goes to kindergarten and likes to listen to music. He was born with a speech impairment. Since he started using [Cboard](https://www.cboard.io/) application, he has been able to communicate using symbols, and this lets his parents and three siblings understand more easily, how he is feeling and what he wants.

The Cboard application was introduced through the *“A Voice for Every Child”* programme, led by Montenegro’s Bureau for Education Services with support from UNICEF.

 “Before Cboard, if he had toothache that made him upset and cry, we could not immediately understand what was wrong and what was hurting,” says Dorina Ljuca, Seid’s mother.

“Now, when he wants to eat grapes, he finds that symbol on the screen, points to it with his finger and then a voice generated by the app says – I want to eat grapes".


![Dorina Ljuca](/images/montenegro-2021-2.jpg)

Dorina Ljuca, Seid’s mother *UNICEF Montenegro / Duško Miljanić / 2021*

Cboard helps children with disabilities to develop pointing gestures and to become more skilled in communication. It encourages verbalization and facilitates socialization with their family and other children. Seid uses the Cboard application to help him in kindergarten and in the Resource Centre for children with disabilities.

His preschool teacher, Snezana Scekic says that the activities in kindergarten, such as eating breakfast and lunch and going to the toilet, are included in the application.

![Snezana Scekic](/images/montenegro-2021-3.jpg)

*UNICEF Montenegro / Duško Miljanić / 2021*

Preschool teacher Snezana Scekic tells about how Seid is interested in the application, in Podgorica, in December 2021.
“I notice that Seid is interested in the application and that he is happy to use it. When he shows exactly what he wants, we reward him". 

Snezana Scekic, Seid's preschool teacher
Teaching assistant, Mirnela Muratovic also thinks that Seid now communicates more easily with her and other teachers.

‘’The Cboard app takes a little getting used to. To encourage Seid, we created activities in kindergarten using the Cboard symbols – and he was able to see how these symbols let him communicate with us and with other children”. 

![Mirnela Muratović](/images/montenegro-2021-4.jpg)
*UNICEF Montenegro / Duško Miljanić / 2021*

Teaching assistant Mirnela Muratovic tells about how Seid now communicates more easily with her and other teachers, in Podgorica, in December 2021.

Since the Cboard app was launched in 2019, a total of 75 children with speech and language impairments have received this application. Professionals from three Resource Centres and teaching staff from five kindergartens and schools in Podgorica, Niksic, and Bar work with children to use this app.

Anita Maric from the Bureau for Education explains that the Cboard application is an assistive tool designed to help children communicate their lack of verbal and non-verbal communication. The Cboard is helping families and teachers become more aware of their children’s full potential.   

Anita Maric from the Bureau for Education
The programme, “A Voice for Every Child” was launched by the Bureau for Education Services in 2019. The programme expanded in 2021 and is part of an EU-funded project aimed at mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lives of children and families in the Western Balkans and Turkey.


A boy with speech impairment uses assistive technology that supports his development

Cboard helps Seid from Montenegro to communicate

[Cboard](https://www.cboard.io/) and [OTTAA project](https://www.ottaaproject.com/), both portfolio companies of the [UNICEF Innovation Fund](https://www.unicef.org/innovation/stories/giving-every-child-voice-aac-technology), have been working together for the past few months to amplify impact. 

The OTTAA project, like Cboard, is a tool for people with speech and language impairments that allows users to communicate using pictograms. The Ottaa project tool features include predictive AAC, social networks integration, geolocation settings that automatically get related pictograms when nearing a certain place, and is of course fully customizable. 

How does this relate to Cboard, you may ask. Well, the OTTAA project has an interdisciplinary team of developers, engineers, and speech therapists and they have significant experience working with AAC software and hardware development, and have expertise in Android app development. Furthermore, they are also based in Córdoba, Argentina (which is also where most of the Cboard team is based). We had worked together in the past and taking this next step in collaboration was a very easy decision. 

This is why Cboard has joined forces with them to continue working on improving with their support. Cboard will continue to function as is, while we work behind the scenes with the OTTAA Project team to improve the platform based on a combination of their expertise and user feedback. This collaboration is aimed at collaborating on business solutions and on scaling market share and impact to ultimately help as many people as possible with our AAC solutions. 

We look forward to continuing to work together!

![Joined Forces](/images/joined-forces.png)

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Amazing to see this from <a href="https://twitter.com/OTTAAProject?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OTTAAProject</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/cboard_io?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cboard_io</a> in their journey to develop <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/accessibility?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#accessibility</a> devices for people with motor impairment to control a tablets / computers.<br><br>Plus they are some of the first <a href="https://twitter.com/oshwassociation?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@oshwassociation</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OpenHardware?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OpenHardware</a> projects in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chile?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chile</a>!<a href="https://t.co/TWwE5D12Hv">https://t.co/TWwE5D12Hv</a></p>&mdash; Justin W. Flory 🇺🇳 #open (@jwf_foss) <a href="https://twitter.com/jwf_foss/status/1433355620619636736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>



Cboard has joined forces with Ottaa Project to continue working on improving communication of people with disabilities

Cboard and OTTAA Project collaboration announcement!

Cboard is being used as part of an initiative entitled ‘For Every Child a Voice’ implemented through the support of the *UNICEF Regional Office in Geneva and the UNICEF office in Montenegro*, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and the Bureau of Education Services. **Tamara Milic** from the Ministry of Education in Montenegro said that children have responded very well to Cboard, highlighting the app as a great tool for families and  parents, providing great support to help their children develop their vocabulary. 

On July 30th, the Montenegro UNICEF regional office published a [report documenting the impact Cboard](https://www.unicef.org/montenegro/en/stories/c-board-application-makes-communication-easier-children-disabilities) has had one of the children involved in user testing, particularly as COVID-19 began to spread and inhibited children from attending school and therapy. 

> CETINJE, 1 JULY 2020 – Before the coronavirus outbreak, Bojana would regularly go to "Zagorka Ivanović" kindergarten in Cetinje, as well as to the Resource Centre in Podgorica. During the COVID-19 pandemic, that was no longer possible. That is when the C-Board application became an indispensable part of the daily life of this family.

![Bojana and her mum Vjera](/images/montenegro-post-02.jpg)
*Bojana and her mum Vjera using Cboard application in Cetinje, in July 2020. UNICEF Montenegro / Duško Miljanić / 2020*

Bojana’s mother, Vjera, was interviewed and asked about their experience with the app, to which she answered: 
> *We are very satisfied with the Cboard application because it has made our work and learning easier. Bojana reacted positively to the tablet, and she is more interested in this method of learning because everything shown to her is illustrated. Now everything is much more interesting to her.*

Bojana and her mum Vjera using Cboard application which makes communication easier for children with disabilities, in Cetinje, in July 2020.

Vjera then explained what concrete progress Bojana has made while using Cboard:

> *Bojana is now able to pronounce words more easily and makes her requests with understanding. With the help of the tablet, she learned to ask for soap, toilet paper, or a towel when she goes to the bathroom. The application helped us a lot because it facilitates much better communication. At the same time,  the bonds between the members of the whole family appear to be stronger.*

![Bojana and her sister Marija](/images/montenegro-post-03.jpg)
*Bojana and her sister Marija using Cboard application in Cetinje, in July 2020. UNICEF Montenegro / Duško Miljanić / 2020*

> Thanks to this initiative, digital technology has been used to achieve the noblest goal, which is to support children in reaching their full potential.
> *Maja Kovačević, UNICEF Montenegro Education Officer*


A special **thank you** to everyone who has helped with this initiative at UNICEF and particularly at the Montenegro regional office. 


Montenegro UNICEF report: "Cboard application makes communication easier for children with disabilities"

The UNICEF *Europe and Central Asia Regional office (ECARO)* has been piloting user testing to promote affordable assistive technology for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) in Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia.

According to those conducting the testing, Cboard promotes interaction, helps overcome speech impairments, develop language and steers children towards an education and active social life right from their early years.

In the region where the testing is being conducted, it is estimated that *12,000 children between the ages of 0 to 6 are in need of AAC*, while another 840,000 could benefit. Cboard is free and open-source technology seeking to provide AAC to all those in need.

![Unicef ECARO pilot](/images/ecaro-pilot-1.jpg)
*Professional supporting a child to use Cboard, Preschool Institution Zvezdara, Belgrade, 2019 / by Milana Jelovac*

## User testing plan
User testing began in November 2019, involving 125 children between the ages of 3 and 12 in Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia. The work involved over 70 professionals including but not limited to pre-school teachers, speech and language therapists, occupational therapist, special educators, psychologists. 

Professionals developed a training package delivered as both face to face and online learning which is available for professionals from other countries to continue with testing. Cboard is being tested as an intervention tool to assist parents and professionals to apply as part of a routine-based intervention. This type of intervention seeks to promote communication in every-day situations and activities, preparing the child and parents for inclusion in society. 

## Initial testing results
Initial response to the application with parents and professionals was positive. For over half the children and families involved in the testing, Cboard was the first digital communicator that they used. The biggest challenges encountered in the first stages of testing involved difficulties adapting to using new technology and AAC. Some of the parents and professionals were interviews about their experiences:

> “Our son accepted it better than we thought. Now he has the way to ask us, and communicate. Before when he wanted something, he would grab our hands and point to the item he wanted. A few days after he started using cboard, he would say “Mama daj” (in English: Mom give me). And press on the image of sandwich on the tablet. His  greatest motivation is food, so we started with food”
> 
> *Nikolina Kuraica, mother of Nikola, 6-yrs-old, multiple communication impairments, Dubrovnik, Croatia.*


Parents have found ways to personalize Cboard to their home environment, by taking images of common items from their daily lives to photos of family members, and making it more familiar and easy to understand:

> "The child is making great progress and carrying the tablet everywhere. Her mother created pictures of her meals and family members.”
> 
> *‘Slava Raškaj’ center in Split, Croatia.*

Professionals involved in the testing reported that children seemed to respond particularly well to the text-to-speech function on the app, in which the name of the pictogram pressed in read aloud in the language set. This has led to reports of improved confidence and vocalization in children who are primarily non-verbal:

> “Our child uttered a three-word sentence several times when requesting a desired item, until recently she used the isolated word occasionally”.

![Unicef ECARO pilot](/images/ecaro-pilot-2.png)
*AAC Training for professionals, Zagreb, Croatia, October 2019*

Natasa Sreckovic Milenkovic, a speech therapist for Srna, 3 year old girl in Belgrade, Serbia, observed the following:

> “Srna was non-verbal and began to speak after we use app Cboard. We set icons for YES, BRAVO, MORE, and after using the Cboard, Srna began to spontaneously use those words in communication when she wanted something. Now, when she does something right, she taps herself and says "BRAVO" verbally. In communication, she has increased the number of words she utters, some as initial syllables, others as whole words, so she is now working on expanding her vocabulary on a tablet.”

## Measuring Cboard success
In order to measure in the impact of Cboard, the **PIADS** (Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices) scale is being used to measure progress in adaptability, competence and self-esteem.

Initial results from PIADS test points show a positive tren, with progress in all three domains. In practice, this means that ‘frustrations are now less expressed and they are now a calmer and happier child. Cboard makes out lives easier and enables the child to communicate’, as observed by a pre-school teacher in CVIT Mediterana, Split, Croatia.

![Unicef ECARO pilot](/images/ecaro-pilot-3.png)
*A child using Cboard, Preschool Institution Zvezdara, Belgrade, 2019 / by Milana Jelovac*

## Next Step
Testing continues through COVID-19 while children use the app from their homes, assisted by parents. Professionals are providing support through virtual platforms including Whatsapp and Viber. Additionally, a new native version of Cboard is in development with new features incorporating comments and feedback received during the pilots.

A special thank you to all those who were and continue to be involved in the testing, and **big thank you to Aleksandra Jovic, BP Panwar** and the UNICEF country office representatives **Melani Markovic, Maja Kovacevic and Jelena Zajeganovic.**

Cboard user testing in Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia

Cboard is very please to announce another investment from UNICEF to continue developing the application. Cboard is a free online web app aiding communication through text-to-speech, created through Cireha rehabilitation center in Córdoba, Argentina. With support from UNICEF, we were able to conduct initial user testing in Buenos Aires, Argentina, prior to the official launch in September 2018. During this testing were were able to get feedback from users and professional speech therapist to edit the app and make it more accessible for users. 

![CIREHA-Center](/images/cireha12.jpg)

On June 19 UNICEF announced eight technology companies in developing and emerging economies would be receiving an investment from the UNICEF Cryptocurrent Fund (CryptoFund). Those receiving investments had all previously received up to $100,000 from UNICEF’s Innovation Fund to create or continue developing open-source technology. 

> Cireha (Argentina) is scaling the reach of its accessible app in three countries to help more children with speech impairments communicate using symbols.

We are have been conducting user testing in Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia to get more feedback. We will be posting the details of the testing in our next blog post! 

Link to the UNICEF announcement: [HERE](https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/unicef-cryptocurrency-fund-announces-its-largest-investment-startups-developing-and)

UNICEF Cryptocurrency Fund announces its largest investment of startups in developing and emerging economies

Cboard Receives a Second UNICEF Investment

We are proud to say we have complete the process that finishes our 15 months of investment with the Unicef innovation fund.

![UNICEF-Innovation_Primary-Logo](/images/UNICEF-Innovation_Primary-Logo.png)

## Biggest key achievements 
Over the past 15 months, our team was able to run three iterations of development and field testing of a cloud-based application that can help users to communicate.

At the beginning we move most of our development activities to a third party company from Argentina was a great success. That allowed the core team to focus on the definition of the features and to leverage the interaction with the patients and speech therapists.

The application does contain more than double of users than the number we estimate a year ago!

We still have to build a strong and stable team, and we are putting a lot of effort to have a VALIDATED business model that is able to generate revenue.

At the same time, we are working to consolidate a marketing strategy in order to reach markets from different countries, especially on those where current solutions are not available. 

![Cboard Team working with Jellow communicator team ](/images/aacgathering3.jpg)

## Prototyping
The app started being developed in React JS as a simple UI application without having login or cloud capability. We emailed developers asking for help with the project, responses were nice! Some gave tips, some tweeted.

Quickly we decided to start the design of an API big project in order to provide Cboard cloud capability allowing users to log in, save and create content. Things growth and having the main architecture and infrastructure in place we ready for the good times!

## User/Field testing.
Among the other patients, Cboard seemed like a good fit for a few of the older patients. One, in particular, stood out as a great candidate, a 22-year-old with cerebral palsy, and previous to the testing had no experience with assistive augmentative communication (AAC). She has limited use of her hands and arms but was able to use Cboard on a tablet. She was able to navigate, express her needs (was able to clearly express she was hungry and wanted to eat cake), as well as quickly understood how to go back, what the categories meant, and even expressed she enjoyed using Cboard. What was noted from her testing was that it would have been helpful for her if the ‘back’ button was larger, and the ‘family’ folder was confusing in that she did not understand the pictograms used to represent family members.

## Open Source.
Open source is the reason why Cboard exists. 

All team members know each other because they joined the open source community at some point.

Quickly after the GitHub project was created, people who have different ideas and background started to contribute in different areas of expertise. Programmers, designers, translators and even patients and parents were able to find a place to collaborate and open source was the key.

![Team working with Unicef innovation fund](/images/aacgathering2.jpg)

Although open source is the main reason for Cboard to exist, it supposed some challenges to face. The lack of a stable team that is committed to the project goals is a pain point in every aspect of the project. We tried to mitigate it by hiring a software development company and we got good results, but it was difficult to get added value when we wanted to develop features that are open to suggestions and improvements.

Also, the quality was a major challenge. Cboard is a complex application at this point, even it looks simple and clean. We support logged in users and not logged in users, offline and online modes, custom boards, audio, multiple devices and many more. And every piece must work as intended without affecting others, and that is not easy, especially when your developers are collaborators from the open source community. Quality is not a matter of just good attitude, quality is also practice. And we’re still dealing with it.

We have still to consolidate the team. We are looking not just translators or programmers, we are looking for commitment. By having that, the role is in second place for the Cboard team.

We think our project as a place in common for those who are communication difficulties and the ones who want to help them. 

## Next set of goals. 
Future is exciting for Cboard. From our point of view,all the work we have been doing is just the foundation for the good stuff that is coming. Machin e learning, AI, brain-computer interfaces are not just good stories of black mirror episodes, they are among us and they will be part of Cboard in the future. No way to escape of the new paradigms of technology and we want to be part of that not just because it's a technology trend but mainly because we strongly believe that they can help people with difficulties.
We like to imagine people using the app with their brains and Cboard talking natural language just like people would do if they wouldn't have any kind of impediment.

## UNICEF Innovation Fund.
To talk about Cboard is to talk about UNICEF Innovation Fund. We are quite sure that the project would have been just a nice and cool repository on GitHub and not much more than that without the support of the UNICEF team. They gave professionalism and soundness to the ideas that we had. 

At the same time, they made us think, they did it a lot. Did we think about the business model, importance of user testing, persona definition, marketing strategy and customer segments before joining the fund?. The answer is NO. 

They did the same thing a good teacher does: make you think about things that you had never taken into account and show you how much important they are.

We really will miss their support and advice from now on. 


Cboard graduates! A long and fantastic trip

UNICEF Innovation Fund graduation

We are proud to say we have developed a scanning tool that is open to the community and free to use. We called this as `react-scannable` and is available to be downloaded from npm as a package.

## What is react-scannable?
React-scannable provides a scanner, that means a React Component that explores their scannable children (buttons, divs, other components), and allows the app to interact with them in a new way.

React-scannable is a npm package built on the top of React and JavaScript. Developers can use this package to include a scanner into their React projects.

## What does react-scannable do?
Once a scanner is active, it iterates over those elements that have been identified as scannable and lets them execute actions when they get focused on the screen.

![react-scannable in action](/images/scanning.gif)

The objective is to extend the relationship between the user and the application, allowing another way of interaction.

By the moment this post was written, `react-scannable` has two interaction methods: automatic and manual.

Automatic method iterates over scannable elements in sequence periodically. Once you press any key (or click on the screen) the focused scannable element is selected and scanner will iterate over scannable elements within it or delegate the event to the element if it doesn’t have any scannable children.

Manual method behavior is quite different. It iterates over scannable elements when the user presses space/tab keys and selects them if the user presses enter/backspace keys.

Even if you are in automatic or manual method, the user can deactivate scanner by pressing Escape four times.

## Cboard and react-scannable
Cboard uses react-scannable to implement scanner feature just to scan the entire board.

Users that use a switch to interact with applications can communicate as any other user does.

![switch](/images/switch.jpg)

This is very important because it allows handicapped people to interact with the board as usual.

## Why a npm package?
The idea behind react-scannable is to be open to the community, open sourced and free to use. You can download the source code from [Github](https://github.com/cboard-org/react-scannable) or the package from [npm registry](https://www.npmjs.com/package/react-scannable).

We want people to be involved in this, using react-scannable in their apps, extending the way their applications interacts with users.

We also encourage people to report the issues they have (and promote fixes to them if its possible), and of course, to develop new features (why not a new strategy/method).


Providing a new way of interacting between users and apps

Scanning feature is freed to the community

For the final two weeks of testing, we continued seeing patients from both Ciren and Eipan, but though we saw a few new patients, the majority of the visits were second sessions with previously seen patients. This was helpful in that the children were not as overwhelmed with new images, and were seeing Cboard for a second time (at least). We had created folders with few pictograms (so less visual stimulation) in order to determine whether their reactions and understanding changed from the initial visit. 

![Eipan](/images/eipam2.jpg) 

## User testing – weeks 3 and 4

Following the first two weeks, the initial obstacles the kids were encountering with Cboard of overstimulation due to having too many pictograms on the screen. The patients often had little to no practice with assistive augmentative communication (AAC), and the speech therapists suggested editing the pages to limit shown images. We also focused on understanding of the pictograms, and ability to communicate during an activity using these pictograms, rather than ability to navigate for instance. Since many of the patients were very young and had little to no experience with AAC, navigating would take time and practice, while understanding of pictograms and distinction of folder versus pictogram would be instant. 

We saw the 4 year old patient with neurodevelopmental delay mentioned in the first blog post a second time, but edited the folder in order to provide fewer pictograms. This patient was able to focus more on what was on the screen, and Cboard here served as a tool to facilitate playing. The game consisted of bathing and feeding a baby. The folders from Cboard used were  ‘food’ and ‘hygiene’ primarily. The second visit was easier because the patient was receptive to instructions, and able to focus for longer amount of time on the pictograms in front of her. In sum, Cboard, like any other online application or tool, became easier to use with practice and individual editing for this patient’s personal needs.

The other patients were saw also had an easier time with the edited folders, but had some of the same issues previously mentioned regarding the size of pictograms, and the placement of the back button as well as going back to the home page without pressing the ‘back’ button so many times. The second sessions with patients pointed out that practice made Cboard easier to use, but that adding the option to enlarge both the pictograms and navigation options will be necessary to continue developing the application.

![Eipan2](/images/eipan3.jpeg) 

## Overall feedback and last thoughts

We finished the initial user testing at Ciren and Eipan on August 28th . The feedback from the testing remains similar to the initial feedback from the first post: 

- Color schemes: to make sure the color scheme, particularly within the ‘animal’ folder is clear and allows patients to differentiate between animals. 

- Size settings: add an option within settings that would allow to enlarge pictograms, ‘back’ button, ‘erase’ and ‘backspace’ buttons. 

- Print letters: to make the print all uppercase writing rather that lowercase. 

- Folders: Add an ‘actions and verbs’ folder ( and include listen to music, dancing, singing).

- Copy and Paste pictograms: add an option to copy and past pictograms in order to be able to use the same one in many different locations. 

- Overall format: The speech therapists suggested it would be helpful and help the fluidity of the app to add a button to go straight back home and not have to press the back button many times in order to reach the home page. 

Some new feedback includes:

- Offline use: ability to navigate offline (with no connection to wifi). 

- Other features: possibility to add a game using the pictograms? 

In conclusion, the user testing conducted over the month of August has been successful in that the Cboard team now has enough feedback to begin editing and adding some of the suggestions from both the patients and the professionals. Cboard has gotten positive feedback ( the pictograms are clear, the format is simple and easy to use), but the most useful feedback has been the constructive criticism around what doesn’t work, and what elements of the application would be better if changed to take into account the different needs of patients and users.  Both Ciren and Eipan have been incredibly helpful and it is thanks to their cooperation that we were able to gain so much constructive feedback.



Cboard usability testing 2

In the weeks before beginning usability testing, we contacted three speech rehabilitation centers in central Buenos Aires, two of which replied they had eligible candidates and would participate in the testing. The first is Ciren (Centro Integral de Rehabilitación y Educación Neurológica), and the second Eipan (Equipo Interdisciplinario para la Atención del Niño con Alteraciones del Desarrollo). Both centers provide speech therapy, among other services, and work with children with a number of different diagnosis, including a large number with [cerebral palsy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebral_palsy) and neurodevelopmental delay.

![Eipan](/images/eipan.jpg)

## User testing – weeks 1 and 2
We began the first visits to the centers during the first week of August, meeting the professionals, explaining the goal of the testing, providing further information regarding Cboard and answering any possible questions they had. August 6th we began user testing. The 10 patients we have seen in the first two weeks are between 4 and 22 years old, most of them with cerebral palsy, and one with neurodevelopmental delay.

The first patient, a 4 year old with neurodevelopmental delay, was able to recognize the symbols clearly, and able to recognize folders and the general format of Cboard. The patient is able to speak, but has issues with focusing and overstimulation. Cboard would be an option for this patient, but would need to be edited in order to provide less so the patient can focus and formulate an idea.

Among the other patients, Cboard seemed like a good fit for a few of the older patients. One in particular stood out as a great candidate, a 22 year old with cerebral palsy, and previous to the testing had no experience with assistive augmentative communication ([AAC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augmentative_and_alternative_communication)). She has limited use of her hands and arms, but was able to use Cboard on a tablet. She was able to navigate, express her needs (was able to clearly express she was hungry and wanted to eat cake), as well as quickly understood how to go back, what the categories meant, and even expressed she enjoyed using Cboard. What was noted from her testing was that it would have been helpful for her if the ‘back’ button was larger, and the ‘family’ folder was confusing in that she did not understand the pictograms used to represent family members.

## Feedback
The overall positive feedback was that the pictograms are clear and understandable for the most part, and most understood the format and quickly knew how the application worked without too much explanation. The patients also enjoyed Cboard, and saw it as a game. Many of the younger patients (ages 4-6) enjoyed using the application to communicate what toy they wanted, and then get to play with the toy itself before continuing with Cboard (for example, pressing the pictogram of a ball and then getting handed a ball).

On the other hand, we have received a number to useful suggestions from the testing to work on:

- Color schemes: to make sure the color scheme, particularly within the ‘animal’ folder is clear and allows patients to differentiate between animals.
- Size settings: add an option within settings that would allow to enlarge pictograms, ‘back’ button, ‘erase’ and ‘backspace’ buttons.
- Print letters: to make the print all uppercase writing rather that lowercase.
- Folders: Add an ‘actions and verbs’ folder (and include ‘listen to music’, ‘dancing’, ‘singing’).
- Copy and Paste pictograms: add an option to copy and past pictograms in order to be able to use the same one in many different locations.
- Overall format: The speech therapists suggested it would be helpful and help the fluidity of the app to add a button to go straight back home and not have to press the back button many times in order to reach the home page.

## Plan for the next weeks
For the next weeks we have scheduled visits to both Centers with patients to continue testing Cboard (some of those already seen and some new patients). Most patient feedback has been uploaded to qtrial, where we’ll be able to have a broader picture of the overall feedback from patients. For some, a second session will be needed because the first was simply not enough to assess whether they understood Cboard or not. With many of the patients, Cboard was overwhelming due to the amount of pictograms displayed, but the aim within the next two weeks is to test the patients again, but edit their specific accounts to their personal needs.

We also plan on working with the speech therapists to see how to continue working on Cboard, and more specifically, how they would like the application to be. A few of them mentioned they would like to create within their accounts different folders with their patient’s names’ so that during their sessions, they can easily access these personalized tools.


Cboard usability testing

We at Cboard recently released a new and exiting feature: openboard support.
This is going to be as key piece in order to allow Cboard users a flexible platform that supports easy sharing and migration.

## What is Open Board Format?
Open Board Format, or OBF in short, is a specification for AAC communication boards, it describes the data and structure needed to represent a board, from the number of grid rows to buttons, images and more. It was created to allow boards to be portable between apps and shareable between people.

## Why support Open Board Format?
When we learned about Open Board Format, we didn’t need to think much, the benefits were obvious, everyone wins, the user, Cboard and the AAC eco-system (hopefully).
The user can migrate his boards to other applications and share boards with other people.
Cboard can incorporate publicly available third party boards, users can migrate to Cboard from other apps.
If more OBF compatible boards will be published online, boards will no longer be a key factor in deciding between AAC apps, it will force companies to focus more on improving software quality rather than content to gain a competitive edge.
 
## Software changes
To implement OBF import in Cboard we created an adapter function that takes an OBF object and outputs an object that Cboard can understand and render. The spec also defines a way to bundle boards as an .OBZ file which is essentially one or more .OBF files compressed via gzip. To support gzip we needed to add two new `npm` packages `jszip` and `jszip-utils`.

![Cboard](/images/app/import.png)

## What does it mean for Cboard users?
When exporting your board in Cboard `settings/export` screen, you will now have the option to export to Open Board Format. Click the `export` button and choose the `OpenBoard` menu item and save the file. Import functionality hasn’t changed.

![Cboard](/images/app/export.png)

## What the future holds?
We’re hoping that one day there will be a main repository that will offer Open Board Format compatible boards, a marketplace if you will, of boards that were created by professionals, sorted by categories rated by people and offered for free.


Cboard supports openboard standard

We were delighted recently to have the opportunity to [share on CSS-Tricks](https://css-tricks.com/a-browser-based-open-source-tool-for-alternative-communication/)! Check it out to learn more about how the open-source ecosystem and modern browser developments are making Cboard possible. We discuss the Web Speech API, React, the Internationalization API, and the “progressive web app” concept.

Cboard's tech stack


**Cboard** is a communication board for children and adults who cannot communicate using their voice. A communication board is essentially a grid with pictures or symbols that users can point at to express their needs and thoughts. There are [low-tech solutions](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnyv8h6J4rc) which do not need electricity and high-tech ones which can generate speech.

[![Cboard](/images/app/water-ipad-english.png)](https://github.com/cboard-org/cboard)

Cboard is a free and open-source AAC web application with support for text-to-speech. It was made for a wide range of speech and language impairments such as cerebral palsy, intellectual impairment and autism. It supports 33 languages and works on multiple devices. It comes with more than 3400 symbols from the [Mulberry Symbol Set](https://mulberrysymbols.org/) for creating personalized boards.

## Who needs it?

Commercial solutions can be expensive or have limited language support, this makes them inaccessible to many people in low-income countries.

> According to the World Health Organization, in many low-income countries only 5-15 percent of the people who need assistive technology are able to obtain it

Our goal was to make Cboard a solution that works for everyone, _everywhere_.
To accomplish this we used the web as our platform, it enabled us to provide Cboard on desktops, tablets and mobile phones running a modern browser. There is no installation process, no purchase, just follow [a link](https://app.cboard.io) and you’re good to go.

## Why open-source?

Cboard started as an open-source project with no budget, it relied (and still relies) on volunteers from around the world. Contributions and feedback from programmers, speech therapists and language translators, helped shape the project to its current state. The main advantage of being an open-source project is that everyone involved actually care, people contribute in their spare time and for no compensation, some identify with the project’s mission, some care about the technology stack, but **everyone care** and it shows.

## How it started

When I realised that some people may not be able to access such communication aids, I started investigating the feasibility of developing a free, multi-language web alternative. Luckily the web has evolved quite nicely over the last couple of years and now provides all the missing pieces to accomplish such fit, from [Speech Synthesis API](https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2017/02/experimenting-with-speechsynthesis/) to Service Workers, what was left is stitching the pieces together.

## With a little help from my friends

I wanted to find developers who would like to join the adventure, but where do I start? The app is being developed in React JS so I joined [Reactiflux](https://www.reactiflux.com/), a large community of React JS developers. There I found Akshat Gupta, who joined and helped with the initial heavy lifting. I emailed developers asking for help with the project, responses were nice! Some gave tips, some tweeted, [Aaron Gustafson](https://www.aaron-gustafson.com/about/) introduced me to [Amberley Romo](https://www.aaron-gustafson.com/notebook/my-2017-mentees/), an avid developer who joined the team. Martin Bedouret simply showed up on our [Discord Server](https://discord.gg/TEH8uxh) after he had learned about the project online and offered to help. Martin connected the project with [Cireha rehab center](http://www.cireha.com.ar/index.asp) in Argentine, which provides us with counseling and product requirements.

All of these people and [more](https://github.com/cboard-org/cboard/graphs/contributors) have a direct impact on the project’s success, for that I am ever thankful.

![Cireha](/images/cireha-group-outside.jpg)

## UNICEF FTW!

At this stage we had all the essentials for a good project, but to accelerate development we needed funding. This is where [UNICEF Innovation Fund](https://unicefinnovationfund.org/) came to play, after some months of development, we came to know about UNICEF call to fund for open-source AAC applications, we filled the forms and submitted Cboard. A few months later and a demo in between we’ve been told [we have been selected](http://unicefstories.org/2017/12/08/unicef-announces-addition-of-six-start-up-companies-to-2018-investment-portfolio/) for funding. This is huge for the project! and will impact the pace of development and overall quality of our product. We plan on hiring freelancers who will help with proofreading translations, programmers who will help with missing features. The application will continue to be offered for free and continue to be open-source.


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