CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — For children with speech delays or disabilities, communicating through standard apps can be difficult when the images and voices do not reflect their daily lives.
An app developed in Iligan City aims to change that.
Pic-A-Talk, a homegrown communication app, lets children use familiar photos, voices and words from their own homes to express what they need and want.
Founder Uma Roa said the app was designed to avoid a one-size-fits-all approach to communication.
“We didn't want to force everyone into one visual language when the whole point is meeting people where they are,” Roa said.
Familiar faces, places and things
Unlike apps that rely mainly on generic cartoons or stock images, Pic-A-Talk allows families to upload photos from their phones.
A child can tap a photo of a favorite food, family member or pet to communicate.
Roa said personalization is at the heart of the app because every child has different people, surroundings and experiences.
The app also has a lock feature that prevents children from accidentally changing its settings while using it.
Works even without internet
For families in areas with unreliable internet connections, Pic-A-Talk can operate offline once it is set up.
Roa said this feature is particularly important in the Philippines, where connectivity can be limited in some communities.
“A person's voice shouldn't depend on their signal,” she said.
The app also addresses language differences by allowing parents, teachers and guardians to record their own audio.
While standard Tagalog voice options are available, families can record words using the language or dialect spoken at home, helping children hear familiar and accurate pronunciation.
Linking home and school
Pic-A-Talk also features Teacher Mode, which helps parents and educators use the same vocabulary at home and in school.
The goal is to ensure that communication skills practiced during therapy or special education classes can also be used in everyday situations at home.
Roa said the feature helps keep learning consistent across different environments.
From Iligan to ASEAN
Developed with input from speech pathologists and SPED teachers and supported by the Department of Science and Technology, Pic-A-Talk is now preparing to expand beyond the Philippines.
The Iligan-built app is eyeing Singapore as its first step toward the ASEAN market, bringing a locally developed assistive technology solution to a wider audience of children and families who need more personalized ways to communicate.
