As we pause to reflect on the year gone by, one thing stands out clearly, this was a defining year for Avaz.
It was a year of deep impact on the ground, meaningful progress in accessibility, and an exciting new chapter for our future. From classrooms to communities across continents, Avaz continued to do what it set out to do: support authentic communication for AAC users and the people around them.
And then came a milestone moment that reshaped what lies ahead.
A Defining Moment: Avaz Joins PRC-Saltillo
This year marked an important turning point in Avaz’s journey: Avaz was acquired by PRC-Saltillo, a global leader in AAC solutions.
This partnership brings together two organizations that share a common belief:
Everyone deserves a reliable, respectful, and empowering way to communicate.
For Avaz, this acquisition is not about changing who we are. It’s about strengthening what we do best, learning from a global AAC ecosystem, and expanding access to communication worldwide. Over the next year, we will be working closely with the PRC-Saltillo team to build strong synergies, thoughtfully, responsibly, and always with AAC users at the center.
Looking Back: What We Built Together
Making AAC More Accessible Through Language
Language access continued to be a key focus for Avaz this year.
We introduced Vietnamese and Bangla as default bilingual language offerings in Avaz, making it significantly easier for school districts to purchase and deploy AAC without additional customization or setup. This change reduced procurement friction and helped multilingual learners access AAC faster and more seamlessly in classroom settings.
At Avaz, we continue to believe that language should never be a barrier to communication, and this step was an important move toward that goal.
Privacy First by Design
This year, we made an important product decision rooted in trust and responsibility.
We rolled out an update to the Avaz Lifetime Edition (iOS) app that:
- Removed sign-up and login requirements
- Eliminated the collection of personally identifiable information (PII)
This update ensures that Avaz remains privacy-first by design, especially for children, families, and schools that rely on AAC in sensitive and high-stakes environments. Privacy is not an add-on for us. It is foundational to how we build.
Strengthening Access Through CSR in India
In India, partnerships continued to play a vital role in expanding access to AAC.
Through Karur Vysya Bank’s CSR initiative, 32 Avaz-loaded devices were provided to Sankalp School, Chennai. These devices are now being used by students with complex communication needs to support daily communication and classroom participation.
CSR collaborations like this help bridge access gaps and ensure that AAC reaches learners who may otherwise be left out.
Project Illuminate: Building AAC Capacity in Schools
Project Illuminate was launched with a clear goal: to help schools move beyond AAC awareness and toward meaningful, sustained AAC implementation.
The project brings together:
- Bajaj FinServ as the Supporting Partner
- AssisTech Foundation (ATF) as the Facilitation Partner
- Avaz Inc. as the Implementation Partner
Project Illuminate focused on equipping special schools with the skills, training, tools, and ongoing support needed to embed AAC meaningfully into classroom learning. By training educators, providing Avaz-enabled devices and licenses, and offering structured follow-ups, the project aims to build long-term capacity rather than one-time adoption.
The program is designed to impact over 600 students in the coming years, supporting non-speaking and minimally verbal learners in expressing themselves and participating more fully in school life.
ACAP Turns 10: Building the AAC Ecosystem
This year marked a milestone for ACAP (Avaz Certified AAC Professionals) as we graduated the 10th ACAP batch, also the largest batch to date.
Over the years, ACAP has grown into a strong professional learning pathway, supporting educators, therapists, and clinicians in building confidence and competence in AAC implementation. Reaching the 10th batch is a reflection of the growing need for structured AAC education and the community’s trust in this program.
This year also saw an Avaz user successfully use the app during the NIOS exam. As AAC training and adoption continue to grow, milestones like this further validate the real-world impact of these efforts.
Work in Progress: Building for the Future
Rethinking How AAC Languages Are Built
This year, we began working on a new approach to make the vocabulary creation process faster, more consistent, and more scalable, while maintaining the quality and cultural relevance that AAC users demand.
This effort is still a work in progress, and it will continue into the coming year as we build toward more sustainable and inclusive language expansion.
Rethinking AAC Adoption in India
Another key focus area is a deeper re-examination of AAC adoption in India, specifically through the lens of parents as primary stakeholders in AAC success.
This ongoing work involves:
- Understanding real-world barriers families face
- Reinforcing support models
- Designing solutions that are practical, scalable, and family-centric
This exploration will continue into the coming year.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Avaz
The year ahead is about integration, alignment, and intentional growth.
- We will spend the next year building strong synergies with PRC-Saltillo
- Continue investing in language access and inclusive design
- Deepen our work in schools, communities, and professional training
- Keep listening to AAC users, families, educators, and clinicians
Most importantly, we will continue to move forward with the same belief that started Avaz in the first place:
Communication is a right. And every voice matters.
Thank you for being part of this journey, and for helping us shape what comes next.
Avaz at ATIA 2026!
We are excited to participate in the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) event on January 29-31, 2026. Our team will be there, and we’d be delighted to chat, brainstorm, or just exchange ideas with you about the evolving AAC needs across life stages, user-centric design backed by research, and how we can make Avaz AAC even easier to adapt in classrooms.
Stay tuned for exciting updates on Instagram and Facebook.
Happy New Year!
