MySpeekie® enables children to think of a word or sentence, generate it using Phonemies®, and connect speech, print and meaning at the same time
MySpeekie® is the world's first AAC to use a phonetic keyboard that generates correctly spelled English words. Built on Ortho-GraphiX®, a new word-mapping algorithm, it overcomes the complexity of English's opaque orthography by bidirectionally mapping speech sounds and spellings.
Children enter the speech sounds in the word they want to communicate using either child-friendly Phonemies® or IPA symbols. Ortho-GraphiX® generates the correctly spelled English word instantly. Children do not need to read, spell or navigate symbol grids. Because every word is bidirectionally mapped between speech and print, the same technology also supports self-teaching of reading and spelling. This is Thought to Voice technology.
MySpeekie® uses Phonemies®, Phonetic Symbols for Kids, in a unique phonetic keyboard built on the Ortho-GraphiX® bidirectional word-mapping algorithm. It is believed to be the world’s first AAC to solve the challenge of English’s opaque orthography using a phonetic keyboard, enabling children to communicate any word they want, whether or not they can already read or spell. Because every word is bidirectionally mapped between speech and print, the same technology also supports self-teaching in reading and spelling.
We build word mapping technology that gets children curious about how spoken and written words connect, while reducing the load on parents and teachers.
As children explore words, adults are often learning about English orthography and how phonemes and graphemes connect alongside them.
The Speech Sound Monsters® (Phonemies®) motivate children to articulate isolated speech sounds while also showing the sound value of graphemes. By Showing the Code, they help children learn to read and spell with ease.
An easy way to learn the Phonemies and the Core Code is to use the Monster Spelling Piano app!
Why MySpeekie® is different from a conventional AAC keyboard
AssistiveWare explains that Proloquo2Go does not have a phonetic keyboard because English is not phonetic. They argue that a phonetic keyboard oversimplifies the alphabet, as one letter can represent different sounds and one sound can be represented by different spellings.
That is exactly the problem MySpeekie® was built to solve.
MySpeekie® does not use a simple one-sound, one-letter keyboard. It uses Phonemies®, Phonetic Symbols for Kids, in a phonetic keyboard powered by the Ortho-GraphiX® bidirectional word-mapping algorithm. Ortho-GraphiX® understands the many-to-many relationships between phonemes and graphemes in English.
AssistiveWare also says phonetic keyboards may support very early spelling attempts but can interfere once children move beyond simple CVC words.
MySpeekie® works differently. Children are not producing phonetic spellings. They enter speech sounds, and MySpeekie® generates the correctly spelled English word. That means the phonetic keyboard is not replacing English spelling. It is revealing the link between speech and print.
AssistiveWare recommends teaching phonics and word study separately, while using standard A-Z or QWERTY keyboards in Proloquo2Go.
MySpeekie® brings communication, word mapping, spelling and literacy support into one system. Children can communicate any word they want, whether or not they can already read or spell. Because every word is bidirectionally mapped between speech and print, the same technology also supports self-teaching of reading and spelling.
In short: AssistiveWare is right that a simple phonetic keyboard cannot solve English spelling. MySpeekie® is different because it is not simple. It is powered by Ortho-GraphiX®, designed specifically to solve the challenge of English’s opaque orthography. So it can be used as an AAC, to turn thoughts into voice, but it can also be used to guide children to self-teach phonics or spelling.
See how it is used to support bidrectional word mapping throughout the day on SpeechSoundPics.com The Phonemies are introduced to children in the Reception / Prep classroom within the Ten Day Speech Sound Play Plan.
MyWordz® with MySpeekie® technology, developed by The Reading Hut Ltd and Emma Hartnell-Baker MEd SEN, was supported through the Innovate UK Unlocking Potential Award 2024/ 2025 and is being further developed through Innovate UK Women in Innovation 2026/ 2027.