Payton Gao
$250. That's how much my family spent on a speech application for my brother called "Proloquo". The app is a necessity for thousands of autistic kids like my brother, many of whom are nonverbal and struggle to communicate clearly. But is it worth the price tag?
Proloquo's User Friendly Interface: Upon opening the app, there are pictures associated with different words, adverbs, and pronouns as well as folders for more words and categories. The app is customizable and includes a keyboard for words not found in the presets. By clicking different buttons, individuals can assemble different sentences to be spoken out loud. The app is essential for my brother, as it allows him to express his needs and desires, something he would otherwise be unable to do.
Curious about reimbursement policies for mental disability services, I began to explore more options. $250, after all, is an expensive price tag. An article by autismnj.org states that because of the "Medicaid EPSDT Benefit, NJ FamilyCare must cover all medically necessary ABA, occupational, physical and speech therapies for beneficiaries under the age of 21." Other organizations, such as Autism New Jersey and Autism Care Today, also provide small grants to families to assist in support purchases. Other government programs, like Medicare, provide general insurance coverage. However, I couldn't find specific information about legislation on speech assistance service funding. New legislation could increase the affordability of the product. Simultaneously, more competition in the form of other companies developing these kinds of products could do the same.
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