Our Story

Founded by Cindy and Dave Smith (parents), in partnership with Kim French, a speech-language pathologist specializing in Gestalt Language Processing (GLP), My Speech Balloon started as a pasion project.

Our son, Liam, is our inspiration and our teacher. Liam is autistic with minimal speech. For a long time, we searched for ways to support his communication, trying approaches that didn’t always feel aligned with how he experienced the world.

When we began working with Kim, we discovered something that shifted everything: Liam may be a Gestalt Language Processor (GLP).

Instead of building language one single word at a time, he was learning in meaningful phrases, scripts, and songs. He wasn’t “behind.” He was processing language in his own valid and natural way.

We noticed very little content was intentionally created for GLPs. So we decided to build what we couldn't find!

My Speech Balloon‍
Is a play-based app designed specifically for GLPs. Every feature is thoughtfully created to model rich, meaningful phrases - because that's how GLPs naturally acquire language. Expanding their inventory of phrases is the first step to help move from scripting towards self-generated speech.
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Our Values
‍Connection First, Always
Our app is not a replacement for parent-child interaction — it’s a bridge between those moments. Designed to reinforce phrases modeled in real-life experiences. It also provides models for adults to use in their everyday life to carry over and reinforce online learning into real life.

Neurodiversity Affirming & Multimodal Communication
We celebrate Gestalt Language Processing as a natural, valid path to communication. Scripting, echolalia, and songs are all legitimate ways to communicate.

Presumed Competence
We hold the foundational belief that all individuals, regardless of verbal ability or behavior, possess intelligence, the capacity to learn, and the right to communicate. Minimally-speaking does not mean minimally understanding.

Meet Them Where They Are
‍Today’s reality: apps and games are a part of all our lives and they aren’t going anywhere. GLPs are no different. They are already engaging with and scripting phrases from various forms of media. My Speech Balloon meets them where they are, while providing learning and developmental opportunities designed specifically for them (but disguised as fun)!
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Our Story

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