In its push to make speech development for children diagnosed with Autism more accessible, Mylo Speech Buddy was unveiled on World Autism Awareness Day (April 2), where it pioneers a Speech Development System that employs a video modeling method.
The Mylo Speech Buddy app also provides clear enunciation guidance for parents, fostering speech development from the comfort of their homes. The app was made in collaboration with speech pathologists, occupational therapists, and medical professionals who prioritize the unique needs of individuals within the autism spectrum. Its team is composed of parents who have personal experience raising children with ASD, coupled with extensive expertise in content development for preschool and special education.
“Mylo Speech Buddy is a powerful platform that enables parents to actively support their child’s speech development right at home. It enhances and works alongside the valuable contributions of speech therapists and medical professionals, adding to a holistic approach to speech development rather than substituting professional care,” President and CEO Vincent said during the launch.
“As a parent of a child with autism, I draw inspiration from the challenges my son, Noah, faced when diagnosed at the age of two,” Rocha explained. “Our mission is to bolster individuals with autism in developing verbal abilities and to foster genuine support within the autism community.”
Autism is a global condition affecting approximately 1% or 75 million individuals worldwide. In the Philippines, around 1.2 million cases of ASD are reported and approximately one in 100 children is diagnosed with autism. This underscores the scarcity of accessible and affordable occupational and speech therapy services for Filipino parents with children diagnosed with ASD.
Aside from the app, Mylo Speech Buddy has a series of videos titled “Ausome Stories” that feature 10 real-life families with members on the autism spectrum, showing glimpse into their daily lives, challenges, journeys, instances of happiness, along with the stereotypes and societal judgments they encounter. Check out the videos here:
“Ausome Stories allows us to share the diverse experiences of individuals with autism, celebrating their strengths and achievements,” Rocha adds.
