Before You Open the App: Account and Backup Setup 

Before opening your speech app, we recommend setting up your Dropbox account right away so you are ready to back up any personalizations to the app.

1. Go to the Utilities folder on the Home screen of the device
2. Open Dropbox
3. Create a free basic account

Opening the App for the First Time

When you first open the app, you’ll see a 120-button grid. This can feel a bit overwhelming at first — and that’s completely normal! The large grid is designed this way intentionally.

One of the biggest advantages of this setup is that a large amount of vocabulary is available right away. The app includes over 14,000 words, and most are only one or two taps away, making communication fast and accessible from the start. There’s no need to build everything from scratch — it’s ready to use the moment you open it.

During the initial launch, the app may prompt you to register. Since there is no Safari browser available on the device, simply tap No and complete the registration later if needed.

For a more in-depth walkthrough, see Speak for Yourself Tutorials
For guidance on a key navigation feature, see How to Use Open/Close

Exploring Vocabulary and Finding Words

Start exploring your vocabulary by browsing folders and pages. Use the Word Finder to quickly locate where words live within the system.

To access Word Finder:

1. Locate the magnifying glass icon in the top-left corner of the screen
2. Tap the magnifying glass icon
3. Type the word you are looking for
4. Tap the word and it will guide you to its icon

For a walkthrough of the Word Finder, see Speak for Yourself Word Finder Tutorial

Basic Customization: Making the App Personal

Begin simple customizations to better reflect the communicator’s needs and preferences.

How to Add or Edit Buttons

1. Tap Edit
2. Tap the blank button you’d like to customize
3. Tap Add Image
4. Browse images within the Speak for Yourself app, or tap Image Options to choose between Take Photo or Choose Photo
5. Select the image you want
6. Type the word or message you want the button to say under Word to Speak
7. Tap Done

For a detailed walkthrough, see How to Add or Edit Buttons in Speak for Yourself