Autism Agent
Complete guide

Autism Agent tutorial

Scroll the guide — the live preview follows along. Or jump to any step below.

Install & setup Speak mode Quick Words Sentences Keyboard Admin Control Panel Family sharing Viewer device Tips

Pick an agent name, load starter cards, choose device role.

App screenshots

Click any screen to enlarge. The same gallery appears on the home page demo.

1. Install and first-time setup

  1. Download the app

    Install Autism Agent from the App Store on the caregiver's iPhone or iPad when it launches. Core AAC features will be free — no account required to start.

  2. Complete agent setup

    On first launch you pick an agent name and emoji. This is the friendly identity on the Speak screen — it helps some kids feel ownership of the board. You can change the emoji later by tapping it on the Speak screen.

  3. Starter cards load automatically

    128 common words with pictograms appear right away (Yes, No, More, Help, food, feelings, places, and more). Swap in your own photos anytime from Admin.

  4. Choose device role

    In Control Panel → Device Role, pick Manages cards on the parent's device. Pick Viewer only on a child's device when you only want read-only access to shared cards.

2. Speak mode — say one word

The main screen is calm and distraction-free. This is what the person communicating uses day to day.

  1. Tap a picture

    Each card speaks its label instantly. Great for single words: Yes, No, More, Help, or any custom photo you add.

  2. Filter by category

    Scroll the category chips above the grid — People, Food, Feelings, Places, and others. Tap All to see every card again.

  3. Partner line (optional)

    When enabled in Control Panel, the last spoken word appears under the agent bar. Tap it to hear it again or jump into editing.

Speak screen with picture cards
Speak screen — tap any card to hear it.
Quick Words row pinned above the card grid
Quick Words — always visible for fast access.

3. Quick Words

The row above the grid keeps your most-used words one tap away.

  1. Default pins

    Yes, No, More, Help, and other core words pin automatically the first time cards load.

  2. Pin a card

    On the caregiver device, drag any card up into the Quick Words row. Drop it on the row to pin.

  3. Unpin a card

    Drag a pinned card back down onto the grid to remove it from Quick Words.

  4. Empty row stays visible

    If you clear every pin, the row remains so you can always drag new words in — it never disappears.

4. Build a sentence

Combine words into full messages before speaking.

  1. Switch mode

    On the mode bar, choose Build a sentence (instead of Say one word).

  2. Add words

    Tap picture cards to add chips to the sentence bar — for example I → want → juice. Each tap adds to the message without speaking the full sentence yet.

  3. Speak the sentence

    When the message is ready, tap Speak. The full phrase is read aloud, then the bar clears for the next message.

  4. Edit chips

    Tap a chip to remove it or change it. Use Clear to start over.

Sentence mode with word chips in the bar
Sentence mode — combine cards, then Speak.
Alphabet keyboard with word prediction in sentence mode
Keyboard — spell words with prediction.

5. Keyboard and spelling

Type words that are not on the board — names, places, or anything new.

  1. Open the keyboard

    Tap the keyboard icon on the mode bar (or tap the sentence bar). Picture cards hide and the alphabet board appears.

  2. Letter-by-letter spelling

    Tap letters to spell. Highlighted keys show likely next letters. Word suggestions appear above the board — tap one to finish a word.

  3. In sentence mode

    Typed words join the sentence draft at the cursor. Tap the draft field to move the cursor, then keep spelling below.

  4. Return to pictures

    Tap the picture icon on the mode bar to show cards again. Keyboard edits save back to sentence chips automatically.

6. Admin — manage cards

Admin is hidden on purpose so the board stays safe. Only caregivers can open it.

  1. Open Admin

    Long-press the gear icon on the Speak screen (a normal tap does nothing). Authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or device passcode.

  2. Add a card

    Tap +. Choose a photo from your library or camera, enter the spoken label, and pick a category. Real photos of family and routines work best.

  3. Edit or delete

    Tap a card to edit its label, photo, or category. Swipe to delete cards you no longer need.

  4. Categories

    Create categories that match your child's world — school, therapists, favorite foods, daily routines.

  5. Share (Plus)

    With Autism Agent Plus, tap Share in Admin to send a family invite link. Manage participants from the same screen.

Admin screen for managing communication cards
Admin — add photos and organize the board.

7. Control Panel

Open Admin, then tap the sliders icon for voice, display, and device settings.

Voice

Pick a system voice, speech rate, and pitch. Use Test voice before handing the device back.

Display

Adjust grid tile size, calm theme, and student-safe mode for a simpler board without agent decorations.

Behavior

Toggle speak-on-launch greeting, partner line, sentence sound effects, and sort-by-most-used.

Starter cards

Reload the full starter catalog or remove all starter cards for a blank slate. Quick Words re-pin after reload.

iCloud & Plus

Subscribe to Autism Agent Plus for backup and sync. After subscribing, fully close and reopen the app to start iCloud sync.

Rebuild from iCloud

If cards look wrong after reinstall, use rebuild to pull your library back from iCloud (Plus required).

Autism Agent Plus subscription screen
Autism Agent Plus — iCloud backup, sync, and family sharing ($1.99/mo).

8. Family sharing (Autism Agent Plus)

Plus ($1.99/month) backs up custom cards and photos to your private iCloud, syncs across your devices, and shares read-only with family on their own Apple ID.

  1. Subscribe on the caregiver device

    Control Panel → Autism Agent Plus. Confirm the subscription, then force-quit and reopen the app so iCloud sync starts.

  2. Send the share link

    Admin → Share → send via Messages, Mail, or any app. You can stop sharing or manage participants later from Admin.

  3. Accept on another device

    The family member installs Autism Agent, signs into their Apple ID, and opens the link. Cards appear read-only — they cannot edit your library.

  4. New cards sync automatically

    Cards you add on the caregiver phone appear on viewer devices without sending a new link.

  5. After reinstall

    Sign into the same Apple ID, subscribe to Plus if needed, and open the original share link again if cards do not reattach automatically. See Support FAQ for rebuild steps.

9. Viewer-only device (child's phone)

  1. Set device role

    During setup or in Control Panel, choose Viewer only. Admin and card editing are hidden.

  2. Accept the share link

    Open the invite while signed into the child's Apple ID. Only shared cards appear on the Speak screen.

  3. Same Speak experience

    Tap-to-speak, sentences, keyboard, and categories work the same — just without management tools.

Two-device setup at a glance

Parent phone — Manages cards, adds photos, sends share link, Control Panel access.

Child phone — Viewer only, read-only board, no Admin.

Your iPad — Can be either role; set Device Role per device.

10. Tips and troubleshooting

  • Long-press the gear — a quick tap never opens Admin; this keeps kids from changing the board.
  • Use real photos — faces, foods, and places the child knows beat generic pictograms for daily use.
  • Student-safe mode — hides space-themed chrome for a calmer, school-friendly board.
  • Quick Words after reload — reloading starter cards re-pins core words automatically.
  • Plus lapsed — your board stays in iCloud; resubscribe to sync again.
  • Need help? — see the Support FAQ or email support@katoomi.com.
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