Overcoming Challenges in Speech with AAC w/ Smartbox CEO Dougal Hawes

Speech is something many of us take for granted, but for millions in the disability community, it can be a daily source of struggle and frustration.

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) tools, such as sign language, are essential for those with speech disabilities to communicate.

What if technology could help give a voice to those in need?

In this episode of HealthBiz Briefs, Dougal Hawes, CEO of Smartbox Assistive Technology, explores how their AAC technology is empowering individuals with speech difficulties to communicate and live more independently.

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/caretalk and get on your way to being your best self.

As a BetterHelp affiliate, we may receive compensation from BetterHelp if you purchase products or services through the links provided.

🎙️⚕️ABOUT CARETALK
CareTalk is a weekly podcast that provides an incisive, no B.S. view of the US healthcare industry. Join co-hosts John Driscoll (President U.S. Healthcare and EVP, Walgreens Boots Alliance) and David Williams (President, Health Business Group) as they debate the latest in US healthcare news, business and policy.

🎙️⚕️ABOUT DOUGAL HAWES
Dougal Hawes brings extensive experience in business development and strategic partnerships across multiple roles and organizations. He began his career in 2007 as a Senior Corporate Partnerships Executive at Prostate Cancer UK before joining Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity in 2009 as an Account Manager for Corporate Partnerships, where he successfully raised over £1 million for key initiatives. Since 2010, Dougal has been with Smartbox Assistive Technology, starting as Managing Director and now serving as Group CEO. In his current role, he leads business growth by driving marketing strategies, launching products, and expanding partnerships with resellers worldwide. His proven track record highlights a strong ability to deliver impactful results and foster strategic growth.

🎙️⚕️ABOUT SMARTBOX
Smartbox Assistive Technology is dedicated to creating innovative solutions that empower people with disabilities to communicate and live more independently. With a focus on developing accessible software, hardware, and tools, Smartbox provides life-changing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technology to individuals around the world. Committed to improving lives, the Smartbox team works closely with users, families, and professionals to deliver personalized, high-quality products that help people express themselves and connect with others.

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Transcript

0:00

Many people with disabilities have difficulty speaking and they need help to communicate and achieve independence. So how can technology help? For some people, wrapping up in a blanket with a mug of hot chocolate or luxuriating in a hot tub with their family is the best way to spend the month of December. But for others, it's making a list for Santa Claus or dreaming up New Year's predictions. Now, speaking of comfort, therapy is a great way to bring yourself peace that never goes away, even when the season changes. While BetterHelp offers entirely online therapy, it's designed to be convenient, flexible, and tailored to fit your schedule. You just fill out a brief questionnaire and get matched with a licensed therapist and you can switch therapists at any time for no additional charge. It's really helpful for learning positive coping skills and how to set boundaries and it empowers you to be the very best version of yourself. So whether you're dealing with stress, anxiety, or just seeking personal growth, BetterHelp connects you with a licensed therapist who can support you on your mental health journey. Make it a great season with BetterHelp. and visit betterhelp.com slash caretalk to get 10 % off your first month. That's betterhelp, H-E-L-P dot com slash caretalk. Welcome to Health Biz Briefs. I'm David Williams, president of Health Business Group here with Dougal Hawes. He is group CEO of SmartBox Assistive Technology, which enables communication and independence for those who experience difficulty with speech. Welcome, Dougal. Well, thank you very much. So what is augmentative and alternative communication, otherwise known as AAC? And how many people would benefit from it if they had it available? Yeah. So AAC is the phrase, as you say, augmentative and alternative communication that refers to the solutions people might use if they have challenges with their communication. And that ranges from anything from sign language or using a pen and paper or a letter board, spelling board, something like that. Right after what we specialize in, is high tech solutions, which where you're using an adapted computer, essentially running specialist software that enables people to communicate if they're unable to speak or they choose not to speak. Got it. And what sort of solutions are there out there today? And to what degree are they serving the needs? Because the needs are pretty complex and varied, as I have understood it. Yeah, absolutely. So we have a way of seeing this where it's ultimately everyone has a very unique set of needs, everyone that we work with, depending on their condition and how it presents. So we need tools that are really customizable and can be adapted to meet the needs of the individual. People might be born with a disability and they also born without literacy and language skills. So you've got to provide a solution for that. Or it might be an acquired disability that might mean physical access is the big challenge or word finding, order of words if you're suffering from aphasia, something like that. So it's really varied who we'd work with and how we would help them. And just to refer to your earlier point about the need, so globally it's estimated 50 million people would benefit from AAC today and of those 50 million, very few, like less than 2 % are currently being provided for. So what do you see changing over the next few years? I mean, there's obviously a lot happening with technology, maybe awareness of disabilities. What's going to happen? We're going to get beyond 2 % and are the technologies going to evolve? Yeah, we're definitely going get beyond 2 % because I think we've made it our mission to do so. And I think we are seeing many signs that awareness and understanding of AAC is increasing all the time. In fact, just in the last week, there's a new film on Disney Plus called Out of My Mind, which is all about a young girl growing up in the 90s who uses AAC. She has cerebral palsy and uses AAC and stuff, all about her journey of using that technology. awareness is crucial for us. But of course, the better the technology, the better it works, the more people that will use it. So advances in AI, advances in voice technology. and the core platform we're using, everything is improving rapidly. And the better it gets, the more people will accept it and want it. And the more we will be equipped to solve this big global problem. want to ask you a question. A lot of our people who listen to the podcast are just listening to it. But some people are also watching it. And I noticed your background looks kind of interesting. And I wonder if there's anything behind it, so to speak. Yeah, that's a question. So we asked a local artist to come in and create a mural for us here in our office. And the two things we wanted in it were coffee, because we're kind of fueled by coffee. And you can see the device there. That's kind of an artist's impression of an AAC device, which looks a lot like an iPad. So yeah, was kind of two people communicating, drinking coffee. And that's kind of an artistic reflection of what we do here in our offices. Very nice. Well, that's it for the latest Health Biz Brief. If you like what you hear, check out my Health Biz Podcast for a full-length interview with Dougal about his life and career. Dougal Hawes, Group CEO of Smartbox Assistive Technologies, thanks for joining me on Health Biz Briefs. Thank you very much.