QuickTalker Freestyle device for effective communication and accessibility support.
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ableFamilies in Real Life:

Meet April and Aiden

A joyful able family portrait showcasing togetherness and love in 2023.

Welcome to ableFamilies in Real Life, a series that celebrates the real moments, milestones, and families behind every QuickTalker Freestyle® speech device journey. Today, we’re thrilled to introduce April and her ten-year-old son, Aiden, from West Virginia. Just one month in, this busy family of seven is already feeling the difference that being understood can make.

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All About Aiden

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Aiden is ten years old and the middle child in a household full of energy. He has two older brothers, Layton (15) and Kasey (14), and two younger ones, Maverick (6) and Houston (3). The family is deeply rooted in faith and community, with a love of baseball and a spirit of showing up for others. When communication got hard for Aiden, his family didn’t look for a workaround. They looked for a solution, and they found it in the QuickTalker Freestyle.
Smiling boy with a baseball glove, ready for fun family sports moments.

Always an Answer

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In the Hale household, the QuickTalker Freestyle has become a natural part of the rhythm of daily life. April describes their approach simply: “We just make it a daily routine.” Whenever Aiden finds it hard to get his words across, the device is there, a reliable bridge between what he wants to say and the family ready to hear it.

Before the QuickTalker Freestyle, those moments of being misunderstood could lead to real frustration. Now? April says it has “changed our family drastically because we’re actually able to understand him and communicate with him.” For a family of seven moving at full speed, that clarity means everything.

April’s advice to other families just starting out is honest and encouraging: “It’s definitely going to take a minute trying to learn about the loops and the tricks of the app, but it’s so worth it.” That’s the kind of real-talk wisdom that only comes from living it.

The Smile That Said Everything

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Some moments you just don’t forget. For April, it was the look on Aiden’s face the first time he figured out the device on his own. “He smiled from ear to ear,” she says, “because he didn’t have to get frustrated anymore. We understood him.”

That smile is the whole story. Not just the relief of being heard, but the joy of knowing it’s possible. For Aiden, that moment marked something new: a way forward where the words would come, and his family would be right there to receive them.

Growing Together

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The Hale family lives by a motto that fits their AAC journey as much as it fits everything else they face together: “When the times get hard, don’t give up. If you can’t do something, don’t give up. There is always an answer.” They found their answer. And they’re not looking back.

Share Your Journey or Connect with Us

Stay tuned for more real-life stories from ableFamilies across the country. Want to share your family’s journey or have a question? Our Parent Enthusiasts are here for you. You can also explore more resources, guidance, and community connections on our SupportHub. 

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