Sibling's Voices

Why I Created the PECS App for My Brother?

 

Growing up with a brother who has severe autism, I often watched him struggle to communicate his needs.

We tried different PECS apps, but many were too complicated, too bright, or too expensive.

Some didn’t even show how many times he used certain words, making it hard to know what he needed most.As his sibling, I wanted to help in any way I could.

That’s why I decided to design a PECS app myself—one that was simple, sensory-friendly, affordable, and motivating.

I added features like a reward screen with growing fish to make the experience fun, usage statistics to track the most-used words, and a “Most Used” category for easy access.Creating this app was more than a project—it was my way of making communication easier for my brother and kids like him.

This journey taught me not only about design but also about empathy, problem-solving, and the power of persistence.

This app is now available on the App Store, and I hope it can help many families of individuals with autism communicate more easily and meaningfully.

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