Mada Tawasol Symbols & Mobile App

Symbols in general can be read, regardless of the person's language or literacy skills. Therefore, people with communication difficulties may benefit from using symbols to communicate, express their needs and to access education. Various types of AAC system can aid and assist people with disability who particularly have speech and language impairments by providing alternative means of communication using symbols. This will contribute to improving their quality of life. Nevertheless, there are ongoing obstacles facing the Arab region as the result of minimal numbers of Arabic symbols available and the dependency on already developed symbols from the other regions, particularly Europe and America. Therefore, endorsement and the positive effect of using AAC have been inadequate in the practice. The project Tawasol Symbols aimed at this challenge with a free selection of symbols that is culturally, socially, religiously and linguistically acceptable. Mada made available free of charge bilingual Arabic/English symbol dictionary of commonly used words in spoken and written communication embodied by pictures and pictograms. Tawasol was based on the Arasaac Symbols Collection. Symbols can be modified to meet the needs of other language, communities and needs. Tawasol symbols and later devolved Tawasol App cater to people who are non-verbal or minimally verbal, particularly children with autism who require an alternative communication solution. Through natural speech and capacity to build sentences in Arabic using a large set of symbols, Tawasol AAC App provides an excellent assistive technology solution for people with disability in Qatar and Arab region.