AsTeRICS Grid
Last updated: 21/05/2025
AsTeRICS AAC is a free and open source tool for AAC. Main features: platform-independent (iOS, Android, macOS, Linux, Windows) works offline with optional cloud synchronization (e.g. PC ↔ smartphone) flexible simple to complex layouts free AAC symbols integrated (e.g. ARASAAC) supports multiple options to support access (e.g. touchscreen, switches, etc.) customizable keyboards with word prediction media access (e.g. web-radio, YouTube) can be printed (export to PDF) multilingual: content and app translatable (Google translate) digital voices in many languages environmental control (e.g. Shelly plugs) grammatical support e.g. word forms (e.g. plural, conjugations, etc.) free for everyone open source (i.e. can be modified by users or other developers. Contact provider)
How to access the resource:
https://grid.asterics.eu
General
Languages
Afrikaans, Akan, Albanian, Arabic, Basque, Bengali, Bosnian, British Sign Language, Bulgarian, Cantonese Chinese, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Faroese, French, German, Greek, Gujarati, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Kurdish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Malayalam, Maltese, Mandarin, Mandarin Chinese, Montenegrin, Nepalese, Norwegian, Pakistani Pahari, Panjabi, Pashto, Persian or Farsi, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Sinhala, Slovak, Somali, Spanish, Swedish, Tagalog or Filipino, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, Tigrinya, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, US English, US Spanish, Vietnamese, Welsh, Zulu, English
Does this vocabulary cost to access?
Free
Format
Both electronic and paper-based
Translation Method
A mixture: Translation app for some languages, fluent speakers for others where available (e.g. German, Spanish).
Supplier
Software Required
AsTeRICS Grid
Text To Speech
Are voices available in the same language(s) as the vocabulary?
Yes
What voices are available?
Male adult, Female adult
Does the system need internet access for the voice to run?
No
Vocabulary
Is the settings/software menu available in the same language(s) as the vocabulary?
Yes
Does the package support code switching (speaking two or more languages within one sentence/message bar)?
No
Can the user switch between languages while staying in the vocabulary package? (E.g via a link on the home page or tool bar etc)
Yes
When the vocabulary was created what features of the language were considered?
AsTeRICS Grid is not a vocabulary, but an app which can be translated into alternative languages.
Is it a Text-only or Symbol + Text vocabulary?
Symbol + Text
Text Only
What keyboards are available?
Just English keyboard
Is there word prediction?
No
Is there sentence prediction? (the system will guess which words you are likely to need next)
No
Is there a bank of prestored phrases?
No
Can the bank of prestored phrases be edited with the users own phrases?
No
Is there the option for symbol support on the text?
No
Is there a translation function available?
No
Symbol + Text
Are there written labels on the cells as well as symbols?
Yes
Is it possible to have two labels on the cell with the symbol?
No
Is it possible to add written labels to the cells?
Yes
Is it possible to have symbol-only page sets? (i.e no written labels)
No
Is there a keyboard available?
Yes
What keyboards are available?
Keyboards in both the language(s) of the vocabulary and English (e.g. an Urdu vocabulary has both an Urdu keyboard and an English keyboard)
Is there a search function/word finder?
Yes
Can you change the skin tone of symbols?
Yes
Can the vocabulary content be personalised for the individual?
Yes
What level of language ability does this package support? (pick the best fit category)
One word or prestored message at a time (this could include a prestored message that says “I need a drink” but would not offer the flexibility to change the message to “I need juice”) Combining sentence starters with endings (this could be e.g. a Food page that has some sentence starters, “I want to eat…” “I don’t like…” and a word bank to complete the sentence) Combining several words together to make sentences, but not necessarily grammatically correct.
What topics of conversation does the system support? (choose the best fit category)
Wide range of topics including school topics (children) work/ daily living related vocabulary (adults) and common hobbies/ interests, cultural/ religious practices
Is there a translation function available?
Yes
Related Resources
View All >Resources available in Afrikaans, Akan, Albanian, Arabic, Basque, Bengali, Bosnian, British Sign Language, Bulgarian, Cantonese Chinese, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Faroese, French, German, Greek, Gujarati, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Kurdish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Malayalam, Maltese, Mandarin, Mandarin Chinese, Montenegrin, Nepalese, Norwegian, Pakistani Pahari, Panjabi, Pashto, Persian or Farsi, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Sinhala, Slovak, Somali, Spanish, Swedish, Tagalog or Filipino, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, Tigrinya, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, US English, US Spanish, Vietnamese, Welsh, Zulu, and English
FAQs
Answering common queries and concerns.