Picture first
Children tap familiar pictures rather than typing. Reading is not required to be heard.
A voice for children who communicate differently
Tap the tiles. Hear the words.
Some children understand far more than they can say out loud. Mau lets them choose pictures, build a sentence, and have it spoken for them, so they can be understood by the people around them.
Free during the trial period. Works offline once installed. Coming soon.
Try it: build a sentence, then press Speak
What Mau is
Communication that fits in a pocket
Mau is an AAC app. AAC stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication: any tool that supports a person who cannot rely on speech alone. Instead of expensive dedicated devices, Mau turns an ordinary phone or tablet into a communication board a child can carry everywhere.
Spoken aloud
Tap words, press Speak, and the sentence is read out so caregivers, teachers and friends understand.
Works offline
Once installed, Mau keeps working without internet and without using mobile data.
How it works
Three taps from thought to voice
Choose the words
The child selects pictures from a board organised by category and colour, laid out for small fingers.
Build the sentence
Each choice lines up along the top so the whole message is visible before it is spoken.
Be heard
One press reads the sentence aloud. The child has said what they meant, in their own order.
Why the tiles are coloured
A colour for every kind of word
Words are grouped by colour so children learn where to look before they can read. This system is called the Fitzgerald Key, and it is used in classrooms and speech therapy around the world. Over time, the colours become a map: a child reaches for the green area when they want an action, the orange area when they want a thing.
People and pronouns
Actions
Things
Describing words
Position words
Questions
No and stop
Built for home
The languages children actually hear
A communication tool only works if it speaks the family's language. Mau is built for Zambian homes and classrooms first, with words and symbols drawn from local life rather than borrowed from elsewhere.
EnglishHelloWidely used in schools
BembaMuli shaniNorthern and Copperbelt
NyanjaMuli bwanjiLusaka and Eastern
TongaMwabuka butiSouthern Province
Who it helps
Made with families and teachers in mind
Children
Young ones who are non-speaking or minimally speaking, including autistic children and children with developmental delays.
Parents and carers
A calm, no-clutter tool for daily routines, so a child can ask, refuse and share without frustration boiling over.
Teachers and therapists
Speech and language work that continues outside the session, on a device the family already owns.
Be first to know
Join the waitlist
Mau is coming soon. Leave your details and we will let you know the moment it opens, along with early access for families and schools who want to help shape it.
We will only use your details to tell you about the launch. Nothing is shared with anyone else.
Good to know
Questions families ask
What does AAC mean?
AAC stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. It covers any method that helps someone communicate when speech alone is not enough, from picture cards to apps like Mau.
Does my child need to read to use it?
No. Mau leads with pictures and colour, so a child can build and send a message before they can read words.
Will it work without internet?
Yes. Once installed, Mau runs offline. It does not need a connection to build sentences and speak them aloud, and it does not use mobile data during normal use.
Which languages are supported?
At launch Mau is built for English, Bemba, Nyanja and Tonga, with symbols chosen for a Zambian setting. More languages will follow.
How much does it cost?
Mau is free to try during the trial period so families can see if it fits. After the trial, it continues on an affordable plan. Full pricing will be shared before launch.
When does it launch?
Coming soon. Join the waitlist above and you will be among the first to know when it opens.
Get in touch
Contact us
A question about Mau, a school or clinic that wants to get involved, or something that is not working? Send us a message and we will reply by email.
Your details are only used to answer your message. Nothing is shared with anyone else.
Every child has something to say
Mau is being built so more of them can be heard. Add your name and we will bring you along for the launch.
Join the waitlist