Start application
If you're ready to begin, click below to start the application process. We'll collect some information about you and your speech impaired loved one, then send you a pre-filled application for your signature.
Navigating government programs can be overwhelming with long forms, unclear steps, and little guidance, but we make it simple!
As an approved vendor of the Wisconsin TEPP program, we help eligible individuals receive an iPad with the TippyTalk AAC speech app at an affordable cost. The TippyTalk app is easy-to-use, designed to help non-verbal or speech impaired individuals express their needs, reduce frustration, and build independence.
We guide you through every step, ensuring a transparent and stress-free process. Start your application in just 5 minutes.
Wisconsin TEPP is a State-Funded program aimed at helping individuals with disabilities buy specialized equipment in order to use basic telephone services. Through the Wisconsin TEPP, qualified applicants can receive an Apple iPad with the TippyTalk AAC speech app.
Here’s how it works: Once you submit your details through our form, a member of our team will reach out for a quick chat to walk you through the TEPP application process. After your application is approved and processed, we’ll send out your new iPad and help you get set up with the TippyTalk app.
Submit web form
TippyTalk family advocate reviews your details to determine eligibility
Brief call with TippyTalk family advocate
Eligibility letter from teacher, therapist, or health care professional
Pay a $100 copay
Get iPad and TippyTalk app
Wisconsin TEPP is an affordable program designed to support eligible families. There’s no fee to apply, just a $100 co-pay to receive the iPad and TippyTalk app. We're here to guide you every step of the way, making sure your loved one gets the communication tools and support they need
Caregivers receive real-time messages directly to their own devices.
No complex setup. Get set up in minutes compared to hours for AAC apps.
Tailored to your loved ones daily needs and environment.
Suitable for children, teens, and adults with varying abilities.
Children usually need to be at least 3 years old to qualify, but if your child is younger, we still encourage you to submit the form. We may be able to start the process or provide helpful guidance as they get closer to eligibility.
If you're ready to begin, click below to start the application process. We'll collect some information about you and your speech impaired loved one, then send you a pre-filled application for your signature.
"I'm still emotional after trying so many apps for my non verbal daughter who's 19 and diagnosed with Cohen syndrome. I'd given up until I just tried TippyTalk. Demi's first text sent was I want a hug nothing could top what I'm feeling right now."
Antoinette Ní Noiréis
"I totes LOVE IT!! What I love more is seeing my 8 year old non verbal daughter’s smile, secondly is the ease and we can edit the words and add recordings... thank you TippyTalk! Will definitely recommend to my networks."
Margaret Brass
"I can't really explain how I feel. My 4 year old uses pecs and within 48 hours was on a roll using his iPad and TippyTalk app. I can't believe how quick he's picked it up. Such a massive difference in our world xxx."
Heather Edwards
You can receive the latest Apple iPad for a $100 copay through this program. The iPad is yours to keep, and it comes with access to the TippyTalk app at no additional cost. Plus, it functions like any other iPad, so you and your child can use it for other purposes as well.
The TippyTalk app is user-friendly and designed to be simple for children and parents alike. No complex setup and can be tailored to your loved ones daily needs and environment.
With the Wisconsin TEPP, your family can access this life-changing tool at an affordable cost, easing financial constraints while providing you and your loved one with a valuable resource for communication
With the ability to communicate more effectively, your child is empowered to take part in social and educational opportunities they may have previously struggled with. This increased independence opens doors for improved learning, interaction, and personal growth.
What happens after I fill out the details above?
Once you've filled out the form above:
If you have questions or want more guidance, you can contact us at any time at learnmore@accessible-tech.org, replying back to any of the emails or text messages you received.
Why do I need to fill out another form if I've already submitted my details through Facebook?
Filling out this form that includes more requirements for the TEPP application kickstarts your application process. Once we receive these details and determine your eligibility, we're able to submit your application to TEPP on your behalf. We are then one step closer to finalizing your application for TEPP.
What is TEPP and why do I need to apply for the program?
TEPP (Telecommunications Equipment Purchase Program) provides eligible individuals with a heavily discounted iPad and license to the TippyTalk AAC speech app. Many parents we speak to have struggled to find a cost-effective way to get speech devices for their children. TEPP makes this process easier by eliminating the need to disclose your income or insurance status and bypassing the need to go through grants or school districts. We’re here to help guide you through the application process so you can get the support you need for your loved one.
Who qualified for TEPP?
To qualify for the Wisconsin TEPP, the following criteria must be met:
Get started and see if you qualify by submitting your details in one of the forms above.
What do I need to apply? Do I need insurance?
You do not need insurance, and you do not need to provide your income level to apply for the program. The initial step of submitting your details only requires basic questions to help us understand your loved one's needs.
Once submitted, we’ll schedule an intake interview with one of our team members to gather any additional information needed to submit your application.
Can my family apply for an adult child or relative?
Yes. We can help you apply with the TEPP program for a device for any Wisconsin resident who is age 2½ and above who needs this type of tool to communicate in daily life.
While most of the families we work with have younger children with autism, cerebral palsy or Down Syndrome, TippyTalk is also used by stroke victims and others who have suffered speech impairment from other causes. The person who signs the application will be either a parent, a legal guardian or the user-applicant themselves who is of legal age.
What is AAC and what is the TippyTalk speech app?
AAC apps can help to give a nonverbal or speech-impaired person a way to be understood quickly. This helps resolve frustration, shortcut emotional outburst, and help the parent and child feel connected. A second goal is to show the child, in real time, how their need is expressed in language. It models speech for them while helping them feel better for being understood.
TippyTalk is a unique AAC app designed for non-verbal and speech-impaired users. It serves as a TWO-WAY communication tool that allows users to create simple sentences by selecting illustrations. These sentences can be READ ALOUD or SENT directly to a member of the user’s private community, who can RESPOND with video or audio.
TippyTalk helps children and those with speech impairments communicate their needs, thoughts, and emotions in an accessible and effective way. Through your TEPPP application, there are no subscription fees to use the app.
How does the TippyTalk speech app work?
The speaking function: The app will show the user an initial set of pictures which represent the beginning of a request. After choosing one of those, the user touches a picture to complete the thought. Since the app has thousands of possible pictures, the parent or caregiver sets up the app so relevant pictures appear for their loved one. Parents and caregivers can also upload photos from their own phones to make the experience especially personal. When a user touches the relevant pictures in sequence, the app speaks a simple sentence for them.
The texting function: TippyTalk is unique among AAC speech apps because it can ALSO create a text out of the user's chosen picture sequence and send it to a caregiver's mobile phone. The user does not need to read or write. The app does the work. So parents, family and friends can be in communication with their nonverbal loved one when they are not together. The parent or caregiver can respond with audio, video, emojis or simple words the user understands.
Have questions about TippyTalk, how to access it through Wisconsin TEPP, or whether it’s the right fit for your family, we’re here to help.
Whether you need help understanding the process or setting up the app, our team is ready to support you.