Founder and CEO of Mylo Speech Buddy, an autism learning mobile app, said that winning two golden Stevie Awards this year was a “step forward” in making conversations around autism and related speech disorders normal within the Filipino society.
“By making our app accessible and highlighting the positive impact it can have on children’s lives, we aim to change perceptions and show that these conditions aren’t something to be hidden,” Mylo Speech Buddy app creator Vincent Rocha told PhilSTAR Tech via email.
In September, the locally-developed app received the “Tech Startup of the Year- Software” and the “New Product of the Year- Educational Technology” at the 2024 Stevie Awards.
These wins, according to Rocha, were not only for the app itself but also for every child with speech challenges and families working “tirelessly to support them.”
The app’s founder said that normalizing discussions about autism within the Filipino society starts with relatability.
“The app is meant to fit seamlessly into daily life, offering culturally relevant content that Filipino families can connect with,” he said.
The company believes that as more parents and caregivers see their children’s milestone, it will drive more families to “embrace the app” by word-of-mouth.
The driving force
The creation of the app has its roots in empathy and personal experience, according to Rocha, a parent who understands firsthand the challenges of finding supportive therapy resources.
“When my son, Noah was diagnosed with autism at the age of two, I realized how challenging it was for families like mine to access timely, affordable and engaging speech therapy,” he shared.
“We wanted to create something that just didn’t work — it needed to connect, inspire and make therapy feel less like a clinical task and more like a fun journey.”
Rocha shared that every child should have the chance to express themselves with confidence, and Mylo Speech Buddy was created to provide families with the support they need in a manner that is both impactful and joyful.
The Mylo app uses Video-Modeling, a teaching technique that are often used in therapeutic and educational settings. Through this, the app is focused on fostering progress of kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
This method has gained acknowledgment from prestigious institutions, such as Harvard University, Claremont University, the American Psychological Association, and the American Journal of Speech Pathology.
Prestigious institutions like Harvard University, Claremont University, the American Psychological Association, and the American Journal of Speech Pathology, have recognized this method for dealing with ASD.
“At Mylo, we leverage this proven method to support children on the autism spectrum in developing their speech and language skills,” he said.
Moreover, Rocha said that the Mylo app went through several trial phases to guarantee its effectiveness, with active involvement from speech therapy professionals at every stage.
“Their expertise and feedback were invaluable in refining the app’s features, ensuring it met therapeutic standards and was tailored to the needs of children with ASD.”
Bringing it down to Filipino families with limited means
An Acta Medina Philippina study in 2022 revealed that Filipino families need to spend P38,868 yearly or P3,329 monthly in the post diagnosis of Autism. This already includes therapy, education, medication, and developmental evaluations.
For families looking for uninterrupted learning, mobile applications like the Mylo Speech Buddy app could help kids practice and master what they’ve learned from their speech therapists at home.
However, in order to access the video modules, families need to pay a one-month subscription fee of P999. Once paid, users can get full access to its library containing six levels, from preparatory level to formulation of sentences and learning action words.
With this in mind, Rocha said that they understand the economic impact of taking care of a family member with autism.
“We are constantly exploring options to provide scholarships, subsidies, or community access programs to ease the financial burden while still delivering high-quality speech therapy support,” he said.
In April 2024, when the app was launched, they offered free access to the app’s services in celebration of World Autism Awareness Month.
The creator said that the initiative was to give families a chance to experience the app without “immediate financial commitment.”
“Ultimately, our mission is to empower every Filipino family, regardless of their economic status, with the tools to support their child’s journey towards improved speech and communication,” Rocha said.
