Open Source Assistive Devices and Possibly Inspirational Stories.
A new chapter for TSSFAA
Hear us R.O.A.R. — Giving everyone a voice.
Rex’s Open Assistive Resources. We build open-source AAC communication devices that adapt to each user’s abilities — buttons, touch screens, sip-and-puff, and soon eye tracking. It’s all open source. Come build with us.
I’ve said the exact same thing myself, and it was true at the time. But if someone hadn’t convinced me to take the help, then no one would have been helped. You can help the person in front of you easily — but you can’t help the person you never meet, no matter how great their need.
So tell me what you think you need, so I can build you one now. Here’s the thing: the people with the greatest need are exactly the ones who can’t tell us what they need. They can’t describe what would help or what gets in their way. You can. Everything you tell me — what you’d use, what gets in the way, what’s awkward, what doesn’t work yet — shapes what gets built next and makes the device better and more reliable for the people who will never be able to ask for those things themselves.
By accepting one, you’re not taking it from them. You’re helping me build it for them.
— T-Rex
The six most recent updates. Older items live on the All News page.
I’ve been buried in development for the past few months. We’ll release two videos before Open Sauce, livestream from Open Sauce, and put a few videos together after.
Full set of boards sent to fab — covering the V3 Stim main, processor + Nonverbal daughter stack, Sip-N-Puff V1.2, and the shared SEESAW daughter.
A long-form conversation about R.O.A.R. and the T-Rex Talker on CircuitPython — also picked up a “Hug Report” shout-out in the Adafruit weekly meeting notes.
Back at Bay Area Maker Faire in Vallejo for 2026. After Editor’s Choice in 2025, returning with the full R.O.A.R. lineup — V3, the new sip-and-puff, and a lot more.
Formerly known as selective mutism.
Tell me what you need — what would help, what’s missing from what’s out there, what your day looks like — and we’ll build a better device together. From prototype to “production” your thoughts and ideas matter and will make a better device for those people whose thoughts and ideas I can not receive yet.
A working alpha/beta of the open-source sip and puff switch is built and has been used to operate the T-Rex Talker V3. One build, many purposes — the same hardware will reconfigure for many uses (USB mouse, two-switch keyboard, Xbox Adaptive Controller input) by editing a plain text file on the device’s USB drive. No reflashing, no IDE.
Small projects, games, and tools spun off from the main builds. Up to six at a time on the home page.
A quick look at what we do and why.
Getting ready for the next version / production prototype. Feedback would be appreciated.
Fundraisers, faires, and festivals. Up to six at a time on the home page.
Minimum full assistive communication device.
MacD is more than a sketch. We have working prototypes in hand, and the lessons from those builds fed directly into the Version 3 hardware we’re actively working on now. What started as the minimum full assistive communication device has become the foundation of our next-generation T-Rex Talker.
The device measures 80mm (3 inches) square and features large 12mm buttons, a compact (likely monochrome) screen, an audio amplifier, and support for a rechargeable battery. Designed to work with the Raspberry Pi Pico 2, also compatible with the original Pico. Includes connectors for integration into a larger system.
Ideal for developers as a development board or as a compact emergency lanyard device.
At quantities of 25, the PCB with components and battery is estimated at $25 USD per unit (not including potential tariffs).
For a few dollars more, a larger color screen could be used. Would require additional space and possibly some redesign.
I have some coupons available and I’m considering using them to build this board — unless another project takes priority.
Square with large buttons, or smaller with rotary encoder? Rotary encoder can just be smacked for a distress message...
Where the parts — and the goodwill — come from.
Autistic-stim variation of the V3 hardware. PCBs are on the way, plastics are designed, and a Build A Stim Device instruction set is coming soon.
See the project & support us →Prefer to support the broader project (not just the stim batch)? These go directly to T-Rex / TSSFAA.
One-off support — buy us a coffee, a connector, or a screen.
Monthly support — helps fund parts and travel between events.
Every device, every line of code, every hardware file — open source.
Has agreed to provide us with some of our filament needs.
Has agreed to provide us with coupons to build some of our PCBs.
Whether you can use a device, build one, fund one, or just want to talk — reach out. Sign up to the mailing list, or send us an email at main@tssfaa.com. Mailing-list members get build updates, event announcements, and the occasional behind-the-scenes — low volume, easy to unsubscribe.
