Compass is still being developed and is effectively in beta. Some content and features may be incomplete, change, or not work as expected.
Content is anchored to trusted sources where available, but Compass has not yet been clinically reviewed. It provides general information rather than medical advice.
Feedback helps us identify gaps, errors, usability problems and opportunities to improve Compass over time.
Lite Tech
Part of Your ALS Guide
USIndependent publisher
This describes who publishes a source, not how reliable it is.
Open source (opens in a new tab)Link checked August 2026
About this source
Your ALS Guide’s practical guide.
Where this source is used
Used in 5 places across 1 domain.
Questions
Communication
Alt Communication
- How do I set up a simple communication system?
Supports this
“Simple low-tech measures of this kind are recognised communication supports in their own right, not a stopgap.”
Calls a communication or alphabet board an essential tool that helps at any stage, and describes boards holding letters, words, phrases, symbols and pictures that are selected by pointing, nodding, gesturing or blinking.
A communication board, sometimes called an alphabet board, is an essential tool that can be helpful at any stage of the disease.
Lite-Tech Options - What low-tech communication options are there?
Supports this
“A low-tech method is what you fall back on when a communication device fails, is charging, or is out of reach.”
Says a manual board is still needed at times even by people who have a speech-generating device, and names the same situations: a power cut, a flat battery, transfers, bathing and bright sunlight.
Even if you have a speech-generating device, you may still need to use your manual communication board in certain situations, such as if the power goes out or your battery loses its charge.
Lite-Tech Options - What low-tech communication options are there?
Supports this
“Low-tech methods are worth using in their own right, not only as a fallback when a device is unavailable.”
Says lite-tech options can serve as either the person's main communication method or their backup, which is both halves of this statement.
These lite-tech options are portable, accessible, and can be used either as your primary or backup communication method.
Lite-Tech Options - Why have a backup communication method?
Supports this
“A communication device can be out of action or out of reach at the moment it is needed.”
Gives the same everyday situations, including a flat battery, a power cut, transfers, bathing and bright sunlight, as reasons a manual board is still needed.
You might also need to use your communication board during transfers, when bathing, or if you are having trouble using your speech-generating device when in bright sunlight.
Lite-Tech Options - Why have a backup communication method?
Supports this
“It is better to set up and practise a backup while things are calm than to work one out at the moment it is needed.”
Says these options should be learned and practised before they are really needed, which covers both the setting up and the practising.
It is important to learn about these options and begin practicing them before you really need them.
Lite-Tech Options
This is an external source. Compass links to it and describes it but does not hold rights over it. Opening it takes you to the publisher’s own site.