Unicorn Roots

Ava

As someone with sensory processing difficulties, I have always relied on multisensory learning to properly process information. Multisensory learning (or multisensory instruction) is primarily associated with classroom support for students with learning disabilities like dyslexia, but its value doesn’t end there. Typically, information is given in a single form: visual or auditory. A high school teacher assigns reading and asks for a summary of the author’s message. A college professor lectures and assigns the students an essay on the topic. This works well enough for neurotypical, able-bodied students (Roberts Academy, 2025). But what about someone who processes information differently? What about someone who is deaf and/or blind?

There are several ways to accommodate different processing styles depending on the format. Some lessons can incorporate additional visual or tactile options, like using blocks and coins for math or letter tracing for language learning. This was actually one of the reasons I learned basic American Sign Language (ASL) growing up. In my adult life, I’ve made a habit of asking people to write things down even when they have already told me verbally. I could then read it to myself, have someone read it to me, or use an app like Speechify to read along. Yes, I’ll review Speechify too! For some books, I can also get both a physical copy and an audiobook to follow along with.

Even with these aids, I can hit a wall when my lectures or Zoom meetings don’t include a transcript. And let’s be honest, how often are transcripts high quality or fully accessible? Rarely. This is where apps like Ava come in, both for people like me and for the Deaf community. People who are deaf or hard of hearing often rely on subtitles and interpreters for everyday communication outside Deaf spaces, missing out on the subtle nuances of live conversation. It’s also nearly impossible to distinguish between speakers when multiple people are talking at the same time. And filling them in later often means losing a lot of the emotion and details, making for an isolating experience.

Ava addresses this directly. With just a smartphone and a Wi-Fi signal, users with hearing and sensory processing difficulties can participate in real time. Both free and paid versions allow multiple participants, distinguishing between speakers by assigning each a unique caption color and name label. For users who prefer to be discreet, Ava has an optional incognito mode. Across all versions, additional features include saved quick replies, adjustable font sizes, and automatically saved data and transcripts. As if that weren’t enough, the company also provides a professional ASL interpreting service, currently in beta.

All versions also allow users to filter out profanity and choose a specific voice to read out their text. Users can choose from one of Ava’s automated voices or record and use their own. The American English options include male, female, and gender-neutral options. Male options are Storyteller Steve, described as “engaging and dynamic,” and Deep David, described as “calm and resonant.” Female options are Melody Harper, “narrative and dedicated,” and Articulate Anna, “confident and articulate.” Gender-neutral options are Scholarly Sam, “thoughtful and confident,” and Cultured Jamie, “methodical and meticulous.” On my free account, I chose Scholarly Sam for my desktop and Samantha, the free female American voice available on my iPhone. Unfortunately, the only free male voice options available on my iPhone were Daniel (UK) and Rishi (India).

An important point to note is that the site itself doesn’t list pricing options for its paid plans directly. To find this, I had to either contact Ava or search for it separately. I eventually found that a personal premium account gives users three 40-minute sessions per month, with additional time available for $4.99 per hour. Subscription options start at $8 per month for an annual plan or $10 per month for a monthly plan, both with a captioning accuracy of up to 90%.

Additionally, paid plans come in two tiers: Pro or Enterprise. As one might expect, Enterprise accounts are designed for organizations with larger teams and/or greater accessibility needs. Both tiers include on-demand scribe requests (with 24 hours’ notice for Pro and 6 hours for Enterprise), reduced captioning delay, color-coded speaker captioning in private Ava Room, Wi-Fi-free mobile connections, and a range of other helpful features. Enterprise accounts also offer an additional secure single sign-on, a dedicated scribe, advanced admin tools, and premium support. Nonprofit organizations can also apply for a discount, and a vocabulary boost add-on is available with premium accounts for an additional $14.99 per month.

Resources

Ava (2025). Captions for All. Ava.me. https://www.ava.me/

Roberts Academy (2025). What is Multisensory Instruction in the Orton-Gillingham Approach? Mercer University. https://robertsacademy.org/what-is-multisensory-instruction-in-the-orton-gillingham-approach/