The journey of MyComms – how it all started

Jenn and I met within the walls of a classroom. I’m a teacher and positive behaviour support practitioner and Jenn is a brilliant speech therapist. We worked with individuals with complex disabilities; their challenges often exacerbated by poor mental health. The manifestation of this meant we were met with a lot of communication breakdowns and significant behaviours of concern. This drove a need for innovation and a kinder way of doing things. We found ourselves becoming incredibly creative. How could we ensure our information and intent was being translated? How could we establish trust? How could we assure our students there were other ways of communicating (besides hurting themselves or others)? This is where we learnt about the power of communication tools. Meaningful, personalised visual supports.  

We used visuals for everything, from daily schedules to reminders to take medication or what they would like to eat for lunch. The first few years of my career were spent hunched over a computer editing PowerPoint slides until late in the evening. If it meant that my students were regulated and engaged, it was worth the effort.  

Jenn and I moved on from that setting with toolkits larger than suitcases, we hauled our experiences and strategies with us, eager to work with the next family. What we realised quickly was that communication supports were often left behind. Visual supports felt vague, difficult to implement, a hassle… 

A Problem We Couldn’t Ignore 

The truth is, visual communication tools are a non-negotiable for those who are neurodivergent, have acquired brain injuries or are living with cognitive or communication disabilities. Visual supports can unlock understanding. They can reduce anxiety. They can create independence. 

But creating them? Personalising them? Implementing them? Updating them? That’s where the real challenge lies. 

We didn’t want to just digitise what was already out there. We wanted to reimagine visual supports as something dynamic, flexible and personal – usable across settings like preschools, primary schools, therapy rooms, hospitals, group homes and everyday family life. And so, MyComms was born. 

Building from the Ground Up 

There was no blueprint for what we wanted to create – no app we could referenc or even lean on. So, we built MyComms from scratch, drawing on every bit of lived and professional experience we had. For two women who had only spent time in client-facing roles and knew very little about technology, this was hard, but it was also invigorating and deeply personal. 

We tested every detail: 

It had to work for people who support communication every single day, without adding more admin or stress. It had to be inclusive, culturally responsive and adaptable for different languages and life stages. 

Gratitude  

This hasn’t been an easy journey. There were countless late nights, setbacks, doubts and hard decisions. But what kept us going was the vision of what MyComms could do – of who it could empower. We’re endlessly grateful to the people who believed in us: the families, educators, allied health professionals and industry leaders who tested, trialled and championed MyComms in its early days. Your feedback shaped the platform. Your needs drove our priorities. Your stories are why we do this. 

Today, MyComms is more than an app. It’s a growing movement for communication equity – a belief that everyone deserves tools that reflect who they are, how they think and how they connect. MyComms is our way of saying: you deserve to be understood, on your terms. 

We’re so glad you’re here. If our mission resonates with you, we’d love you to be part of it. Get in touch for a conversation, explore a free trial or share a visual support with someone in your world.