There are inexpensive text to speech apps that you can use with iPad, Jim uses "Speak It". Right after he came out of surgery--the Magna Doodle was easiest for him to use. Dry erase seemed to take more effort than he could muster. It didn't take long to recover but those first couple of hours out of surgery were ones where having the magnetic board was a god send. I also got Jim a squeak toy so he could squeeze when he needed something. It was easy for him to grab and hold and I could rest my eyes without worrying he might need something.