CPUC to Loan iPads to People With Speech Disabilities

The California Public Utilities Commission will loan Apple iPads to people with speech disabilities, under an 18-month pilot launched Wednesday, the CPUC said in a news release. The Voice Options project will provide iPads with speech apps through short- and long-term loans at 10 demo centers across the state, CPUC said. Users enter what they want to say into the app and then it’s played over the iPad’s speakers, it said. Individuals may borrow an iPad for 30 days to test the app, then apply for a long-term loan, CPUC said. Long-term loans require verification of disability status by a designated professional, it said.