MADISON, Wis. -- Erika Pugh is a healthy 9-year-old girl. She has a lot of friends at school, she's learning how to read, and she takes yoga class, but Erika is different in one way: she can't communicate with her own voice.

The girl was born with autism and a rare genetic disorder that affects her speech. She uses sign language and gestures to communicate her wants and needs. However, few people outside of her family know sign language. She needed another way to communicate with others, WISC-TV reported.

Her new communication device did just that by giving her the voice she never had. The device is a complex touch-screen computer that says whatever Erika punches in, allowing her to express wants, needs, and thoughts.

"It's absolutely vital for the type of life that I want her to lead," said Erika's mother, Lisa Pugh.

The technology allows her to be more independent of her family because they no longer have to translate for her.

If Erika wants a waffle for breakfast, she can take her device, go to the breakfast food section, punch in "could I have" and then "waffle." The machine will then ask the question.

The machine communicates more than Erika's basic needs.

"The fact that she's able to tell us funny things that she likes about SpongeBob or Shrek or other sorts of things, that's what makes her unique and able to share her personality with us and her friends," said Lisa. "That's what this technology allows us to do."

Lisa and her 11-year-old daughter McKenna won an award for a public service announcement that promotes technology for people with disabilities and their families.

The Pughs made the announcement to show other families how important technology access is for people with disabilities and illustrate the difference it can make in someone's life.

A communication device like Ericka's can cost around $7,000, but Lisa says state medical assistance can cover such costs, WISC-TV reported.