This paper describes the role of speech and speech technology in the European project MonAMI, which aims at “mainstreaming ac-cessibility in consumer goods and services, us-ing advanced technologies to ensure equal ac-cess, independent living and participation for all”. It presents the Reminder, a prototype em-bodied conversational agent (ECA) which helps users to plan activities and to remember what to do. The prototype merges speech technology with other, existing technologies: Google Cal-endar and a digital pen and paper. The solution allows users to continue using a paper calendar in the manner they are used to, whilst the ECA provides notifications on what has been written in the calendar. Users may also ask questions such as “When was I supposed to meet Sara?” or “What’s on my schedule today?”