Communication Boards & AAC Devices
Frequently Asked Questions:
What are Communication Boards? Communication Boards are devices that are used to help those who have trouble verbally communicating. The boards are sometimes categorized into two topics: low-tech and high-tech. Low technology boards could be just a sheet of paper broken up into rows and columns with different commands, verbs, adjectives, nouns, etc. with pictures (see Figure 1). High technology boards can be sometimes seen on IPads, where you can press on a button and the device speaks for you (see Figure 2). What does AAC stand for? AAC stands for Augmentative & Alternative Communication. How can these devices be used? These devices can be seen and used in various different settings. They are very portable and easy to use! You can purchase pre-made boards or you can personalize them yourself. Different Apps are also available for IPads and IPhones. How are they organized? Most of the time you will see boards color coordinated depending on the vocabulary words/topics. (For example, background color blue for all of the adjectives on the board) (see Figure 1). It is very important to place the vocabulary in an organized manner. What can be seen on a board? - Commands - Different languages - Pictures - Grammar - Questions - Describing words - Punctuation - Responses - Activities - Names Where can I find more information? More on ACC devices: Asha.org Training: Training LAMP Training ACC for Teachers For Communicating: Teaching Children Apps for Autism |
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
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Low Tech Communication Board
High Tech Communication Board