What is an AAC Communication Board?

An Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) board is a visual communication tool that displays pictures, symbols, or words arranged in a structured grid layout. When a nonverbal or speech-delayed child taps or points to a symbol tile, they express a thought, need, or emotion without requiring vocal speech.

AAC boards come in two main formats: physical printed symbol grids (low-tech) and mobile speech-generating applications (high-tech). Both formats play an essential role in giving children a reliable visual voice.

Step 1: Choose Between Core Vocabulary and Fringe Words

A common beginner mistake when making a communication board is packing the initial grid with specific nouns, such as favorite toys, snacks, or pet names. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) recommend structuring your board around two distinct types of words:

  • Core Vocabulary (80% of Board Space): Versatile words used across all environments and conversations—such as Want, Go, Stop, More, Help, Yes, No, Like, Mine. Core words allow a child to express hundreds of concepts with a small set of tiles.
  • Fringe Vocabulary (20% of Board Space): Specific nouns and situational words, such as Juice, Car, Park, Swing, Pizza. These are organized into sub-categories or secondary grid pages so they don't clutter the primary communication grid.

Step 2: Design a Clear Grid Layout with High Contrast

Visual presentation directly impacts how easily a child adopts an AAC system. When building or customizing your board layout, keep these design principles in mind:

  • Consistent Tile Placement: Keep core word buttons in fixed grid positions. Consistent placement builds motor memory, enabling children to navigate the board automatically without searching every time.
  • High Contrast & Symbol Clarity: Use clean, bold icons on distinct background colors. Color coding categories (e.g., green for actions/verbs, yellow for pronouns, blue for feelings) speeds up visual scanning.
  • Manageable Grid Sizes: Start with a grid size appropriate for your child's visual and motor skills—such as a 2x3 or 3x4 grid for beginners—and expand to larger grids as confidence grows.

Step 3: Master Aided Language Stimulation (AAC Modeling)

Children learn spoken language by hearing adults speak thousands of words before uttering their first sentence. AAC communicators require the exact same immersive experience through Aided Language Stimulation (ALS), also known as modeling.

Whenever you talk to your child, tap the matching visual symbol tile on the AAC board while speaking aloud:

  • If you say, "It's time to go outside," tap the GO tile as you speak the sentence.
  • If you ask, "Do you want more snack?", tap the MORE symbol.

Crucial Rule: Model without demanding speech or immediate compliance. Never force your child's hand onto the screen or make them tap a symbol to earn a reward. Modeling builds natural understanding over time.

Step 4: Integrate the Board into Everyday Home Routines

Communication shouldn't be confined to formal speech therapy sessions. Make your AAC board a natural part of daily family life by embedding it into high-motivation routines:

  • Mealtime & Snacks: Model More, Eat, Drink, All Done, Want.
  • Playtime: Model Go, Stop, Turn, Again, Like It.
  • Transitions & Outings: Keep a portable tablet or printed laminate board handy for car rides, park visits, and bedtime routines.

Digital AAC Apps vs. Printed Communication Boards

While physical paper boards are great backups that never run out of battery, high-tech speech-generating AAC applications offer major benefits for home use:

  • Instant Audio Feedback: Tapping a tile plays immediate voice output, helping nonverbal children associate visual symbols with spoken sounds.
  • Total Customization: Easily add new custom categories, photo tiles, and phrases as your child's vocabulary grows.
  • Portability & Offline Access: A mobile AAC app stays in your pocket, ensuring your child always has their voice available anywhere, even without Wi-Fi.