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    This is the communication board that is the "home page" for our communication books and for many of our communication devices.

    It is also in each classroom as an enlarged poster.  We refer to it throughout the day to support language comprehension as well as expressive language.  We use the core board and other resources for a teaching strategy called

    (Mayer-Johnson / Boardmaker Symbols)     Core communication board (Symbolstix symbols)

    core communication board with Boardmaker symbols                                                   

                                                          

    We also have this Core Communication Board with translations in and .  The second version has the Symbolstix symbols, which are also in the Proloquo2Go communication app that some of our classes and students use.  You can also find starter versions here -- they have only a few symbols available, but still in the same locations so you can "graduate" from one board to the next) of the complete boards.  Here's an example of the first two boards: 

    graduated core board with only 11 symbols                                                              graduated core board with 17 symbols


     If you need something larger or simpler, you can try one of these communication boards that use , but have fewer symbols.  I recommend still exposing your child to the more complete boards above, as having only a few words available can be very limiting.  

     Download PDF of 4 Core Words                                                                                 Download PDF of 8 Core Words                                                      

     

    4 core words: more, different, go, all done                            8 core words: more, different, go, all done, yes, no, I don't know, help        

     

     Download PDF of 12 Core Words

     12 core words

       Note: We usually add the child's picture just above "you" on this board, so that the picture serves as "I" or the child's name.

         


    In addition to portable communication supports, we use "Communication Displays," which are communication boards that stay in a particular location. For example, in many of our classrooms, we have a communication display on the classroom door; it shows picture symbols of places in the school where we might go, and has some options for building phrases such as "I'm going (to the) auditorium."  

                  

     (make a copy first)

    Examples of what the Classroom Communication Displays look like:

                              

     

                     

     


    We also have a set of home displays for families to put on doors or walls at home.  You can download them by clicking on the links below.

    Instructions for Home Communication Displays                       Home Communication Displays

    These are a set of communication displays, or boards, that you can print and put on inside doors throughout your house.  They are specific to the areas in which they are located, and prevent having to carry more icons around in large binders . . . use them yourself to model language as you do activities or move around the house.

    Here's an example of the one for the front door, and one for inside the bathroom door.

    Communication board Places to Go to post on front door of house                bathroom display


    Click here to download a communication support for helping your child tell you what's wrong if they are hurt or sick: 

    What's Wrong Communication Support

     

    what's wrong display with sick, cold, hungry, etc                         more what's wrong

     

    Click here for this very simple version:                                                 And here's a

    from the wonderful "Autism Level Up" site:

    What's Wrong communication board Simple Version

    simple what's wrong choices .                                               


    If your student uses the LAMP Words for Life app:

    Here is a printable version of the home page from the full 84-cell version.

    Lamp words for Life home page imageLAMP Home page

     

    I made for quickly finding words in various common categories (click on the picture or the hyperlink; note that the actual file has two pages).

    Lamp words for life category cheat sheet

    If your student uses the Touch Chat app with Word Power 60 configuration:

    Here is a printable version of the home page.  Print it two-sided; our "Table Activities" communication board is on the back. 

    (Note that there are more words on the core board than on the home page of the communication device, to allow for better modeling on the low-tech/paper version that cannot switch pages...)

    Touch Chat Word Power 60 Basic Core Board + Table Activities Comm Board

    And here is a for each of the Touch Chat/Word Power communication apps.