Communication Boards: What They Are, Who They Help, and How to Start

If speech is hard right now, a communication board can be a gentle place to start.

Communication boards are one of the most practical, low-pressure AAC tools out there. They can support people who aren’t talking yet, people whose speech is hard to understand, and people who can talk sometimes but lose words when they’re stressed or tired.

They’re also useful because they’re:

• easy to try
• easy to share with family/teachers/caregivers
• helpful in real-life moments (not just therapy)

What is a communication board?

A communication board is a visual tool that helps someone communicate by pointing to (or looking at) pictures, symbols, and/or words.

Communication boards can be:

• printed on paper
• laminated
• displayed on a wall or fridge
• carried on a clipboard
• used on a tablet as a static board

Some boards are simple (a few choices). Others are more robust and designed to support full language.

Communication boards are a type of AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication), and they’re often part of a multimodal communication plan (speech + gestures + visuals + AAC). For more help on whether an AAC Therapy approach is best for someone close to you, read more in AAC Therapy Explained: How alternative communication helps people be heard.

Who do communication boards help?

Communication boards can help children, teens, and adults.

They’re often useful for people who:

• are not talking yet or use few words
• have speech that’s difficult to understand
• have motor speech challenges (like apraxia or dysarthria)
• lose speech under stress, fatigue, sensory overload, or illness
• have communication changes after stroke or brain injury
• benefit from visual supports to understand and express language

Communication boards can also be helpful in specific settings, like:

• classrooms (participation and routines)
• medical appointments (pain, symptoms, needs)
• workplaces (quick, functional messages)
• community outings (choices, needs, safety)

What can someone say with a communication board?

A lot more than “snack” and “toilet.”

Good boards support:

• needs and requests (“help”, “more”, “stop”)
• choices (“yes/no”, “this/that”)
• feelings (“tired”, “worried”, “too loud”)
• social connection (“hi”, “I like that”, “tell me more”)
• learning and participation (“I don’t know”, “again”, “wait”)

This is where many boards go wrong: if the board only has nouns (cookie, car, TV), it limits communication. Most robust systems include core words—high-use words that work in many situations.

Types of communication boards (and how they’re used)

1) Choice boards

These are simple boards with a small set of options (often used for:

• snacks
• activities
• toys
• routines)

Best for: quick decisions and reducing frustration
Watch out for: they don’t always build flexible language on their own

2) Core word boards

Core word boards focus on high-frequency words like:
go, stop, want, help, more, finished, look, not, in, on

Best for: building language that generalizes across situations
Why they work: the same words are useful all day long

3) Topic boards

These boards are designed for specific situations:

• bathroom routines
• feelings/behavior regulation
• school participation
• medical needs

Best for: specific settings where the same messages come up repeatedly

4) Partner-assisted boards (for access needs)

If pointing is hard, boards can still be used with:

• partner-assisted scanning (a partner points or reads options; the person signals yes/no)
• eye gaze (the person looks at the selection)

How to start using a communication board (step-by-step)

You don’t need to do this perfectly. Consistency and kindness matter more.

Step 1: Choose one routine to start with

Pick an easy, repeatable moment, like:

• snack time
• getting dressed
• choosing an activity
• bedtime routine

Starting in one routine helps the board feel useful quickly.

Step 2: Start with a small set of words that matter

A simple starter set might include:

• help
• more
• stop
• go
• finished
• yes/no
• one or two personal words (favorite snack, toy, person)

If you’re using a core board, you can still focus on a small subset at first.

Step 3: Model it (without forcing)

This is the biggest tip:
Use the board while you talk.

Example:

• “Want more?” (tap more)
• “All done?” (tap finished)
• “Need help?” (tap help)

Modeling teaches how the board works without pressure.

Step 4: Wait longer than you think

Many people need extra processing time. Pause and give space for a response.

Step 5: Respond to any attempt

If someone points, looks, reaches, vocalizes—respond. Communication grows when people feel “it worked.”

Step 6: Keep it accessible

A board in a drawer won’t get used.

• put it on the fridge or table
• keep a copy in a bag
• place one in the classroom or near the couch

Common mistakes (and easy fixes)

Mistake: Only using the board for requests

Fix: model social words, feelings, and comments too (“fun”, “like”, “no”, “again”).

Mistake: Asking, “Use your board” every time

Fix: model first. Pressure often reduces communication.

Mistake: The board has too many words (or too few)

Fix: a Speech-language pathologist can help match the board layout to the person’s access and language needs, and adjust over time.

Mistake: The board isn’t always available

Fix: print multiple copies. Put them where life happens.

How a speech therapist can help with communication boards

An SLP can help you:

• choose the right board type (choice vs core vs topic-based)
• select vocabulary that fits real life
• teach partners how to model and respond
• adapt the board for access needs (pointing, eye gaze, scanning)
• expand the system over time so communication grows

If you’re not sure where to start, even a single consult with a professional can help you pick a practical first setup. Find a local speech therapist near you.

Photo by NHN on Unsplash