Designing a non-electronic communication aid

Non-electronic communication aids include wallets, boards, books and folders.  They display vocabulary Items that can be selected by the user to communicate a message.  Vocabulary items might include letters of the alphabet, whole words, phrases, line drawings and/or photographs.  Some people may even use object-based communication aids.  Communication aids should be individualised for each person to meet his or her specific needs.  Here are some things to consider when designing or updating a communication aid:

Choosing vocabulary:

Imagine that from now on you can talk as much as you like, but you can only use the same 100 words. You would need to choose the best 100 words to let you communicate. When designing a communication aid for someone with complex communication needs consider the vocabulary he or she would need for a range of purposes (e.g. to discuss interests, tell a joke or ask for a drink).

A variety of people may be involved in selecting the vocabulary for an aid.  Often this will include the people who spend the most time with the person.  Some AAC aids are made for a specific purpose.  For example, a food and drink communication board may be used for mealtimes, and a chat book may be used for social interaction. An AAC aid made for a specific purpose needs to have appropriate vocabulary for this purpose.

Choosing symbols and line drawings:

Some people who use AAC can read and spell. These people might use whole words and spelling with their communication aids. Other people who use AAC are not literate and might use symbols or line drawings. There are many different symbol systems available. Different symbols suit different people depending on their abilities and needs. Think about the person’s eyesight, the range of symbols available within the set, the skills and abilities of the person, and the other line drawings used in the person’s environment. Line drawings and symbols may be hand drawn or can be produced using special software, which allows access to libraries of thousands of line drawings.

These are some symbol sets:

Picture Communication Symbols (PCS)
Softpics
Rebus
Picsyms/Dynasyms
Blissymbols
Minspeak
PMLS
COMPIC

Choosing size and shape:

• What format will be used? (E.g. book, board, folder)
• Will the communication aid need opening and will the pages need to be turned? Can the person do this? 
• How will the symbols be grouped? (E.g. in topics or word types). 
• Does the person have problems with his or her eyesight? If so, the vocabulary items will need to be bigger.
• Does the person have difficulty pointing accurately? If so, the vocabulary items might need to be bigger or spaced further apart.
• Does the person walk? If so, the communication aid should be designed so it is portable and easy to carry.
• Does the person use a wheelchair? If so, do they have a wheelchair tray where the communication aid can be placed?
• Will the person need help setting the communication aid up and/or operating it?

Other considerations:

• How will the person point to items on the communication aid? (e.g. pointing with the hand, head-pointer)
• Does the person have someone to help him or her learn how to use the communication aid?

The vocabulary on a communication aid should be continually updated to suit the person’s current needs and interests.

The Victorian Department of Human Services is currently funding a Non-Electronic Communication Aid Scheme (NECAS), which gives some adults who have long term complex communication needs access to individualised non-electronic communication aids. 

Adapted from Communication Matters (2001), “Focus On…” series pamphlets, “What can I say?” and “Using Symbols for Communication”, and Scope: NECAS handout “Things to consider when designing a non electronic communication Aid”. NECAS.