About this resource
Choice boards make communication visible. This board includes twelve original symbols for everyday needs and responses, such as drink, break, help and finished, plus blank spaces to personalise. Practitioner notes cover modelling, placement and matching the person's existing symbol system.
Purpose
To give people a quick, visual way to make choices and express everyday needs, and to give partners a tool for modelling.
Who it is for
Primary profession: Speech pathologists. Also relevant for disability support workers, educators and school support staff.
Client or participant group: Children and adults with limited speech who are building functional communication, supported by communication partners.
Practice setting: Home, classroom, day program and community settings.
Suggested uses
- Making choices during routines
- Requesting help, a break or more
- Modelling language while talking
- A starting point before a personalised system is developed
Instructions for practitioners
- Check what communication system the person already uses and match it where possible.
- Personalise the blank spaces with motivating, real choices.
- Model by pointing to symbols as you talk, without requiring the person to copy.
- Keep the board in the same place and available all the time, not only for requests.
- Review vocabulary and size with a speech pathologist.
Instructions for clients or participants
- Point to, look at or touch a picture to tell people what you want.
Accessibility considerations
Print at A4 or larger. Laminate for durability. Adjust symbol size and number of choices for vision and motor access, and add photos where symbols are not meaningful.
Scope and limitations
A general visual support. It does not replace an AAC assessment, a personalised communication system or speech pathology recommendations.
Research basis
Visual schedules and other visual supports are established evidence-based practices for autistic children and young people, and are widely used with others who benefit from visual information. Modelling on the person's AAC system (aided language input) improves communication outcomes, especially expressive use, for people with complex communication needs. Human rights frameworks and research on the dignity of risk support people's right to make their own choices, including choices that involve some risk.
- Biggs, E. E., Carter, E. W., & Gilson, C. B. (2018). Systematic Review of Interventions Involving Aided AAC Modeling for Children With Complex Communication Needs. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 123(5), 443–473. https://doi.org/10.1352/1944-7558-123.5.443
- Ibrahim, J. E., & Davis, M. (2013). Impediments to applying the ‘dignity of risk’ principle in residential aged care services. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 32(3), 188–193. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajag.12014
- Knight, V., Sartini, E., & Spriggs, A. D. (2015). Evaluating Visual Activity Schedules as Evidence-Based Practice for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(1), 157–178. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2201-z
- Sennott, S. C., Light, J. C., & McNaughton, D. (2016). AAC Modeling Intervention Research Review. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 41(2), 101–115. https://doi.org/10.1177/1540796916638822
- Steinbrenner, J. R., Hume, K., Odom, S. L., Morin, K. L., Nowell, S. W., Tomaszewski, B., Szendrey, S., McIntyre, N. S., Yücesoy-Özkan, S., & Savage, M. N. (2020). Evidence-based practices for children, youth, and young adults with autism. FPG Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina. https://ncaep.fpg.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/EBP-Report-2020.pdf
- United Nations. (2006). Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-rights-persons-disabilities
What is included
A 3-page printable A4 PDF, including a practitioner notes page with the research basis (version 1.0).
Originality
Original Practitioner Plus content: wording, activity structure, layout and icons were created for this resource. No third-party worksheets, illustrations or text were reproduced. Symbols are original line drawings created for Practitioner Plus.
