Vocabulary, placement, funding, and staff training for community AAC boards
AAC has moved from clinic walls to playground fences, park kiosks, and library entryways. The PR Newswire release titled “Communication Boards in Your Community” describes these low-tech, high-visibility tools as a force for awareness and connection.
For SLPs, each public board is a clinical project requiring vocabulary selection, symbol set decisions, placement, partnerships, training, and funding. The word “low-tech” describes the medium, not the planning required.
In Speech-Language Advocacy, the field has shifted from asking whether AAC devices belong in public spaces to deciding which boards belong there. A community communication board is a fixed, aided, low-tech AAC display mounted in a park, playground, or library. Unlike a personal AAC system sized to one user, these boards are shared: anyone can point to symbols, photos, or text to request, comment, greet, or join an activity. A PR Newswire release titled "Communication Boards in Your Community" describes communication boards as low-tech, high-visibility tools for awareness and connection, but it does not provide installation-level usage data.
In Bunbury, Western Australia, two boards were installed in 2024 at Koombana Bay and the Bunbury Accessible Playground at Big Swamp Reserve. The City of Bunbury says the design was reviewed by its Co-Design Access Panel, and QR codes and printed copies make the boards available beyond the physical signs. In Maryland, Montgomery Parks testimony describes three installed boards, with 10 planned per year as playgrounds are renovated, and about eight playgrounds with boards plus five in planning or production. Board dimensions are roughly 3 by 5 feet with 60 photos, symbols, and illustrations.1 Libraries are named as target settings in vendor implementation materials2, but no specific public library installation with published usage data was found.
No published usage counts, satisfaction surveys, communication outcomes, or pre/post evaluations exist for these installations. What is documented is design and placement, not measured impact.
Aided AAC is any communication system that uses AAC devices, physical tools or symbol displays, while unaided AAC uses only the person's body, such as gestures or signs. A public communication board is aided AAC because the user points to a fixed symbol set, which means it needs to be positioned where someone can actually reach, see, and use it without special setup.
A board mounted on a playground fence or park kiosk turns an ordinary moment into a communication opportunity. Children can point to "swing," "more," or "help" while a caregiver stands beside them. That visibility also supports aided language modeling: partners can point to the symbols as they talk, which gives AAC users a live demonstration of how the board works.
Aided language modeling has a real basis in Evidence-Based Practice. An ASHA scoping review found positive changes in communication, language, or turn-taking in 100 cases and mixed results in 82. A 2016 review described communication partner modeling as having positive and large effects for young beginning communicators. A 2018 meta-analysis rated AAC interventions, including aided input, as highly effective across ages and disabilities.
The direct question is whether public boards improve inclusion. Here the honest answer is that evidence is indirect. Studies measure symbol comprehension, language, and pragmatic functions, not community participation or social belonging. Public boards in parks and transit spaces remain under-researched.4 For non-AAC users, the awareness effect is plausible but not proven. A public board may normalize AAC use and lower stigma, but that outcome has not been rigorously established.
Core vocabulary is the high-frequency set of pronouns, verbs, descriptors, and question words that makes up roughly 80 percent of daily communication. Fringe vocabulary is lower-frequency and context-specific, mostly nouns such as slide, book, or ball. Keep core words anchored in a consistent location and change fringe words by venue; boards should also include adult and multilingual users, not only children.
| Venue | Core Words to Anchor | Venue-Specific Fringe Words | Social, Emotional and Safety Messages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any venue (core anchor) | stop, go, want, more, help, up, like, not, you, hi/bye, my turn, all done | None: core vocabulary is used across contexts | help, stop, go, want, more, all done, my turn, hi/bye, thumbs-up, thumbs-down |
| Playground | stop, go, want, more, help, like, not, fast, slow, up, down | ball, toy, slide, swing, sandbox, bridge, ladder, monkey bars, zipline, merry-go-round, tunnel, picnic table, bench, field, game, friend | fun, here, there, wait, hot, cold, hurt, happy, sad, mad, tired, scared, cool/awesome, sorry, something's wrong, don't touch me, I'm hurt, please wait, do you want to play, I want to play, let's talk, let's go |
| Park | stop, go, want, more, help, like, not, you, fast, slow | toy, slide, swing, picnic table, bench, field, soccer, basketball, baseball, game | hi/bye, my turn, more/again, all done, come with me, want, show me, I have something to say, I don't understand, please wait, something's wrong |
| Library | you, go, not, like, want, more, help, stop | read, book, borrow | Not specified in the verified sources |
| Transit or government office | you, go, not, like, help, wait, stop | Not specified in the verified sources | Not specified in the verified sources |
Do ADA signage rules require a playground communication board to include braille and sit exactly 48 to 60 inches high? Not automatically. The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design3 cover tactile signs for room identification1; a communication board installed as an augmentative communication device is not automatically in that sign category. Treat ADA and universal design guidance as a checklist, not a mandate.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's AAC Practice Portal estimated in 2020 that about 5 million people in the United States and 97 million people worldwide could benefit from augmentative and alternative communication. That includes children and adults whose everyday communication needs are not fully met by speech alone.
Permanent post or wall mounts versus portable A-frame displays8 frame the placement decision: one favors long-term weather resistance and fixed sightlines, while the other suits seasonal, temporary, or rotating sites.
Place boards where communication actually happens. Prioritize the main entrance, shaded seating, and transition areas where children gather, wait, or change activities. The approach, as outlined in the Playground Board Blueprint, needs to be wheelchair accessible, flat, and clear of the main path of play, with an unobstructed sightline from the most-used zones. Height is trickier than it looks. One guideline sets the top of the sign at 4 feet and the bottom at 3 feet7, while a 2026 recommendation caps the top of a board at 36 inches11. Confirm local accessibility requirements and the manufacturer's recommendation before drilling. Always mount on a stable post or wall, as recommended in Communication Boards Tips, never directly on play structures7, and check for sharp or protruding hardware.
For outdoor use, specify exterior-rated compact laminate meeting EN 438-63, UV-printed non-glare aluminum, or HDPE11. Suppliers often estimate UV-printed aluminum at 5 to 8 years outdoors5, standard aluminum at 10 to 15 years or more, and powder-coated aluminum at 15 to 20 years4, but those ranges depend on sun exposure, coating, and maintenance. Anti-graffiti protection works best with a nonporous surface or a compatible clearcoat. Test any solvent on a sample first, because not every clearcoat tolerates isopropyl alcohol6.
Routine cleaning is simple: water and mild soap with a soft cloth, and nothing abrasive10. Inspect periodically for fading, graffiti, loose mounts, and edge damage9. Before installation, name the board owner responsible for upkeep in writing so inspections and cleaning do not become someone else's surprise.
A public communication board without trained communication partners underperforms: symbols only become language when someone points and speaks at the same time, the same modeling sequence used in AAC for nonverbal autism. Without that, a board can become visual wallpaper, especially for families and bystanders who need one concrete model before trying it themselves. Aided language modeling works best as an invitation, not a test, grounded in AAC access without cognitive prerequisites. The basics are simple: touch a symbol while saying the word, pause to let the person respond, and never demand "say it" or "point to it" before play continues. Accept any response, including looking, reaching, or laughing.
Show the board, model two core rules (point while you speak; no quiz), then role-play one routine per staff role. End with a laminated cheat sheet listing three starter phrases and a QR code at adult eye level. The small sign beside the board can say: "Touch a symbol while you talk. Wait. Follow the person's lead." Keep a 60-second modeling video behind the QR code so new visitors can learn in under a minute.
Caregiver coaching tip: model one symbol beyond the child's current level. If the child points to one symbol, you point to two while speaking a short phrase. Keep it playful and stop before frustration.
Without a named custodian and budget line, faded symbols and cracked panels can make the board unreadable within a year. Settle maintenance responsibilities before installation, not after a board has been damaged.
A board built only around English text or symbol-heavy layouts may exclude family members who speak other languages or have low print literacy. Survey local users and review demographic data before locking vocabulary.
Clinicians can predict useful words, but people who rely on AAC daily will catch omissions and awkward symbol choices. Their review is the difference between a board that looks comprehensive and one that is genuinely usable.
Funding a playground communication board is usually a patchwork of small grants, sponsorships, and donated labor rather than one large award. Most installed boards sit in the $725 to $2,200 range1, while board-only costs often start at $550 to $6752 before freight, mounting, and installation.
Look first at PTA/PTO grants, teacher grants, SLP grants, community agencies, service clubs, corporate grant initiatives, and municipal parks budgets.5 One practical model: a $725 board covered by four sponsors at $182 each.1 Ask local printers, sign shops, and park crews to donate printing, materials, or installation labor.
Start with a small indoor board around $200 to $675 before installation, or a board-only outdoor unit around $550.2 The Power of Speech lists a playground board at $675 plus $75 shipping within the US.6 Avoid custom artwork and installation markups at first; use the board as a pilot and gather community-use photos to strengthen a later grant request.
Community AAC projects are moving from occasional installations toward supervised, outcomes-focused work, and SLP grad students can help strengthen the evidence base.
Before any data collection, get SLP clinical supervision from faculty and informed consent, even for anonymous observations or surveys. Document what you tried, what you observed, and what you would change. This kind of program-level evidence is sparse, and a small, well-run student project can fill a real gap. Keep the scope small: one board, one small data set, one clear recommendation. Then pick one local venue, ask for a 15-minute meeting, and start with a needs survey.
