Key Points:
- Autism picture boards offer visual alternatives to spoken language, aiding communication for both verbal and nonverbal individuals.
- These tools support daily routines, reduce frustration, and build independence through consistent visual cues.
- Parents, caregivers, and therapists can customize picture boards to meet individual needs across various age groups and environments.
For many children and adults on the autism spectrum, spoken language isn’t the most effective or natural way to communicate. Research indicates that up to 30% of autistic children may be minimally verbal, while others struggle with expressive or receptive language skills. In these cases, an autism picture board can become an essential communication aid, supporting day-to-day interactions and emotional expression.
Using symbols, photos, or icons, these boards provide a structured and visual way to communicate wants, needs, and thoughts. They can serve as a standalone communication system or be used alongside speech therapy or AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) devices.
What Is an Autism Picture Board?
An autism picture board is a communication tool that uses images instead of words to help individuals with autism express themselves. These boards display pictures representing items, actions, or emotions, allowing users to point, touch, or hand over a card to communicate.
Unlike general visual aids, autism picture boards are designed for intentional interaction. They’re especially helpful for children and adults who find it difficult to use or understand spoken language consistently.
These boards vary from simple laminated sheets with a few icons to more complex, velcro-based books or digital apps. They help bridge communication gaps while reducing anxiety and behavioral frustration that stems from not being understood.
Who Can Benefit From Using Picture Communication Boards?
Picture communication boards are useful tools for individuals who have difficulty expressing themselves verbally. They benefit children and adults with speech delays, autism, developmental disabilities, or conditions like apraxia and selective mutism. These boards allow users to point to images or symbols to communicate needs, feelings, or thoughts clearly.
Parents, teachers, and therapists often use picture boards to support nonverbal or minimally verbal individuals, helping reduce frustration and improve interaction. They are especially effective in settings like home, school, or therapy where consistent communication aids are needed.
What Types of Autism Picture Boards Exist?
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Selecting the right type depends on the user’s cognitive level, mobility, and environment. Many parents start with physical boards and later supplement with tech-based solutions as skills develop. The most effective communication boards are tailored to the user’s age, abilities, and daily routines.
Picture boards typically fall into the following types:
How Do Picture Boards Help With Communication?
Picture boards help by providing a clear, visual way for nonverbal or minimally verbal individuals to express their needs and thoughts. They reduce frustration by offering an alternative to spoken language, enabling smoother interactions. Users can point to images or symbols representing words, feelings, or actions, making communication more accessible.
Caregivers and educators can tailor boards to fit individual needs, making it easier to understand and respond to the user’s intentions. Overall, picture communication boards bridge gaps in speech, fostering connection and reducing anxiety around expressing oneself—especially when behaviors stem from unmet communication needs, a topic we explore further in our article Attention Seeking Behavior in Autism: Key Insights.
How to Create or Customize a Picture Board
Autism picture boards are most useful when personalized. Rather than using generic symbols, caregivers can create boards that reflect the individual’s actual environment, interests, and needs.
Here are the key steps to creating or customizing a board:
1. Identify Core Vocabulary
Choose words and phrases your child uses often to ensure the picture board supports everyday communication and helps express their needs, feelings, and preferences clearly and effectively.
2. Use Clear, Consistent Images
Select simple, easy-to-recognize pictures with uniform style and size. Consistency helps your child quickly identify and understand the symbols, reducing confusion during communication.
3. Organize Logically
Group images by categories or frequency of use to make it easier for your child to locate desired symbols quickly, encouraging independence and smoother communication throughout daily activities.
4. Use Durable Materials
Use strong, washable materials like laminated paper or plastic that can withstand daily handling and accidental spills, ensuring the picture board lasts long and remains easy to clean.
5. Ensure Accessibility
Place the picture board within easy reach and at an appropriate height for your child. Consider their mobility and preferences to promote frequent, comfortable use in various settings.
Custom boards should evolve as skills and environments change—reviewing and updating regularly is key.
How to Introduce Picture Boards to a Child
Introducing a new communication method takes time, patience, and consistency. Parents and caregivers should model use frequently and avoid pressuring the child to use the board immediately.
Here’s how to ease the transition:
1. Start During Calm Moments
Introduce the picture board when your child is relaxed and receptive. Avoid presenting it during stressful times or meltdowns to create a positive, pressure-free learning environment.
2. Model Use Repeatedly
Regularly point to pictures as you talk, showing your child how to use the board. Consistent demonstration helps build familiarity and encourages imitation without forcing participation.
3. Offer Hand-Over-Hand Support
Gently guide your child’s hand to the images while naming them. Gradually reduce assistance as they become more comfortable and start using the board independently.
4. Reward Attempts
Praise and encourage any efforts to communicate using the board. Recognizing attempts builds motivation and helps your child associate communication with positive experiences.
5. Use Across Settings
Coordinate with teachers, therapists, and family to use the picture board consistently in different places. This reinforces understanding and helps your child feel confident using it everywhere.
Progress may be gradual. Over time, the child may initiate communication more often and explore other images on their own.
When Should You Consider Picture Boards Over Other AAC Tools?
Picture boards are ideal when a child has limited or no verbal communication skills and needs a simple, visual way to express basic needs and feelings. They work well for children who may find high-tech AAC devices overwhelming or inaccessible.
You should consider picture communication boards over other augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) tools when ease of use, portability, and immediate accessibility are priorities. Picture boards don’t require batteries or technology skills, making them practical for young children or those with sensory sensitivities. They also offer flexibility to customize images to fit the child’s environment and interests.
Nurture Your Child’s Progress With ABA Therapy
If your child is struggling with communication, visual tools like picture boards may be the first step toward independence. At Amaze ABA, we offer personalized, evidence-based ABA therapy in Nebraska, Maryland, Virginia, and Georgia that includes picture-based communication strategies for children with autism.
Our team works with families to develop meaningful goals, including communication systems tailored to your child’s strengths—whether they are verbal, nonverbal, or somewhere in between.