Boston Celebrates the Arrival of Bilingual Communication Boards, Honoring Linguistic Diversity Boston, MA –November 7th, 2023 – Boston marks a significant step towards communication inclusion and linguistic inclusivity with the unveiling of 28 new communication boards, 24 of which are bilingual, enhancing the city’s public spaces. This initiative, led by Barbara Fernandes, a Brazilian-American immigrant and CEO of Smarty Symbols, reflects the city’s commitment to embracing its multicultural residents and visitors. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Boston, MA –November 7th, 2023 – Boston marks a si ..read more

The Unspoken Revolution: Therapists and Educators Unite To Make Public Spaces More Inclusive For Non-Speaking Children This transformative vision aspires to create a ripple effect, originating in Boston but capable of affecting communities globally. Rather than merely departing with new insights and connections, attendees and the broader community have the opportunity to be part of an enduring legacy focused on inclusion and diverse means of communication. This initiative, independent yet thematically aligned with the ASHA convention, marks a seminal moment in advocating for accessible and ..read more

36 Location Board with Smarty Symbols: Free Download Dive into the vibrant world of communication with our FREE 36 Location Board, enriched with the beloved Smarty Symbols imagery. Don’t miss out on this unique tool, designed to amplify voices and bridge communication gaps. Download now and explore the power of core vocabulary, Smarty Symbols style! In the realm of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), understanding the tools available to facilitate communication is crucial. One such tool that has been generating positive buzz is the “36 location” board. But what exactly is ..read more

WIL AAC HINDER SPEECH? Separating Myths from Truths In the vast ocean of information surrounding communication methods, it’s easy to get swept up in myths—especially when it comes to Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Popular misconceptions might suggest that AAC hinders verbal skills or should be treated as a last resort. However, diving into the evidence paints a much clearer, more positive picture of AAC’s role in enhancing communication for many individuals. Many times we are so flooded with information that we cannot distinguish the truth from the myths. When this ha ..read more

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Smarty Symbols will be giving a Large Playground Communication Board to a School in the United States Smarty Symbols has recently started an initiative to make playgrounds more inclusive around the world. We have a collection of beautifully designed communication boards for public display.  You can preview our boards here. Children should have access to a personal communication device, but making communication boards available in public areas can benefit not only the children who already have access to their own personal device. Special Education Programs can purchase one of our boa ..read more

What are the benefits of a playground communication board? Playgrounds are important for children’s physical and mental health. They let kids explore their surroundings, run around, and blow off some steam after a long day of school. For kids who have difficulty communicating or engaging with others, playgrounds can also be a great place to practice these skills. However, for non-verbal children practicing those skills can be challenging if their communication tools are not readily available.  One way to make sure playgrounds are inclusive to all children is through the use of a designa ..read more

There are many people who have never even heard of AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) and those that have often shy away from it for lack of knowledge. There are many myths floating around about AAC that are simply not true. October is AAC Awareness Month so let’s separate the myths from the facts. Myth 1: The goal of AAC is to communicate basic needs The goal of AAC is to communicate the needs AND wants of the individual. Communication is social and should bring the individual closer to others. Myth 2: AAC hinders speech development There are countless research studies th ..read more

Our language is made up of small words and enormous words, simple words and complex words, beautiful words and healing words. Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things. I am tempted to think there are no little things. –Bruce Barton.  There are many little words which make up our everyday language, a group of them are called the core vocabulary. WHAT IS CORE VOCABULARY? Core vocabulary is a set of words that we use frequently during communication, they are often short words and can be used in multiple situations and have multiple meani ..read more

One of the biggest problems in AAC is the lack of training for communication partners – and even speech-language pathologists. We have moved ahead of the thinking that we can just put an AAC system in front of the student and think he’ll start communicating. It has finally gotten through to us all that students need direct, structured, modeled instruction. There are a couple of forms this instruction can – and should – take. Aided Language Stimulation is the first and crucial step in implementation. Just as neurotypical children learn language by listening to those around them, so too do AAC ..read more