Free AAC Communication Board for Teens & Adults
Empowering Dignified Communication Around Food
Free AAC Communication Board for Teens & Adults- Download Here
I created this free AAC communication board because I couldn’t find anything that truly fit the needs of the people I work with, especially teens and adults. Most AAC tools and communication boards out there are overly childish or filled with abstract symbols that can be confusing or even demeaning. While symbolic language has its place, it often falls short when we’re working with older individuals who deserve clarity, dignity, and ease.
This need became painfully clear to me when my grandmother, once a brilliant, articulate woman and former educator, underwent emergency surgery for a brain tumor. Overnight, she lost her ability to speak. I was already a speech-language pathologist (SLP), and yet I had nothing in my toolbox that felt right for her.
Everything I offered her felt infantilizing. She refused to use traditional symbol-based AAC boards, and I couldn’t blame her. Her identity, built over a lifetime of communication and contribution, was being reduced to babyish visuals and simplified phrases. It broke my heart and changed my entire approach to AAC therapy, especially for adults.
Since then, I’ve worked with many nonverbal adults and teens navigating autism, aphasia, traumatic brain injuries, stroke recovery, and developmental disabilities, and I’ve seen the same frustration. They don’t want to be spoken down to. They don’t want cluttered, bright grids of generic clip-art symbols. They want to be part of the moment with tools that feel grown-up, engaging, and intuitive.
That’s why I created this free AAC board: a photo-based, food-related communication board that’s visually clear and functional for real-world use. It’s designed to help non-speaking individuals participate in food routines, like cooking, ordering, or requesting food, with autonomy and pride.
Who This Is For:
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs)
Special educators
Caregivers and parents
Hospital staff and medical professionals
Anyone supporting someone with limited verbal communication
Why It’s Different:
Real photographic images, not symbols or cartoons
Intentionally designed for teens and adults
Completely free AAC download
Pairs with my upcoming visual-adapted cookbook for AAC users, which will be full of step-by-step photo recipes perfect for nonverbal individuals, special needs cooking programs, and accessible life skills classrooms
There’s no right or wrong way to use this board. Simply model your own speech by pointing to the photos. Ask questions like:
What do you want?
What’s next?
Do you need help?
And most importantly, presume competence. Just because someone is using a communication board doesn’t mean they need simplified language or a baby voice. Use your regular voice. Talk about food the way you normally would.
This free AAC resource is my way of offering something I wish I’d had back when my grandmother needed it most. I hope it helps you create connection, joy, and dignity in shared routines.
Download the Free AAC Board Here
Stay Tuned:
My visually adapted cookbook for AAC users is almost ready! It’s full of engaging, photo-based recipes designed for nonverbal adults, special needs families, and anyone who wants to bring communication into the kitchen.