Choice Boards: Giving Kids a Voice Without the Tech Headache

AAC: Choice Boards

You know what? Sometimes the best tools we have in special education are the ones that don’t require a charger. I have been teaching for nearly two decades, and I have seen fancy tablets gather dust while a piece of cardboard with Velcro gets used fifty times a day. That is the magic of a choice board. It is low-tech, it is cheap, and honestly, it works.

If you are looking for a way to help a child communicate their wants and needs, this is it. Let me explain why choice boards are a staple in my classroom and my home, and how you can build one that actually gets used.

What is a Choice Board Anyway?

A choice board is exactly what it sounds like. It is a visual display of options. That is it. It might be a grid of four pictures, a strip of Velcro with two symbols, or a folder full of potential activities. It falls under the umbrella of AAC, which stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. It sounds fancy, but it just means “other ways to speak.”

For many of our kids, words are hard. They might be non-speaking, or they might lose their words when they are stressed. A choice board bridges that gap. It takes the abstract concept of “what do you want?” and makes it concrete. They point, they look, or they grab the picture. Boom. Communication happens.

Why Go Low-Tech?

You might be thinking, “Joe, why not just use an iPad?” Tablets are great. I use them too. But technology fails. Wi-Fi drops. Batteries die. Apps crash. A laminated piece of paper? That thing is reliable. It is always on. It never updates right when you need it.

Also, low-tech choice boards are often less distracting. An iPad is a glowing screen full of potential games. A piece of paper with a picture of a cookie and a picture of an apple? That is just a choice. It keeps the focus on the communication, not the device itself.

The “Total Communication” Vibe

We talk a lot about “total communication” in schools. This just means we accept any form of communication as valid. Gestures, signs, noises, pictures, words, it all counts. Choice boards fit perfectly here. They don’t replace speech; they support it.

When I use a choice board with a student, I am still talking. I say, “Do you want blocks or cars?” while pointing to the pictures. The student might point to the blocks. I say, “Blocks! You want blocks.” We are layering visual, auditory, and motor skills all at once. It reinforces the language even if the child never says a word verbally.

Designing Your Choice Board: Keep It Real

Here is the thing about making these choice boards. You can spend hours making them look Pinterest-perfect, and they might still flop. Function beats fashion every time.

Start Small – Don’t hand a kid a board with twenty options. That is a recipe for a meltdown. Start with two. Just two. “This or that.” Once they get the hang of it, you can add more. But flooding them with choices usually leads to them picking nothing or just swiping the whole board onto the floor.

Photos vs. Icon – This is a big debate. Some kids respond better to real photos. If you want them to choose their favourite red cup, take a picture of that red cup. Generic clip art of a cup might not register. Other kids do better with simple icons like Boardmaker symbols because they generalize better. A symbol of a “drink” covers juice, water, and milk. A photo of orange juice only means orange juice. You have to know your kid.

The Background Matters – Use a solid background. White or black is usually best. Patterned backgrounds are distracting. You want the symbols to pop, not get lost in polka dots.

Velcro is Your Best Friend – Use Velcro dots. Put the rough side (the hook) on the back of the symbols and the soft side (the loop) on the board. Why? Because the soft side is nicer to touch if the board is empty. Also, carpet walls in classrooms are usually compatible with the rough side, so you can stick symbols anywhere.

The Golden Rule: Do Not Laminate Yet!

Please, listen to me on this one. Do not fire up the laminator until you have tested the board. I learned this the hard way. I spent a whole evening making a beautiful, color-coded, indestructible board. I brought it to school, and the student hated it. The pictures were too small. The layout was confusing.

Print your pictures on regular paper first. Use blue tack or tape. See if the child understands the symbols. See if they can physically point to the options without hitting the wrong one. Once you know the layout works, then you laminate. It saves you so much time and plastic.

How to Use It (Without Being Annoying)

Okay, you have the board. Now what? You can’t just stick it on the wall and expect magic. You have to teach it.

Model, Model, Model – You use the board first. If you are having a snack, point to the snack picture. If you are going outside, point to the door picture. Show them that the pictures have meaning.

The “bait” Method – Start with things they actually want. Don’t make a choice board for “math” or “cleaning up” yet. Make one for “cookie” or “bubbles.” You need to build the connection that touching the picture gets me the good stuff.

Offer the Choice – Hold the board in front of them. Ask, “What do you want?” Wait. Give them time. Processing takes time. If they don’t move, you can gently guide their hand, but try to let them do the last bit.

Honor the Choice – This is critical. If they point to “blocks,” you give them blocks. Even if you know they wanted cars but hit the wrong one by mistake, give them the blocks first. Then, when they look confused or upset, say, “Oh, you pointed to blocks. Did you want cars?” and help them fix it. This teaches them that their action has a direct consequence. If you just give them the cars anyway, the board becomes meaningless.

Troubleshooting the Use Of Choice Boards

Things will go wrong. That is just life with kids.

The “Grabby Hands” Problem – Some kids will just grab both pictures. They want everything or don’t have the processing and motor skills to discriminate and make the choice. This is where you might need to separate the choices physically. Put one picture in your left hand and one in your right. Hold them far apart. Make them reach for just one.

Throwing/Posting – Some kids will throw the symbols or post them behind something. This is often a sensory thing or a sign of frustration. If they throw the “work” picture, they are probably communicating “I don’t want to work.” That is valid communication! Acknowledge it. “You threw the work picture. You are telling me ‘no work’.”

The “Looker” – Some kids won’t touch. They will just look intensely at what they want. That counts! If they lock eyes with the juice picture, give them the juice. You can say, “I see you looking at the juice.” Later, you can work on pointing, but for now, eye gaze is a win. You may need to create a more spaced out board for example 4 symbols one in each corner.

Advanced Moves

Once the child has mastered the basic “I want X” choice, you can get fancy.

Categorization – You can make boards for different times of day. A “Breakfast Board” with toast, cereal, and eggs. A “Play Board” with swings, slide, and ball. This helps organize their world.

Core Vocabulary – Start adding words that aren’t nouns. Add “Stop,” “Go,” “More,” and “Finished.” These are powerful words. Being able to tell someone to “Stop” is a huge safety skill and a big boost to bodily autonomy.

Fading Prompts – At first, you might be holding the board right in front of their face. Eventually, you want to leave it on the desk or hang it on the wall. You want them to go get it when they need it. That takes time, but it is the goal.

A Few More Tips from the Trenches

• Keep spares. Pictures get lost. They get chewed. They vanish into the void. Keep a folder of backup symbols.
• Consistency is key. If “toilet” is a picture of a blue toilet in the classroom, don’t make it a white toilet at home if you can avoid it. Try to keep the symbols somewhat consistent across environments.
• Don’t make it a quiz. Don’t say, “Show me the apple” just to test them. Use the board for genuine communication. If you know they want the apple, just give it to them. Use the board when there is a genuine choice to be made.

It Is About Connection

At the end of the day (oops, almost used a banned phrase there!), let’s just say that ultimately, this is about connection. It is about letting a child know that their thoughts matter. That they can influence their world.

A choice board is not just a piece of card. It is a bridge. It is a way for a child to say, “I am here, and I have a preference.” And that? That is everything. So go grab some Velcro, take some pictures, and start small. You might be surprised at how much they have to say.

Frequently Asked Questions about AAC Choice Boards

How big should the choice board pictures be?

Start big. Maybe 3×3 inches. As their motor skills get better, you can shrink them down to fit more on a page. But bigger is easier to target.

What if they rip the pictures?

Cardstock is tough, but lamination is tougher. If they are really destructive, you can print on tear-proof paper or tape the edges with heavy-duty packing tape.

Can I use a binder to store my choice boards?

Yes! A communication book is basically a stack of choice boards in a binder. It is a great next step. But start with a single board first. Don’t overwhelm them with a heavy book until they get the concept.

Making It Stick

The hardest part isn’t making the board. It is remembering to use it. We are so used to talking. We forget to stop and offer the visual.

Tape a note to your desk: “WHERE IS THE CHOICE BOARD?” Put one by the fridge. Put one by the door. Make it a habit. If you don’t use it, they won’t use it.

You are going to feel silly sometimes. You are going to feel like you are talking to yourself. But one day, you will hold up that board, and that kid who has been screaming for twenty minutes because you couldn’t guess what they wanted will reach out, calmly tap the picture of “music,” and the screaming will stop. And you will feel like a genius.

Here is a “Starter Pack” checklist for your first choice board. Honestly, you don’t need a thousand pictures to start. You just need the ones that matter to the child.

If the board is boring, they won’t touch it. So, we start with the good stuff.

Key Choice Board Symbols/Images.

1. The “High Motivation” Items (The Hook)

These are the most important symbols. You use these to teach the child that the board is magic. If they touch the picture, they get the prize.

• Bubbles: Almost every kid loves bubbles. It is a great cause-and-effect tool.
• Music/Song: Perfect for kids who love auditory stimulation.
• Snack: Pick their absolute favourite. If it is a chocolate button, put a picture of a chocolate button.
• Ball/Cars: Whatever their specific obsession is.
• iPad/Tablet: Let’s be real, this is often the number one request.
• Outside: For the runners and the nature lovers.

2. The Essentials (Basic Needs)

These help avoid accidents and meltdowns.

• Toilet: Use a picture that looks like the actual toilet they use.
• Drink: A generic cup or a specific juice box.
• Eat/Hungry: A plate or a fork/spoon icon.
• Sleep/Tired: A pillow or a bed.

3. The “Power Words” (Core Vocabulary)

These are words that work in every situation. They give the child control over their environment.

• More: Essential for snack time or tickles.
• Stop: This is a safety word. It teaches them they can end an activity they hate without screaming.
• Help: This reduces frustration when a toy is stuck or a container won’t open.
• All Done / Finished: A great way to transition out of an activity.

4. Sensory and Feelings

Sometimes behavior is just a communication of a sensory need.

• Break: A quiet corner or a “stop” sign.
• Headphones: For when it gets too loud.
• Happy / Sad: Basic emotions to start checking in.

A Quick Tip on Images

You know what works best? Real photos.

If you can, take your phone, snap a picture of their actual red cup, their specific teddy bear, or the actual classroom door. Print those out. It makes the connection much faster for the child than a generic drawing.

So, give it a go. Keep it simple. Keep it fun. And seriously, don’t laminate until you are sure.