I'm a speech-language pathologist & co-founder of Tactus. Tactus offers evidence-based apps for aphasia therapy and lots of free resources, articles, and education - like this newsletter. Sign up to get my updates 1-2 times a month.
💡Create amazing communication boards with this therapy hack
There are a number of software programs out there specifically designed for the purpose of creating picture communication boards. But this month I've discovered one that does the job beautifully - and it's not even meant for AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) at all!
Canva is a user-friendly graphic design program you can access through a website or mobile app. It's free for basic functionality and a limited set of elements, or about $10/month for the Pro subscription (free for teachers and non-profits). While it's meant to be used to design social media graphics or brochures, you can design almost anything with ease using the templates and tools.
Want to join Canva? Use our referral link so you'll get a free premium element just for signing up! https://www.canva.com/join/bengal-machinist-optimistic
Here's what I did to create a simple communication board like this:
- Click "Create a Design"
- Scroll down to select "Photo Collage"
- Search Templates for "Start Your Day"
- Delete the green squares and text, and delete the off-white background
- Search Photos or Elements for the concept you want
- Place the photo into the first square
- Add text under the square
- Keep adding photos or elements and labels until you're done
- Publish as PDF, print, and if possible, laminate or put in a sheet protector
Watch (and share) the video on YouTube
Up until now, I've used Google Images to find pictures, save them, and import them into a PowerPoint template to make custom boards. But what's really amazing about Canva - beyond all the built-in tools - is that you can upload your own photos too! So if you want a picture of a family member, pet, or a local place that isn't in the stock image directory, you can add that really easily. Just have it saved on your computer and ready to upload.
Adding your own photos means you can make communication boards, therapy materials, books, or whatever you need, and it will look nice without much effort. Customization is so important to maximizing outcomes and motivation, which is why we've created customizable apps!
Happy creating!
-Megan
P.S. Sign up for a free or Pro account on Canva today using our referral link so you'll get a free premium element: https://www.canva.com/join/bengal-machinist-optimistic
Megan @ Tactus Therapy
I'm a speech-language pathologist & co-founder of Tactus. Tactus offers evidence-based apps for aphasia therapy and lots of free resources, articles, and education - like this newsletter. Sign up to get my updates 1-2 times a month.
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