Alphabet Charts & Books

ABC spelling charts

Alphabet communication book templates

Alphabets you can eye point to

Alphabets you can point to

Charts for Listener Mediated Scanning

Charts with the alphabet + some words and phrases to point to

Coded alphabet charts

Encoded alphabet charts

Frequency layout spelling charts

High contrast charts

Letter codes

QWERTY alphabet charts

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Customisable symbol charts for communication available in five layouts to support different access methods.

Symbol Charts

Core

Creative

Daily Routines

Leisure

Older Learners

Play

Younger Learners

Check out <a href="https://youtu.be/fCgGy8dFIFE">this video</a> to learn about the eBook features
Please note that this resource is not suggesting that low tech is ‘best’, or that low tech is a prerequisite to a more high tech communication aid. It is simply about valuing the role of paper based communication systems, and sharing lots of ideas and strategies to help develop and support them. You may well find that many of the ideas and strategies are useful when it comes to other forms of communication too.

Designing and using alphabet charts

The aim of this resource is help you design and use alphabet charts with people who can’t rely on speech, enabling them to communicate to the best of their ability. Through communication we can express ourselves, learn, have fun, and be active members of society

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Check out <a href="https://youtu.be/fCgGy8dFIFE">this video</a> to learn about the eBook features
Find videos and support materials if you or are a family member requires solutions to help communicate due to a progressive condition such as MND/ALS, PSP, MS, Parkinson&#8217;s disease.
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Paper-based resources to support Communication for Adults with Progressive Conditions

This guide provides information about paper-based tools and strategies that can support communication if speech is becoming or has become difficult due to an acquired progressive condition. It is written for people living with such a condition and also for family, carers and relevant professionals.

ABC charts - for Listener Mediated Scanning

Word document

High contrast ABC & Frequency layout charts - for Listener Mediated Scanning

Being a Communication Partner

Being a Communication Partner&#8217; is our quick guide to having conversations with people who use the alphabet to communicate.
Positive and effective communication involves two or more people interacting in a skilful way, so when someone is using an alphabet based communication tool, it’s not just down to them to make the conversation work. As a ‘Communication Partner’ (the person they are communicating with) you can help make the conversation more successful, inclusive and effective for everyone.

As provided as an example at <a href="https://acecentre.org.uk/ebooks/designing-and-using-alphabet-charts/index.html#/reader/chapter/59">Designing and Using Alphabet Charts (acecentre.org.uk)</a>

High Frequency Words & Phrases with QWERTY alphabet for Pointing

This communication book is designed to be used by someone who can point to fairly small messages. The template will need to be completed with personalised words and phrases that are communicated repeatedly and useful to deliver quickly.

A5 Communication Book you can point to

This pack includes:
<ul>
<li>Using a Clues Book help sheet (PDF)</li>
<li>Clues Book with Widgit symbol support (PDF)</li>
<li>Clues Book with text (PDF)</li>
<li>InPrint3 templates for creating a symbol supported or text based Clues Book</li>
<li>MS Word template for creating a text based Clues Book</li>
</ul>

Clues Book

Designed to support speech when there is difficulty being understood by providing a means for giving clues to a communication partner so they can make guesses to get conversation back-on-track.

Alphabet Chart Pack - charts you point to

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This pack contains ten alphabet charts designed to support face-to-face communication for someone who is able to spell but cannot rely upon speech to communicate.
<a href="https://acecentre.org.uk/blog/customisable-alphabet-charts">Click here to find read about things to consider when customising this chart. </a>
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upper case

lower case

Number encoded ABC you can point to

Colour encoded ABC you can point to

Coded ABC chart you can point to

Number encoded - UPPER case - for eye pointing

Laminator essential

Laminator optional

Colour encoded - UPPER case - for eye pointing

Colour encoded - lower case - for eye pointing

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A free resource to support Teachers, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, etc. to have a discussion about ‘Readiness for AAC’ with their clients. The resource was funded by Ace Centre and created collaboratively with <a href="http://www.talkingmats.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Talking Mats</a>.  <a href="https://acecentre.org.uk/project/talking-mats-for-aac/">Learn more about the project here </a>

Readiness for AAC (Talking Mats)

Speakbook is a simple communication tool that was developed by Patrick Joyce who had Motor Neurone Disease (MND / ALS). Understanding the progression of his condition and the needs of others, Patrick realised that there was a need for a cheap and easy-to-use way of communicating for people who are able to read and spell and can move their eyes, but struggle to point with their finger or hand.
Speakbook is a template for a communication book which you populate with your own messages.  It also provides access to an alphabet chart. While originally developed with MND in mind, Speakbook can be useful for anyone who is literate and requires a communication tool that they can access with their eyes. (<a href="https://acecentre.org.uk/project/speakbook/">For more information &#8211; see here</a>)
<h2>With thanks to:</h2>
English &#8211; With thanks to Suzanne Guerin and her colleagues for finding the mistake with the circles/triangles and cyan/green dots!
Turkish &#8211;  Ersin Sinay
German &#8211; Julius Deutsch, kommhelp e.V., Michael Ritson, Ace Centre, UK.
Afrikaans &#8211; Emma Emmerich, Inclusive Solutions.
Portuguese &#8211; Hélio Lourenço, Ace Centre UK
Maltese &#8211; Martina Zarb, Mariah Amber Busuttil, Jamie Said, Access to Communication and Technology Unit (ACTU), Malta
Bulgarian &#8211; Evgeniya Hristova
French &#8211; Michael Ritson, Ace Centre, UK.
Zulu &#8211; Sipho Sibanda, Inclusive Solutions
Arabic &#8211; Hossein Amin, Iraq.

SpeakBook

This leaflet is derived from the information presented in the chapter &#8220;Augmentative and Alternative Communication” written by Ace Centre colleagues Lizzie Sadiku, Katherine Small and Suzanne Martin for a book by Dr. Sean Pert called “<a href="http://bit.ly/AACLang">Working with Children Experiencing Speech and Language Disorders in a Bilingual Context: A home Language Approach</a>”.

Appraising an AAC Resource in a Language You Do Not Speak

We have created this document pulling from our experience of supporting AAC users who want to communicate in more than one language. It is a compilation of questions you can and should be asking when appraising resources in a language you do not speak and considerations for you to keep in mind.

Bulgarian

Serbian

German/Deutsch

Afrikkans

Turkish

Portuguese

Maltese

Zulu

English

French/Francais

Spanish/Espanol

Swedish

GridWiz is a simple app to make a custom <a href="https://thinksmartbox.com/product/grid-3/">Grid 3 Gridset</a> with images from Google images. After installing it, Double click on the app, Enter your search term and select 7 images. When done hit export and import the file into the <a href="https://thinksmartbox.com/product/grid-3/">Grid 3</a>.  The Gridset can then be modified as you wish &#8211; adding sounds etc if you need to.
<div class="responsive-embed widescreen"><iframe loading="lazy" title="GridWiz Demonstration" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5Rl4R7MWNW8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

GridWiz

GridWiz is a small utility app to help people make Grid 3 gridsets with images from Google images.

Created in collaboration with <a href="https://www.assistiveware.com">Assistiveware</a> this is your <a href="https://www.assistiveware.com/blog/assistiveware-core-word-classroom">Coreword Classroom</a> 5 Minute filler on.. Christmas! Enjoy!

Core Word Classroom - 5 Minute Filler

Want to make your own switch adapted toys for Christmas? Watch Elf Paul literally eat his way through making some switch adapted Christmas Tree lights.
You will need:
<ul>
<li>A battery operated toy or set of Christmas tree lights that are battery operated (i.e. a simple switch turns them on or off)</li>
<li>A 3.5mm switch (available from any good AT supplier! e.g. <a href="https://www.liberator.co.uk/products/switches/switches">Liberator</a>, <a href="http://www.inclusive.co.uk/hardware/switches-and-switch-mountings">Inclusive Technology</a> )</li>
<li>A <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/kenable-3-5mm-Socket-Extension-Cable/dp/B011SSAUM0/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1545132846&amp;sr=1-5&amp;keywords=3.5mm%2Bjack%2Bmono%2Bextension&amp;th=1">mono 3.5mm extension lead</a> that you are ready to cut down to size</li>
<li>Some double sided sticky pads or <a href="https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5mm-15mm-VHB-5952-Heavy-Duty-Double-Sided-Acrylic-Foam-Adhesive-Tape-Mounting/192736207208?hash=item2cdff92168:m:mJU0lJ-OmP_gFsq-vCwsvzQ:rk:6:pf:0">VHB tape </a></li>
<li>Some snips or wire cutters</li>
<li>A paper towel</li>
<li>&#8230;and a mince pie case!</li>
</ul>

Make your own switch adapted Christmas Tree lights

Looking for some festive (and musical) fun this Christmas? Well Simon says&#8230;. Sing a song! Find here a 15 location chart , available in different symbol sets; SymbolStix in Mind Express, PCS in Snap and Core first and Widgit in Grid 3. Have fun whilst learning symbols, <a href="http://aacbooks.net/books/UsingLowTechSymbolSystemsChildren/#_point_talking_modelling">find more information here</a>  We wish you all a happy Christmas!

Simon Says... Sing a Carol!

Snap & Core First Pageset

Grid 3 Gridset

MindExpress Bundle

Find here a Powerpoint that will show you how to make your own Christmas Biscuit Tree. Follow the instructions from Jen. If you need to support to bake then you might prefer to direct other bakers! To do this we have identified some keywords for you to use in your AAC resource. If you are getting started with your AAC then we suggest that your communication partner models the words to you. <a href="http://aacbooks.net/books/UsingLowTechSymbolSystemsChildren/#_point_talking_modelling">See here for some ideas on how to do this</a>.
(A note for communication partners: Can&#8217;t find the right symbols for the words? Find an alternative! For example, you may not have &#8220;sprinkle&#8220;. Don&#8217;t feel pressured to add the word sprinkled. Would &#8220;put&#8221; be ok instead? It gets the same meaning across)
If you are a person who uses a switch you can easily turn the pages of the powerpoint by mapping your switches to the space bar. <a href="https://www.setbc.org/Download/LearningCentre/Access/Reading_Accessible_Books_with_Switch.pdf">Read here for some more information</a> (thanks to SETBC for that information!)
A big thanks to News2You/<a href="https://www.n2y.com/symbolstix-prime/">SymbolStix</a> for allowing us to use their symbols in this resource.

Make your own Biscuit Christmas Tree

Yum! Yum! Christmas for some is all about the food! We all need a way of saying when we want more Turkey or we want to play a game.  Find here a communication placemat which you can use to chat whilst eating your Christmas Dinner. Print it out at A3 or A4 for your perfect dinner plate size. We recommend laminating to avoid Gravy problems.
Made with the excellent open source <a href="http://arasaac.org">ARASAAC</a> symbols and with some special help from Elf Ben.

Christmas Place Mat

Find above a Symbol Chart to help support you with the fabulous <a href="https://www.elfontheshelf.com">Elf on the Shelf</a>. Its a worldwide classic and now, thanks to <a href="http://tobiidynavox.com">Tobii Dynavox </a>we have the correct symbol to support it! A massive thanks to<a href="http://tobiidynavox.com"> Tobii Dynavox </a>who have helped create the symbols for this resource. How should we use it? <a href="http://aacbooks.net/books/UsingLowTechSymbolSystemsChildren/#_section_6_reading_and_telling_stories">Have a read here with some general ideas here</a>.

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