Alphabet Charts & Books

ABC spelling charts

Alphabet communication book templates

Alphabets you can eye point to

Alphabets you can point to

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

Listener Mediated Scanning

QWERTY alphabet charts

Education resources

Developing Access Methods

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

Symbol Charts

Communication Books

Core

Creative

Daily Routines

Leisure

Older Learners

Play

Younger Learners

Getting Started with Paper-Based Symbol Resources

FUNctional Switching

Getting Started with AAC and Literacy

Express Yourself!

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Express Yourself is a practical guide by Deborah Little and Clare Thorn, packed with ideas to support communication, participation and self-expression during circle time for learners who use AAC and Assistive Technology. It also includes a reflective worksheet for class teams to use together, helping them evaluate current practice and identify opportunities to strengthen learner voice and engagement.
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Access Methods: Switch

Snap!

Echo

Please note this is an update of the Ace Centre resource &#8220;Switch Assessment and Planning Framework.&#8221;

Framework for Switch Assessment

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This resource pack offers practical tools to support professionals and people with physical disabilities identify the most effective switch access solutions through a structured process of information gathering, assessment, and action planning. It emphasises person-centred, multidisciplinary assessment and recognises that switch access needs may evolve over time, requiring ongoing review and collaboration.
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Getting Started with Modelling

Cooking

AAC in the Classroom

A Guide to Writing an Effective AAC Policy in Education Settings

AAC in Action: Tasty Traditions

<div>A practical resource showing how food‑based activities linked to cultural celebrations from around the British Isles (Burns Night, Pancake Day, St. David&#8217;s Day and St. Patrick&#8217;s Day) can support richer AAC use, including descriptive, comparative, preference and maths‑related language. It offers simple ideas to help learners share opinions, make comparisons and take part in meaningful, curriculum‑linked communication at home and in the classroom.</div>
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Getting Started with Yes/No

Colours

AAC in Action: Festive Season

Easter Egg Hunt

A 30 location symbol chart to support communication when baking or cooking up your favourite treats in the run up to a special event &#8230; or any day of the year!
This download includes an information sheet to help you get started and charts with Widgit, PCS and High Contrast symbols.

iOS Accessibility

<h5>Explore accessibility settings in iOS 13 and learn about adaptations that can be made as well as alternative ways to control the iPad such as mouse, voice and switch.</h5>

https://acecentre.arlo.co/w/events/37-supporting-literacy-with-aac-free-webinar

Supporting Literacy with AAC

https://acecentre.arlo.co/w/events/44-makaton

Makaton

For more information about creating symbol based materials click <a href="https://acecentre.org.uk/resources/getting-started-with-paper-based-symbol-resources">here to access our Getting Started with Paper-Based Symbol Resources eBook</a>
<a href="https://acecentre.org.uk/resources/all?category=symbol-charts">Click here to download free symbol based AAC charts featuring core words.</a>
<a href="https://acecentre.org.uk/learning/search?category=communication">Visit Ace Centre Learning for live and on demand training courses on introducing symbol based AAC here</a>

Getting Started with Core Words

This leaflet is a starting point for introducing the concept and importance of core words to people who are creating symbol based AAC materials.
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Read Dear Zoo

Too learn more about literacy instruction for people who use AAC or who have complex needs we suggest the following sources:
General literacy: 
<a href="https://literacyforallinstruction.ca/">Literacy Instruction for Students with Significant Disabilities </a> website with information and guidance
<a href="http://www.project-core.com/">Project Core </a> website with information and free professional development modules
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/46177933-comprehensive-literacy-for-all">Comprehensive Literacy for All</a> book with information and guidance
<a href="http://www.teachustoo.org.uk/">Teach Us Too</a> UK based charity promoting literacy education for all
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Self Directed Reading: 
<a href="https://praacticalaac.org/praactical/5-ways-to-make-page-fluffers-and-spacers">PrAACtical AAC </a>blog with tips on making books accessible
<a href="https://www.janefarrall.com/self-selected-reading-books-for-every-reader/">Jane Farrall</a> presentation handout with tips and information
<a href="https://www.monarchreader.com/">Monarch Reader (formerly Tar Heel Reader)</a> large bank of free online books
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Shared Reading: 
<a href="https://acecentre.org.uk/resources/all?category=symbol-charts&amp;page=1&amp;subcategory=leisure">Ace Centre Symbol Chart</a> free printable symbol charts to support reading books
<a href="https://www.sharedreader.org/">Tar Heel Shared Reader</a> website with information and free professional development modules
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Letter and Sounds 
<a href="https://www.janefarrall.com/teaching-and-learning-the-alphabet-playing-with-letter-shapes-and-sounds/">Jane Farrall</a> blog post on teaching the alphabet
<a href="https://sites.google.com/view/emergingreaders/home-a-z-books">Reading &amp; Writing 4 All</a> website with free resources for teaching the alphabet
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Writing: 
<a href="https://www.med.unc.edu/healthsciences/clds/alternative-pencils/">Centre for Literacy and Disability Studies Alternative Pencils </a>information and resources
<a href="https://acecentre.org.uk/resources/all?category=alphabet-charts">Ace Centre Alphabet Charts </a> free printable alphabet charts to use for writing

This leaflet is a starting point for introducing literacy instruction to people who use AAC and why it is important.

Simon Says... Sing a Carol!

Elf on the Shelf

Read this <a href="https://backend.acecentre.org.uk/news/deck-the-halls-with-core-words/">blog post to learn more about using core words</a> during the festive seasons.

A practical resource that provides activity and modelling ideas to support AAC users during the festive celebrations of Christmas and Hanukkah. By focusing on core words already present in AAC systems, the resource promotes spontaneous communication, language generalisation, and reduces the need for adding rarely used, event-specific vocabulary
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Access to paper-based symbol resources when pointing is difficult

Communication Partners

Most people communicate yes or no—by speaking, nodding, or using gestures. But for those with complex needs, it’s not always that easy.
This resource explores ways to teach yes/no responses, including alternatives for those with limited movement. It outlines practical methods such as head movements, eye pointing, switches, and verbal/physical cues, with tips for consistency and modeling across communication partners.
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AAC in Action: Autumn Festivals

Modelling, aided language stimulation, point talking – are different ways of saying the same thing: that it is important to point to symbols while you talk to someone who is using symbols to communicate.
This leaflet is a starting point for introducing the concept and importance of modelling for communication partners who are supporting someone learning to use symbol based AAC systems.
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A practical resource that provides activity and modelling ideas to support AAC users during the autumnal celebrations of Halloween, Diwali, and Bonfire Night. By focusing on core, descriptive, and action words already present in AAC systems, the resource promotes spontaneous communication, language generalisation, and reduces the need for adding rarely used, event-specific vocabulary
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Kerplunk

Bubbles

Blocks

Dressing up

Turn Taking

Balloons

Tea Time

Train Play

Dolly

Mr Potato Head

Check out <a href="https://youtu.be/fCgGy8dFIFE">this video</a> to learn about the eBook features
There is a lot of emphasis on communication partner skills in this resource. That is because communication does not happen in isolation – it is a social act involving two or more people. The person who is communicating with someone who cannot rely on speech needs to develop a range of skills that will enable them to support that person to fulfil their potential.
Please note that this resource is not suggesting that paper-based AAC is ‘best’, or that using paper-based communication resources is a prerequisite to using an electronic 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

The aim of this resource is to introduce you to paper-based AAC involving symbols to enable you to support those who can’t rely on speech to communicate. Communication enables us to express ourselves, learn, have fun and be active members of society. Supporting communication with symbols can unlock so many opportunities for those unable to rely upon speech to communicate.

This guide is designed to support educational settings through the process of creating an AAC policy that is unique to them and the needs of their students and staff. The document outlines practical steps for integrating AAC into daily classroom activities, ensuring that AAC users can participate fully and learn effectively. It also highlights the importance of fostering a supportive culture that values diverse communication methods and promotes understanding and inclusion. 
We created this free online guide, directed by the original Developing AAC Policies in Schools document created in 2001, whilst working alongside and within several education settings. The aim is to pull from and share our recent joined up experience to assist education teams through the process of creating an AAC policy that is unique to them and the needs of their students and staff. The guide addresses key points for effective AAC policies to include:
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<li>Introduction</li>
<li>Defining AAC</li>
<li>The need for an AAC policy statement</li>
<li>The educational context</li>
<li>Legal considerations in the use of AAC</li>
<li>Roles and responsibilities</li>
<li>Ongoing training and development</li>
<li>Transition</li>
<li>Funding options</li>
<li>Conclusion</li>
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Each section in this guide has been designed to promote discussion and planning throughout the process of creating your AAC policy whilst providing examples from existing school policies and considerations to explore within your setting.

Free online eBook or download as PDF

Designing and using alphabet charts

High contrast ABC flip book - for Listener Mediated Scanning

PDF Black text on yellow background

Word Template Black text on yellow background

PDF Yellow text on red background

Word Template Yellow text on red background

Alphabet flip chart

Word Document

Look2Talk

Pragmatic Auditory Scan Communication Book

Simon Says

Ace Centre E-Tran Frame

Sing Old McDonald 8 Intro to encoding

Chat about TV

Check out <a href="https://youtu.be/fCgGy8dFIFE">this video</a> to learn about the eBook features
For a more general all round introduction to low tech symbol based AAC, you could see another resource in this AAC Information Series, Getting Started with AAC: Using low tech symbol based systems with children.

The aim of this resource is explore access to low tech symbol based AAC when accessing standard resources is difficult physically or visually. It is aimed at people who are familiar with low tech AAC, but want to find out more about how to adjust and adapt the resources to meet individual needs.

ABC with Symbols

Alphabet Chart Pack - charts you point to

Colour encoded - UPPER case - for eye pointing

Encoded chart with ABC and numbers you can point to

Number encoded - UPPER case - for eye pointing

Frequency layout (fitaly) you can point to

Colour encoded ABC you can point to

Coded ABC chart you can point to

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.

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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Resources