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

Implementation

Literacy

Seasonal

Info & Apps

Access

Digital Publications

E-Books

Getting Started

Language(s)

Partner Skills

Software

Learning

Communication

Developing

Education

Engineering

Introductory

Shop

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

Being a Communication Partner

<p>Being a Communication Partner&#8217; is our quick guide to having conversations with people who use the alphabet to communicate.</p>
<p>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 ‘<strong>Communication Partner</strong>’ (the person they are communicating with) you can help make the conversation more successful, inclusive and effective for everyone.</p>


<p>Talk Together will work within a range of communication software including Tobii Communicator, Mind Express and The Grid 2 and Grid 3 software. There are minor differences in layout and appearance between the different versions, and the symbols used will depend upon the software it is used within.</p>
<p>The vocabulary complements our bestselling <a href="https://acecentre.org.uk/resources/developing-using-communication-book/">Guide to Developing and Using a Communication Book</a>, and the Sternberg award-winning <a href="https://acecentre.org.uk/resources/look2talk/">Look2Talk</a> guide to making a communication book for eye-pointing communicators.</p>
<p>Just like with the communication book resources, Talk Together promotes the use of a consistently located core vocabulary that grows over a number of stages, from just two items at the Introductory Stage through to a wealth of vocabulary at Stages 4/5.</p>
<h2>How to get hold of Talk Together</h2>
<p>Talk Together is free, provided you own one of the communication software options below.  It is available from the suppliers of the software:</p>
<ul>
<li>Talk Together for Grid 3 can be downloaded from <a href="https://grids.thinksmartbox.com/en">Online Grids.</a>  If you’re using The Grid 2, contact <a href="https://thinksmartbox.com/">Smartbox</a></li>
<li>If you’re using Mind Express software, Talk Together can be downloaded from <a href="http://www.mindexpress.be/index.php">Techess.</a> Or you can contact them directly on 01476 512881</li>
<li>For Tobii Communicator software, contact <a href="http://www.tobiidynavox.com">Tobii Dynavox </a></li>
</ul>
<h2>The benefits</h2>
<ul>
<li>Gives easy access to a stable core vocabulary from every topic page.</li>
<li>Provides a structured approach to organising personalised vocabulary.</li>
<li>A page-by-page guide is integrated into the vocabulary to help with the big issues like how to introduce it, how to help young people to learn it, and how to support their developing skills.</li>
<li>The role of the communication partner and their skills is discussed throughout.</li>
<li>Emphasises the importance of play and having fun, particularly in the early stages.</li>
<li>Switch, eye gaze and keyguard-friendly page design.</li>
<li>Early literacy skills are encouraged and supported with phonic alphabets, storytelling and story reading pages.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Who is it for?</h2>
<ul>
<li>Talk Together is ideal for children and young people who need to use symbols to communicate.</li>
<li>Supports the vocabulary development of children and young people who have just begun to use a communication aid, through to more complex symbol use.</li>
<li>Children and young people using a wide range of access methods, from touchscreens to eye gaze to switches.</li>
</ul>
<p>Licensed via <a href="https://choosealicense.com/licenses/gpl-3.0/">GPL v3</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


Talk Together

<p>Talk Together is a unique new way for a young person and their communication partners to communicate together. From the very beginning, this innovative vocabulary package encourages involvement in modelling and supporting a developing vocabulary – all within a highly intuitive set of pages that enables young people say what they want. A wealth of on-screen support and ideas are available at the touch of a button on every page, so there’s no need to feel lost or to constantly refer to the manu</p>


<p>Over 80 additional pointers and cursors for those with visual or perceptual difficulties. Icon styles include animated, coloured, large, I-beams and circles.</p>
<p>The pointers have been designed here at the Ace Centre, so if you have a need or a suggestion for a particular pointer style, please let us know. (Note &#8211; some people are understandably concerned what this installer contains. You can see the entire source code &#8211; and <a href="https://github.com/AceCentre/AceCursors">build your own installer here</a>).</p>
<p>Instructions on how to download, install and change your cursor can be found in this video:</p>
<div>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/lite-youtube-embed@0.2.0/src/lite-yt-embed.css" />
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/lite-youtube-embed@0.2.0/src/lite-yt-embed.js"></script>
<lite-youtube videoid="YpddAhEiSjc" playlabel="Play: Keynote (Google I/O '18)"></lite-youtube>
</div>
<h2>Other downloadable cursors</h2>
<p>There&#8217;s more large cursors available for free download at <a href="http://athena.uoa.gr/eng/categories/view/5">Athena: Free Assistive Technology Software Inventory </a>  or <a href="http://rbx.de/big-cursors/">Rabe&#8217;s big cursors</a></p>


Large Pointers

Making Software Inclusive

<p>When most of us use a computer we use the standard interface – a keyboard and mouse. However, what do you do if you can&#8217;t use these? A number of &#8216;alternative access&#8217; systems exist, for example alternative keyboards, trackerballs, touchscreens, headpointers etc. But for some people these devices are also an unuseable, and this is where switches step in.</p>
<p>The main subject of this freely downloadable pdf document is the switch user. The document aims to encourage developers to include switch access into their products, and standardise practice and terminology. It explains some of the issues involved for people with severe physical difficulties who access computers and other electronic devices with switches. It details the ways in which switch users interact with software and other technology that&#8217;s designed to be directly accessible to them. It also attempts to survey the whole range of issues associated with switch use.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s a publication that&#8217;s useful to professionals and software developers working or entering the field. Use it as a guide to promote standards and a common understanding and nomenclature for switch use. It&#8217;s hoped that the adoption of the terminology and approach detailed in this document should help improve the development of evidence on switch access.</p>


Switch Access to Technology

<ul>
<li><a href="https://acecentre.org.uk/resources/matter-education-edition">See the Education Edition of You Matter here</a></li>
<li><a href="https://acecentre.org.uk/resources/you-matter-education-pack">See the Education Edition Participant Pack of You Matter here</a></li>
<li><a href="https://acecentre.org.uk/resources/you-matter">See the Family Edition of You Matter here</a></li>
<li><a href="https://acecentre.org.uk/resources/you-matter-pack">See the Family Edition Participant Pack of You Matter here</a></li>
</ul>


You-Matter - Education Edition

<p>A one day course for educational staff in using aided communication</p>
<p>You Matter Education Edition aims to support and empower professionals working with children who use aided communication (Augmentative and Alternative Communication). This includes children who use communication aids and children who use symbol-based communication books and charts.</p>
<h2>Course Learning Outcomes:</h2>
<p>Awareness of the benefits of aided communication<br />
Be able to identify the aided communication stage of children in your class<br />
Select appropriate vocabulary for the five stages of aided communication<br />
Become an effective aided communication partner<br />
Be able to set targets</p>
<p>The course provides practical guidance on how education staff can become effective communication partners to support a child using aided communication to communicate, participate and learn within the classroom and beyond.Full You Matter Education Bundle &#8211; this includes:</p>
<ul>
<li>1x Tutor Guide, resource pack &amp; digital delivery of course content</li>
<li>10 x Resource packs for participants</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://acecentre.org.uk/resources/you-matter-education-pack/">Additional packs available here</a></p>


<p><strong>You Matter is a remarkable training course for teachers, teaching assistants and therapists that brings together parents of children with significant speech difficulties and their supporting professionals.</strong></p>
<blockquote><p>A brilliant course! Should be available to all parents, carers and teaching assistants involved with AAC</p>
<footer class="citation"><cite>Course participant</cite></footer>
</blockquote>
<p class="red_text">You Matter has now been been fully updated with new case study material.</p>
<p>For children with significant speech difficulties, it’s the parents who can hold the key to developing effective communication for their child, if they are provided with the appropriate support.</p>
<p>The You Matter course brings together families and professionals on an equal footing in order to provide practical and positive ways forward for the children’s AAC (Alternative and Augmentative Communication) needs. It gives families the tools and the support needed to set their own goals, solve their own difficulties and become active decision-makers in supporting their own child’s communication.</p>
<p>Developed by therapists across three counties, You Matter provides an opportunity for professionals to learn from other disciplines, and gives families the platform to share practical experiences for the benefit of all involved.</p>
<p><a href="https://backend.acecentre.org.uk/resources/you-matter/you-matter-course-summary/">Download course summary</a></p>
<p>The course requires the minimum of preparation. All of the materials and handouts are provided, including Powerpoint presentations, feedback forms and video resources.</p>
<p>Why the course matters:</p>
<ul>
<li>Empowers parents<br />
You Matter gives parents the skills and the understanding to effectively take ownership of aspects of their child’s communication, to be an equal and informed partner in the care of their child and to be able to set realistic short term and long term goals for their child</li>
<li>Supports the important SEND reform principle of family and child-centred working (Children and Families Bill 2014), where the aspirations of the family and child are clearly heard and reflected in the long and short term goals within Education, Health and Care Plans. You Matter helps parents and professionals to set realistic goals based on knowledge of their child’s aided communication stage, the specific strategies that are required to support their child and planning how this support can be delivered in partnership with professionals. Co-production is at the heart of planning and parents are able to contribute confidently with the knowledge and skills they gain from this course</li>
</ul>
<h2>What&#8217;s in the course?</h2>
<p>You Matter is divided into eight short sessions to be run flexibly, for example, over two full days or four morning, afternoon or evening sessions.</p>
<h3>Session One</h3>
<p>The first session aims to introduce participants, draw out their hopes and concerns, recognise the pressures they may be under and explore their expectations of the course. Overall aims for the course will be agreed during this session, matching what the participants want to gain with the information provided within the course content.</p>
<h3>Sessions Two and Three</h3>
<p>These sessions look at facilitating communication through aided systems. This is done by considering:</p>
<ul>
<li>What is meant by communication</li>
<li>The five stages of communication development using aided systems</li>
<li>How to select vocabulary at the right level for a child</li>
<li>How participants’ communication affects the child’s progress</li>
<li>How participants’ communication will change as the child gains skills.</li>
</ul>
<p>After the first three sessions, participants can be offered the opportunity to be videoed at home or in school with their child. The aim is to help participants to review their own style of interaction as well as express privately any concerns they may have about their child using aided communication.</p>
<h3>Session Four</h3>
<p>Session Four reviews the video experience and looks at involving others in the child’s communication system. It includes:</p>
<ul>
<li>The difficulties faced by children using aided communication when learning to communicate through their system.</li>
<li>The different types of communication we all use.</li>
<li>How the participants’ role changes as the child gains skill.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Sessions Five, Six and Seven</h3>
<p>These sessions bring in feedback from the video sessions, looking at where perceived communication problems lie, and address areas the participants choose to focus on. Session Seven finishes by discovering participants’ longer term aims for their child’s communication and looks at setting achievable goals for the future.</p>
<h3>Session Eight</h3>
<p>The final session is an additional half day which looks at each child’s personal aided communication system. Participants need to bring in their child’s system and either the appropriate communication aid supplier or someone who is familiar with the different systems needs to be available. It’s a session for participants to gain confidence with the programming of the systems, and/or the creation of pages or other low tech materials. A variety of activities are included during the course for participants to investigate some of the issues through working together in small groups.</p>
<h2>How the course was developed</h2>
<p>The course is the outcome of the You Matter project which was carried out as part of the Becta Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) Innovative Projects funding stream.</p>
<p>The project aimed to highlight the importance of providing training for parents and closely-involved professionals in supporting a child using aided communication. There were two very different models of training courses, each offering contrasting perspectives on how parent-directed training could be successfully delivered.</p>
<p>As a result, the project has developed a range of ideas for putting training into practice leading to the same desired outcomes for parents, professionals and ultimately the child. During the training, all those taking part were asked to provide extensive feedback to inform this structure of the course. In addition, opportunites for in-depth discussion were provided during workshops which followed the delivery of the courses. These workshops included managers of services as well several lead/highly specialist speech and language therapists who had been delivering.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://acecentre.org.uk/resources/matter-education-edition">See the Education Edition of You Matter here</a></li>
<li><a href="https://acecentre.org.uk/resources/you-matter-education-pack">See the Education Edition Participant Pack of You Matter here</a></li>
<li><a href="https://acecentre.org.uk/resources/you-matter">See the Family Edition of You Matter here</a></li>
<li><a href="https://acecentre.org.uk/resources/you-matter-pack">See the Family Edition Participant Pack of You Matter here</a></li>
</ul>


You Matter - Family Edition

<p>Full You Matter Bundle &#8211; this includes:</p>
<ul>
<li>1x Tutor Guide, resource pack &amp; digital delivery of course content</li>
<li>10 x Your Guide &amp; resource pack for participants</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://acecentre.org.uk/resources/you-matter-pack/">Additional packs available here</a></p>


Your web browser is out of date.

Resources

A brush strokeResources

Resources