Tap AACFree printable AAC boards
Fifty-four picture boards and visual schedules you can print today, free, for children and for adults. Each one comes as a US Letter PDF and an A4 PDF, with no sign-up and no email. Print a board, point to the pictures while you talk, and keep copies wherever you need them.
Core words and choices
Boards for everyday talk: short sentences, yes and no, picking one thing, and spelling.
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Core word board
30 everyday words like I, want, more, stop and help, for building short sentences.
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Yes and no board
A big yes and no to point to or look at, plus 20 cards to cut out.
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Choice boards
Two-choice and four-choice boards, with 18 snack, drink and toy cards to cut out.
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Alphabet board
A to Z for spelling, in alphabet order and keyboard order, with quick words.
Boards for adults
Grown-up pictures and plain words, for adults after a stroke, with aphasia or ALS, in a care home, in the hospital or in intensive care.
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Communication board for adults
Grown-up pictures and plain words: wants, people, places, feelings, and a keyboard page for spelling.
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Aphasia communication board
Help-me-talk phrases, topics and a how-much scale, plus a page for the conversation partner.
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Eye gaze board
Spell with the eyes: a six-group letter board, and a partner scanning board for when looking is hard.
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Care home communication board
Needs and comfort for residents, things they enjoy, and an About me page for staff.
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Hospital communication board
For adult patients: needs, feelings, a 0 to 10 pain scale, letters and questions.
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ICU communication board
Large print for very sick patients: yes, no, ten big needs, a body outline and a pain scale.
Holidays and parties
Trick-or-treating, Thanksgiving, the winter holidays (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year) and birthday parties.
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Halloween trick-or-treat board
Trick or treat, thank you, too scary, instead of candy, plus door cards and a treat bag strip.
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Thanksgiving communication board
Words for the table, 12 Thanksgiving foods, family time, and thankful cards for your turn to say thanks.
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Christmas and holiday board
Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year, winter fun, opening presents and gift tags.
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Birthday party communication board
Party talk, cake, presents and games, the steps of a party, what helps when it’s too much, and badges.
Talking with people
Hellos and small talk, cards that tell new people how you communicate, and a board a partner reads out for someone who can’t point.
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Greetings and conversation board
Hello, questions, answers and kind words, plus 12 conversation starter cards.
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Nonverbal communication cards
Fold-out “I use AAC” wallet cards for new people and first responders, and 14 quick cards for a key ring.
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Partner-assisted scanning board
Five picture groups a partner reads out loud, with the partner’s steps and a blank board to make your own.
Routines and schedules
Picture steps for the parts of the day that are hard to get through: what comes first, what’s next, and when it’s done.
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First-then board
Shows what happens first and what comes next. With 12 picture cards to cut out.
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Morning routine chart
Eight steps from wake up to backpack, with picture cards and a make-your-own schedule.
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After school routine chart
Seven steps from the front door to dinner, 18 picture cards, and a board for telling about the school day.
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Bedtime routine chart
Bath, pajamas, teeth, story and sleep, as a checklist or as picture cards.
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Bath time visual schedule
Eight bath steps, eight shower steps, and a board for too hot, in my eyes and all done.
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Potty visual schedule
Eight toilet steps from bathroom to dry hands, to hang by the toilet.
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Getting dressed visual schedule
Underwear to coat, one step at a time, plus clothes cards for any weather.
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Winter clothes visual schedule
Getting dressed for the snow, coming inside, and a snow day board with play, talk and weather words.
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Hand washing visual sequence
Eight steps from water on to clean hands, when to wash, and small strips for the sink.
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Tooth brushing visual schedule
Eight brushing steps, top teeth to big smile, and a weekly morning and night chart.
School, breaks and waiting
A schedule for the school day, weather and calendar for circle time, the steps of a fire drill, and cards for asking for a break, waiting and taking turns.
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Classroom visual schedule
A school day schedule with times and tick boxes, and 38 picture cards from circle time to go home.
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Weather and calendar board
Today’s weather, how it feels, what to wear and the season, plus a calendar page.
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Fire drill visual schedule
The eight steps of a school fire drill, words and what helps during the drill, and a drill plan for the class.
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Break cards
“I need a break” cards in three sizes, and a board of things to do on a break.
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Wait cards
Wait cards, a 5-to-1 countdown, and my turn and your turn cards with a Now and Next board.
Feelings, health and visits
Saying how you feel, calming down, what you need, where it hurts and feeling sick, and what happens at the doctor, the dentist, a shot and a haircut.
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Feelings board
16 feelings, from happy and calm to mad and worried, plus what would help.
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Calm down choices board
16 calm down choices in four groups, a breathing square to trace, and calm down cards to cut out.
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Needs board
Bathroom, a drink, food, a break, help, quiet and more, with yes, no and stop.
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Where does it hurt board
A body outline, 12 body parts and a simple scale for how much it hurts.
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I feel sick communication board
What’s wrong, what I need, how I feel now, and sick cards for school to hand to a teacher or the nurse.
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Doctor visit visual schedule
What happens at a checkup, words to talk to the doctor, and 20 cards for any visit.
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Getting a shot visual schedule
The eight steps of getting a shot, and a shot plan to fill in together: where to sit, look and hold.
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Dentist visit visual schedule
What happens at a dental checkup, a stop signal, and words for talking to the dentist.
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Haircut visual schedule
The eight steps of a haircut, words for the hairdresser, what helps, and a note to hand over.
Mealtime, play and outings
Words for the table, cooking together, the playground, the grocery store and a restaurant.
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Mealtime communication board
More, all done, yum, yuck, 12 foods and drinks, and the things on the table.
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Cooking board and visual recipe
Cooking, talk and kitchen words, a no-cook visual recipe, and a blank visual recipe to fill in.
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Playground communication board
My turn, your turn, swing, slide, fast, again and more, for playing together.
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Grocery store board and shopping list
Words for the store, 12 foods, and a picture shopping list with 18 cards.
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Restaurant communication board
Words for ordering, 12 foods and 6 drinks, and order cards to hand to the server.
Trips and activities
Swimming, the zoo and other field trips, the library, art time, a trip by plane, and going to church.
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Swimming communication board
Pool talk, words for the water, pool rules, and a visual schedule for a trip to the pool.
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Zoo and field trip board
18 zoo animals and zoo talk, a field trip visual schedule, and 18 cards for any trip.
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Library communication board
Ask for a book about dinosaurs, space or trucks, talk about the book, and follow the steps of a visit.
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Art communication board
Art things, 12 colors and words for art time, plus art time steps and words for messy hands.
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Airport visual schedule
The steps of a plane trip, a board for the flight, and a travel bag list with pictures to tick.
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Church communication board
Words for joining in at church, saying hello and asking for a break, plus the steps of a visit and a quiet bag list.
Big changes at home
Moving house and a new baby: the steps, the feelings, and the questions a child may not be able to ask.
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Moving house visual schedule
The steps of moving day, a board for talking about the move, and a countdown with a page for the new home.
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New baby board for big siblings
Words for big brothers and sisters about the new baby, the steps of meeting the baby, badges and time-with-me cards.
Make your own with the free AAC board maker: a communication board, a choice board, a visual schedule or a first-then board. Search the pictures or add your own photos, then print it or save a PDF. Every board page here also has a link that opens that board in the maker, ready to change.
Making a picture schedule? The free visual schedule maker opens a morning, bedtime, school day or toilet routine in one click.
How to start with a paper board
- Print it. Card stock lasts longer. Laminate the page, or slide it into a sheet protector, so it can be wiped clean.
- Keep it close. On the fridge, at the table, in the car, in the school bag. A board in a drawer doesn’t get used.
- Point while you talk. Say your normal sentence and point to the key pictures. This shows how the board works, without asking for anything back.
- Wait. Give the person time to point. Any point counts.
- Answer what they say. If they point to stop, stop. If they point to more, give more if you can.
Guides
- Core words: cards, a modeling handout and core word of the week52 core word cards with pictures, a one-page AAC modeling handout for parents, 32 weekly plans and a term planner.
- How to make and use a visual scheduleSeven steps, from choosing a routine to teaching it and marking each step done.
- Using a communication board in the hospitalOn the hospital board’s page: yes and no, one question at a time, asking about pain, spelling, and keeping it at the bedside.
- Using an eye gaze boardOn the eye gaze board’s page: setting up, spelling with the eyes, partner-assisted scanning, and what to try when it’s hard going.
- How to teach a child to use a break cardSix steps, from practicing when calm to making it easy to come back.
- How to use a first-then boardSeven simple steps, and what to try when it isn’t working.
- What is a core word board?Core words versus fringe words, and why each word keeps its spot on the board.
What AAC means
AAC stands for augmentative and alternative communication. It means any way to communicate besides speech: pointing to pictures on a paper board, signing, writing, or a speech app on a tablet. Many people use more than one.
A paper board is a good place to start, and a good backup. It needs no charging and is easy to take anywhere.
A speech therapist (also called a speech-language pathologist) can help find the right words and the right kind of AAC for the person.
New to AAC? Read what AAC is, in plain language, or see all our AAC guides for families and teachers.
About these boards
The pictures come from Tap AAC’s own picture set, and the layouts were designed for this site. Every board comes in US Letter and A4. Print as many copies as you need for home, school or therapy, and share them freely. Please don’t sell them.
The cut-out cards on the choice boards, the routine, toilet, dressing and classroom schedules, the small break and wait cards, and the doctor visit, grocery, thankful, calm down, field trip and after school cards are all one size, 1.6 inches (4 cm) square, so a card from one fits the boxes and slots on the others.
The boards for adults use grown-up pictures, and plain words where a picture would look childish.
Every board page also has an “Add to Tap AAC” board file: the same board, with the same pictures, as a page in the Tap AAC app on a tablet.
These boards and guides are general information, not therapy or medical advice, and they don’t replace a speech therapist. A speech therapist who knows the person can help choose the right words, pictures and layout. The boards are free to print and share; please don’t sell them (terms of use). Questions about the boards? Email support@lmnoplabs.fun.