Tap AAC

Art communication board: free printable for art time

An art communication board gives a person who doesn’t speak, or doesn’t speak much, the words to make their own art: I want paints, blue, more, my turn, look at mine. This free PDF has the board, with 12 art things, 12 words to do and say and 12 colors, and a second page with the steps of art time, words for messy hands and words for talking about the finished art.

Download the free PDF US Letter, 2 pages, 1,996 KB

Portrait (tall page, 2 pages): US Letter PDF (1,996 KB) · A4 PDF (1,996 KB)

Landscape (wide page, 2 pages): US Letter PDF (1,998 KB) · A4 PDF (1,998 KB)

Printable art communication board with I and want at the top. Art things: paints, brush, crayons, markers, colored pencils, paper, glue, tape, scissors, stickers, stamps and play dough. Do and say: draw, color, paint, cut, fold, mix, finger paint, look at mine, help, my turn, more and all done. Colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, brown, black, white, gray and rainbow.
Page 1: the art board.

Edit this board in the free board maker: change the words and pictures, then print.

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Who it’s for

Children who use pictures or a speech device, in art class, at the kitchen table or at a craft club, and the teachers and parents who set out the paint. Art is full of real choices (which color, which brush, more glitter or less), and every one of them is a reason to talk.

How to use it

  1. Hold things back a little. Put the paints out, but keep the colors in a row by you. Now the person has a reason to ask: I want blue.
  2. Model while you make art too. “I want red. More red.” Point as you say it, then go on with your own picture.
  3. Wait for choices, and honor them, even purple trees. The art is theirs.
  4. Take turns with the scissors, the glue or the stamps: my turn, then yours.
  5. Ask about the finished work, and wait: the bottom row of page 2 gives words like colorful, big and I did it!
Art time, step by step: apron on, sit down, get the paints, make my art, let it dry, clean up, wash hands and show my art. Messy hands: sticky, wet, wipe my hands, I don’t want to touch it, use a brush and a break. About my art: I like it, pretty, colorful, big, little and I did it!
Page 2: art time steps, messy hands, and about my art.

When hands get messy

Glue, paint and play dough feel wonderful to some people and awful to others. The Messy hands row gives words for that: sticky, wet, wipe my hands, I don’t want to touch it, use a brush. Keep wipes within reach, offer a brush or a stick instead of fingers, and never insist on touching. A person who can say no to the glue is more likely to try it another day.

Colors and core words

Art time is a good place to practice small, useful words that work all day long: more, help, my turn, all done, look. The 12 colors on page 1 come up in art, but also in clothes, cars and snacks. For more of these everyday words, see what a core word board is.

What it can look like

In art class, Mr. Diaz puts the paints at his end of the table. Kai, who is nine, points to I want paints, then blue. Then more blue. He paints a whale. When the glitter comes out, he points to sticky and use a brush, and Mr. Diaz hands him one. At the end, Kai holds up his whale and points to look at mine, and the whole table looks.

What’s on the board

Art things

Do and say

Colors

Page 2

Printing tips

More free boards

See all free printable boards

Need a different board? Make your own with the free AAC board maker.

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.