Bank and money communication board for teens and adults

Who it helps

Teens learning to manage their own money, adults in supported living or a day program, and any adult who talks with a device, a board or writing: after a stroke, with aphasia, or as an autistic adult. Families and support staff can practice with it at home first. The pictures are of money, cards and places, so it doesn’t look like a children’s board in a bank line.

Banking with a board: habits that help

• Decide before you go what you’re there to do, and point to it first, so the teller knows straight away.
• Ask for numbers in writing. Write the amount down makes it easy to check, and a number on paper can be read again later.
• Count together. Count it with me slows the moment down, so a mistake gets caught at the counter, not at home.
• Keep your PIN to yourself. A PIN is for typing in, out of sight; it never needs to go on a board or a card. For help at the cash machine, ask staff inside the bank.
• Speak for yourself. If staff talk to a helper instead of you, point to talk to me. Support staff will find tips for stepping back in for family, friends and support staff.

Paying in a store

Page 2 breaks paying into eight steps, from choosing what you need to taking the bag, with the questions that come up at the counter: Is this enough?, Can you count it?, Can I pay by card? Practice the steps at home with real coins, then try them at a quiet time in a small store. The coins and bills are US money; anywhere else, open the board in the board maker and put your own coins in. For a weekly shop, the grocery store communication board adds a picture shopping list.

Money cards

Each card on page 3 says a whole request at once, so it can be shown without a word: I’d like to take out money, with a line for the amount, or I lost my card. Write the amount on just before you go, and keep the cards with your wallet. The cards are for everyday visits. For a bigger decision, like a loan or a new kind of account, take someone you trust, ask the bank to explain it in writing, and take your time.

Every word on the sheets

Quick words

• yes
• no
• not sure
• one moment
• thank you
• excuse me

I’d like to

• put money in
• take money out
• check my balance
• cash a check
• pay a bill
• a new card
• I lost my card
• help with the cash machine
• get coins
• open an account
• talk to someone
• make an appointment

Please

• write the amount down
• count it with me
• show me where to sign
• give me time
• talk to me
• say it again

Money words

• dollars
• coins
• card
• cash
• wallet
• check

Paying for things

• choose what I need
• wait in line
• say hi
• how much is it?
• pay with card or cash
• wait for my change
• take my receipt
• take my bag

At the counter

• Is this enough?
• Can you count it?
• Can I pay by card?
• a bag, please
• no bag, thanks
• thank you

Coins and bills (US)

• penny 1¢
• nickel 5¢
• dime 10¢
• quarter 25¢
• dollar $1
• bills

Money cards

• I’d like to take out money.
• I’d like to put money in.
• I’d like to cash this check.
• Please write the amount down.
• Can you count it with me?
• I lost my card.

Printing tips

• Laminate the money cards and write the amounts with a dry-erase marker, so they wipe clean and work again next week.
• Fold page 1 in half to fit a bag or a jacket pocket.
• Getting there: the city bus visual schedule. Earning it: the work visual schedule. For the whole day: the visual schedule for adults.