Tap AAC

Travel communication boards: beach, camping and road trips

A travel communication board gives someone who doesn’t speak, or doesn’t speak much, the words a trip needs: in the car (how much longer?, I feel carsick), in a new place (I miss my bed) and at the fun parts (let’s swim, again). Here are five free boards to print: road trip, at the hotel, at the beach, camping and at the fair.

Each board is one page. Print the PDF, or add the board to the Tap AAC app, where every button on the page says its words out loud, even with no internet connection.

Road trip

In the car (seat belt on, look out the window), stops on the way (gas station, rest stop, Grandma’s house), things to do, and the questions of a long drive: how much longer?, I need the bathroom, stretch my legs, we’re here!

Printable road trip communication board. In the car: road trip, seat belt on, car seat, look out the window, map, road. Stops: gas station, drive-thru, rest stop, park, hotel, Grandma’s house. Things to do: music, tablet, book, snack, sing, sleep. Talk: how much longer?, are we there yet?, I’m bored, I need the bathroom, I’m hungry, I’m thirsty, I feel carsick, stretch my legs, too hot, too cold, stop please, we’re here!
Road trip (one page), to print or to add to Tap AAC.

Road trip PDF US Letter, 1 page, 1,111 KB

Portrait (tall page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (1,111 KB) · A4 PDF (1,111 KB)

Landscape (wide page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (1,113 KB) · A4 PDF (1,113 KB)

Have Tap AAC? Add to Tap AAC (.obz file, 1,228 KB) · How to add a board

At the hotel

From the front desk and the elevator (press the button, going up) to the room, the pool and breakfast, and words for sleeping somewhere new: where is our room?, too loud, tired, I miss my bed.

Printable hotel communication board with I and want, then hotel, front desk, elevator, stairs, room key, our room, bathroom, towels, TV, pool, breakfast, ice. Talk: press the button, going up, going down, where is our room?, quiet voice, let’s swim, I like it, I don’t like it, too loud, tired, I miss my bed, go home.
At the hotel (one page), to print or to add to Tap AAC.

At the hotel PDF US Letter, 1 page, 898 KB

Portrait (tall page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (898 KB) · A4 PDF (898 KB)

Landscape (wide page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (898 KB) · A4 PDF (898 KB)

Have Tap AAC? Add to Tap AAC (.obz file, 991 KB) · How to add a board

At the beach

Sand, waves, shells and sandcastles, the sun gear to put on first (sunscreen, sun hat, sunglasses), things to do in the sand and water, and watch me, too hot, too cold, all done.

Printable beach communication board. At the beach: beach, sand, waves, sandcastle, bucket, sand toys, shells, seagull, crab, towel, picnic, ice cream. Get ready: swimsuit, sunscreen, sun hat, sunglasses, flip-flops, water. Play: dig, splash, swim, run, jump, rest. Talk: too hot, too cold, wet, watch me, help, all done.
At the beach (one page), to print or to add to Tap AAC.

At the beach PDF US Letter, 1 page, 1,001 KB

Portrait (tall page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (1,001 KB) · A4 PDF (1,001 KB)

Landscape (wide page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (1,002 KB) · A4 PDF (1,002 KB)

Have Tap AAC? Add to Tap AAC (.obz file, 1,108 KB) · How to add a board

Camping

The campsite (tent, campfire, s’mores, flashlight), things to do from hiking to looking at the stars, animals and trees, and the words for night outdoors: it’s dark, too cold, scared, careful.

Printable camping communication board. At camp: tent, campfire, s’mores, marshmallows, sleeping bag, flashlight, bug spray, backpack, water bottle, map, binoculars, trail mix. Things to do: go on a hike, go fishing, paddle a canoe, sit by the fire, look at the stars, picnic. In nature: tree, lake, forest, owl, deer, squirrel. Talk: it’s dark, too cold, scared, careful, bathroom, wow.
Camping (one page), to print or to add to Tap AAC.

Camping PDF US Letter, 1 page, 1,087 KB

Portrait (tall page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (1,087 KB) · A4 PDF (1,087 KB)

Landscape (wide page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (1,088 KB) · A4 PDF (1,088 KB)

Have Tap AAC? Add to Tap AAC (.obz file, 1,206 KB) · How to add a board

At the fair

Rides and shows from the Ferris wheel to bumper cars, treats (cotton candy, corn dog, face paint), and words for waiting in line and for the loud, busy parts: too scary, too loud, stay close.

Printable fair communication board with I and want. Rides and shows: Ferris wheel, roller coaster, merry-go-round, bumper cars, big slide, the show. Treats and fun: cotton candy, corn dog, popcorn, lemonade, balloon, face paint. Talk: wait in line, tickets, my turn, again, fast, too scary, fun, wow, too loud, bathroom, stay close, all done.
At the fair (one page), to print or to add to Tap AAC.

At the fair PDF US Letter, 1 page, 965 KB

Portrait (tall page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (965 KB) · A4 PDF (965 KB)

Landscape (wide page, 1 page): US Letter PDF (966 KB) · A4 PDF (966 KB)

Have Tap AAC? Add to Tap AAC (.obz file, 1,077 KB) · How to add a board

The 5 boards at a glance

BoardButtonsPagesName in the Tap AAC app
Road trip301“Road trip”
At the hotel261“At the hotel”
At the beach301“At the beach”
Camping301“Camping”
At the fair261“At the fair”

Every board is also a ready-made page in the Tap AAC app, under the name in the last column: search the app’s Page library for it. Printed together, the 5 boards make a small communication book on this topic: keep them in a binder or folder, with the one used most at the front (tips for communication books).

How to use the travel boards

  1. Look at the board before you go. A week before the trip, go through it together: “At the hotel there’s an elevator. We press the button.” New places are easier when the words are already known.
  2. Keep it where the person can reach it: in the seat-back pocket, clipped to a beach bag, in a clear sleeve on a lanyard.
  3. Answer the needs straight away. I need the bathroom, I feel carsick and too loud work best when they always get an answer.
  4. Talk about it afterwards. Back home, use the board to tell someone about the trip: “Beach. Splash. Wow!”

Flying? Use the airport visual schedule. For shorter drives there is the car ride board with car bingo, and for the pool, the swimming communication board.

All the boards are free to print and share (terms of use). The “Add to Tap AAC” files are Open Board Format (.obz) files: Tap AAC opens each one as the printed page, and other AAC apps that open .obz files show it as a grid of buttons. How to add a board to Tap AAC.

More free boards on related topics

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.