Communication for Everyone

Initiative by Community Living BC’s South Island Community Council

Communication board image for "communication"

CLBC’s South Island Community Council led this important initiative to make CLBC offices more welcoming and accessible for people who are non-speaking and/or use picture-based communication systems, by introducing Communication for Everyone boards to CLBC offices across the province.

About the South Island Community Council

Map of the South Island Community Council

The South Island Community Council (SICC) is one of 12 CLBC Community Councils across the province working to encourage, inspire, lead, and support inclusion and the participation of people with developmental disabilities in all aspects of the community.

The SICC is made up of self-advocates, family members of the people CLBC serves, service providers, and community members.

The Council area includes the southern portion of Vancouver Island: Port Renfrew to Victoria, to the Gulf Islands, and back towards the Malahat.

Communication for Everyone board

A communication board is a visual tool that can help people communicate and talk with those around them through symbols and images. For those who are non-speaking or prefer non-speaking communication, it can be intimidating or overwhelming to visit new places and communicate with people there. Busy, distracting or loud environments can make receptive and expressive language more difficult. You can view or download CLBC’s Communication for Everyone board here.

Having visual supports in place, such as communication boards, in addition to written words or speaking, can help:


ease communication,	provide mutual understanding,	reduce stress,	and create welcoming spaces for people who are non-speaking

How are communication boards used?

There are several ways to use a communication board. Click here for tips for using communication boards. A person can:


give an opinion or social comment,	indicate a preference, desire or decision,	ask a question,	or express a need.

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)

Communication boards are a form of Augmentative and Alternative communication (AAC).

Augmentative communication adds to or expands upon someone’s existing use of speech
Alternative communication is used instead of speech.

AAC is often used by people who have speech, language and communication disabilities that are primarily not caused by hearing loss. Not all people who use AAC are non-speaking. A person who uses AAC may use many forms of communication, because we all communicate in many ways – their combined communication tools are known as an AAC system. There are many types of AAC, some involving no or low use of technology (ex. sign language or pointing to photos) or high-tech options (ex. Using an iPad or speech-generating device).

What does non-speaking mean?

For a long time, the term “non-verbal” was a clinical term used to describe a person who doesn’t use speech to communicate. However, “non-verbal” implies that a person does not understand language. In a literal sense, it means to be without words.

Non-speaking is now a more widely accepted and appreciated term, more accurately describing the experience of people with speech-related disabilities. The term “non-speaking” better recognizes that speech and communication abilities are not the same. Non-speaking people use words to communicate their thoughts, just without talking. Click here to read more about why we use “non-speaking”.

Additional Resources

Learn about communication access

Use the template below to make your own activity communication board:

Activity communication board template

Communication boards can be specific to the environment they are used in. Here are communication board examples with specific locations:

The Communication for Everyone board was created in collaboration with School District 62. Click here to learn about School District 62’s communication boards project.