Paula Benson, Supervisor of Administrative Services, showing off the new Communication for Everyone board at Community Living BC’s Nanaimo office.
CLBC’s South Island Community Council is leading an important accessibility initiative for people who are non-speaking and/or use picture-based communication systems.
As part of this initiative, every CLBC office will now have Communication for Everyone boards displayed in the entrance of the office and a few small, laminated boards for personal or one-to-one use by staff, individuals and families, and visitors.
Thank you to Communication Assistance for Youth and Adults (CAYA) and School District 62 for supporting this initiative.
What are communication boards and why are they important?
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.
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. |
Displaying and using Communication for Everyone boards is one way that CLBC is working towards goals from our Accessibility plan: creating welcoming spaces and making information available in many ways. We want people who are non-speaking to feel that they belong in the spaces they enter. These boards are both a communication tool and a symbol of our commitment to accessibility.
Additional Resources
- For resources and more information about this initiative, visit the Communication for Everyone page on our website.
