Last updated: February 2026
Vizually Speaking understands that finding time in today’s highly demanding world to create customized visual aids and strategies can be a great challenge. Vizually Speaking is committed to working collaboratively, providing step-by-step support and assisting in the development and implementation of customized visual aids and strategies.
Contact us today for your FREE consultation.
Workshop Presentation - Visual Aids and Strategies
EVERYONE benefits from Visual Aids!
Contact Vizually Speaking today to learn how customized Visual Aids and Strategies can decrease undesired behaviour(s), improve communication, promote independence, and increase self-confidence. Through our dynamic presentation, you will:
✓ Uncover the importance of using customized Visual Aids and Strategies.
✓ Explore the wide range of benefits of customized Visual Aids and Strategies.
✓ Learn practical ways to overcome communication barriers.
✓ Support independence and decrease undesired behaviours.
✓ Access NEW and valuable resources.
Communication books consist of individualized visual aids and themed pages designed to support individuals who experience speech and/or communication difficulties in expressing their needs, wants, preferences, and ideas.
Depending on the individual’s age, cognitive level, and physical abilities, themed pages may include a single visual symbol or multiple visual symbols per page. Topics and vocabulary are selected based on the individual’s abilities, communication goals, daily environments, and personal interests.
Communication books developed for adults typically focus on functional vocabulary related to employment, shopping, healthcare, interactions with support workers, and meaningful social participation within the community.
Communication books are typically developed over time in response to individual use and communication needs. While many pages reflect familiar and frequently used vocabulary, unfamiliar words may be intentionally included to support vocabulary development and language expansion.
Communication books commonly include topic pages such as About Me, People, Feelings, Clothes, Food, Drinks, Animals, Colours, Numbers, Letters, Hobbies, and Interests. Additional topics to consider include Weather, Places, Activities, and Adjectives, depending on the individual’s communication goals and daily environments.
Some topics may need to be subdivided when there are too many items on a single page. Most communication books include an overall topic page at the front, with links to related topic pages using numbers, colours, letters, or tabs.
Visual example:
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A front page showing icons such as Food, Toys, People, Feelings, each colour-coded and linked to a matching section.
As communication books become larger and communication becomes more complex, a pop-out or quick-access section with commonly used words can be helpful.
Visual example:
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A flip-out strip or detachable page with high-frequency words like more, help, finished, yes, and no.
Topic pages that contain only commonly used words or phrases related to that topic—such as “I want” on a food page or “I feel” on a feelings page—are often placed at the front of the book for faster access.
Visual examples:
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A food page with sentence starters: I want, I like, I don’t like
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A feelings page with phrases: I feel happy, I feel sad, I feel angry
Pages can be labelled with tabs or page fluffers to support navigation and independence.
Visual examples:
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Laminated tabs labelled Food, Play, Feelings
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Page fluffers made from foam shapes, felt strips, Velcro tabs, or pom-poms attached to page edges to make pages easier to find and turn
Vizually Speaking understands that finding time in today’s highly demanding world to create customized visual aids and strategies can be a great challenge. Vizually Speaking is committed to working collaboratively, providing step-by-step support and assisting in the development and implementation of customized visual aids and strategies.
Contact us today for your FREE consultation.
