Playground
Empowers students to participate in outdoor activities and recess using shared vocabulary designed for play, movement, social interaction, and emotional regulation.
Recommended: XL AluminumEmpower every student with access to communication throughout your campus. Our SLP-designed boards make accessibility part of the school environment—from playgrounds and classrooms to libraries, cafeterias, and nurse’s offices.
Designed for Real School Spaces
A comprehensive campus plan gives students access to communication support throughout the school day—from classrooms and the cafeteria to the playground and specialized learning spaces. Consistent access promotes language development, independence, participation, and meaningful social connections.
Empowers students to participate in outdoor activities and recess using shared vocabulary designed for play, movement, social interaction, and emotional regulation.
Recommended: XL AluminumSupports daily academic instruction, classroom routines, participation, and peer interaction with accessible core and classroom-specific vocabulary.
Recommended: Large AluminumSupports meal choices, food and drink requests, dietary needs, social conversation, and self-advocacy during one of the busiest and most social parts of the school day.
Recommended: Large AluminumProvides Speech-Language Pathologists with a consistent visual tool for modeling language, building communication skills, and supporting individualized therapy goals.
Recommended: Large AluminumOffers vocabulary for choosing books, asking questions, discussing stories, and participating in social reading and library activities.
Recommended: Large or Medium AluminumHelps students communicate pain, symptoms, emotions, and immediate health needs more clearly with nurses and other school staff.
Recommended: Medium AluminumProvides relevant vocabulary for art, music, electives, and other specialty classes so students can make choices, follow directions, and express creative ideas.
Recommended: Medium AluminumExplore our portfolio of successful school-wide communication board installations. Each project is customized to the school's unique branding and specific campus environment to ensure every student is seen and valued.
Features custom green architectural posts designed to match the school district colors, providing a focal point for inclusive play.
Strategically installed for Morton Gingerwood to support non-speaking students with high-contrast symbols and social starters.
A high-visibility chain-link mount that maximizes space while providing essential communication tools right on the recess field.
Installed at eye-level to foster peer-to-peer interaction, helping students with diverse needs build lasting social connections.
Utilizing premium aluminum composite and UV-resistant inks to ensure accessibility is maintained through every season.
Integrated school logos and personalized vocabulary that reflects the specific playground equipment and student culture.
Bridging the classroom and the playground with consistent symbol usage to support holistic student development.
A testament to the school's commitment to community, ensuring every child can speak the universal language of inclusion.
Expertly installed following SLP guidance to ensure spontaneous and effective communication for all ability levels.
Choose the path that best fits your school's current goals and budget requirements.
Perfect for schools looking to start their inclusion journey in high-priority areas like the playground or nurse's office.
Ensure consistent communication access across every campus location—from drop-off to afternoon recess.
Designed for maximum visibility, this high-contrast edition ensures that students with visual impairments or those needing stronger visual cues can navigate social play effectively.
Our standard simplified board tailored for Pre-K and Kindergarten learners, facilitating essential communication during recess through intuitive symbols.
Specifically designed for active play environments, this board facilitates spontaneous social interaction and helps students navigate shared games and recess activities.
A versatile, portable solution for halls and common areas. This double-sided sign is designed to spark conversation and help students initiate friendships throughout the day.
Enhance student safety with a board designed specifically for health assessments. Featuring a detailed pain chart and medical icons, it helps students accurately describe their physical needs and feelings.
Perfect for speech rooms and general classrooms, this board provides a high-density array of core words. It supports daily language development, modeling, and academic participation across all subjects.
Equip your art studio with technical vocabulary that allows students to follow creative instructions, request materials, and express their artistic vision.
Foster literacy and communication by providing students with vocabulary needed to request books and participate in school library activities.
The ultimate portable AAC solution for K-12 play environments. This rugged, double-sided board features 80+ symbols for social play and emotional regulation, paired with a full QWERTY keyboard and numeric pad to bridge the gap between symbols and literacy.
Designed specifically for early childhood centers, this board provides the essential core vocabulary needed for preschool students to engage in social play. Its mobile format makes it easy to set up for early learners in any outdoor setting.
A portable, double-sided AAC solution featuring a complete English Core Communication Board on one side and an independently designed Spanish communication board on the other.
Ensure your communication board is securely mounted with our structural-grade frames. Designed for durability, these frames provide a stable and permanent installation for high-traffic playground environments.
Empower students to express rhythm, melody, and instrument choice. This board features setting-specific vocabulary designed to bridge the gap between imagination and participation in the school music room.
Expertly engineered by SLPs to provide a professional, research-backed communication environment for every student on your campus.
Color-coded backgrounds categorize parts of speech, helping students build sentences and generalize language skills across settings.
Featuring modern Smarty Symbols that represent a wide range of ethnicities and abilities for true student representation.
Custom-integrated school logos and names make accessibility and inclusion a core part of your visible campus identity.
A high-visibility QR code provides instant access to a digital speech-generating replica of your specific board for mobile use.
Prioritizes high-frequency "Core" words that allow students to communicate 80% of their needs with minimal effort.
Custom instructions tailored to the playground, nurse's office, or library to ensure everyone knows how to model language effectively.
"Our goal is not just to adapt but to pioneer. Accessibility in communication should be as integral as ramps are today."
CEO, Smarty Symbols
Every communication board from Smarty Symbols comes paired with a complimentary speech-generating app, ensuring that students and staff across all communication abilities have equal access to expressive tools. This thoughtful integration normalizes and enhances communication access within educational settings.
Whether used in conjunction with our physical communication boards or as a standalone digital solution, the free app empowers users to communicate confidently and effectively, aligning with our mission to make communication a universal experience for every member of the school community.
Learn More About Expressive Go"Our staff and students love the communication board. It looks very professional and is built very well. I will definitely be in the market to add additional boards as needed. Thank you for your help."
"Absolutely fantastic in helping us customize our school’s playground communication boards! High quality product & excellent service! I would highly recommend it for your school’s playground"
"I made a phone call appointment with Remi Salami and she was extremely helpful in selecting the type of material that would be best for our harsh winters and size recommendations. She made the project extremely easy from start to finish!"
"Remi was willing to help & came up with ideas of how we could get funding for the board. She identified community sponsors and ensure the entire process from funding to production was seamless. Her customer service is top-notch."
Break down barriers between the playground and the classroom. Our boards aren't just standalone tools—they are part of a complete ecosystem. Create custom visual supports that mirror your board's vocabulary.
Explore our comprehensive catalog tailored for school districts, featuring a wide array of options to enhance inclusivity across educational settings. Discover how our SLP-designed solutions can be customized to meet the unique needs of your district.
Download Detailed Catalog
Smarty Symbols communication boards stand out in the educational sector for several compelling reasons, making them a preferred choice for schools and learning environments that prioritize inclusivity and effective communication. Here’s what makes Smarty Symbols boards special:
Customization Flexibility: Smarty Symbols offers a high degree of customization. Schools can choose from a range of pre-designed options or opt for fully custom solutions, including specific symbols, color schemes, and the inclusion of school logos. This flexibility allows each board to meet the unique needs of different educational settings and student populations.
Cultural and Linguistic Inclusivity: The boards are designed to be as inclusive as possible, with options for bilingual or multilingual configurations in any language. This makes them ideal for diverse classrooms where multiple languages are spoken, helping all students feel represented and supported.
High-Quality Materials: Manufactured from durable, weather-resistant materials suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, Smarty Symbols boards are built to last. They are designed to withstand various environmental conditions without losing their visual appeal or functionality.
Focus on Diversity: The imagery used on the boards reflects a broad spectrum of humanity, supporting diversity in all its forms. This approach helps foster an environment where every student, regardless of their background, feels seen and valued.
Educational and Social Benefits: These boards are not only tools for communication but also aid in language development and social skills, especially for students with speech or language impairments. They serve as a bridge, facilitating more effective interaction among all students.
Comprehensive Support and Warranty: Smarty Symbols provides exceptional post-purchase support, including installation guidance, maintenance tips, and customer service. Furthermore, the boards come with a warranty that covers defects in materials and craftsmanship, ensuring schools receive support long after the initial purchase.
Ease of Installation: Each board includes a detailed installation guide, making the setup process straightforward. Whether mounted on walls, posts, or fences, the boards are designed for easy integration into any school environment.
Promotion of Inclusive Play: Designed specifically for environments like school playgrounds, the boards encourage inclusive play. They make playgrounds more accessible and enjoyable for children with and without disabilities, promoting an inclusive atmosphere where all students can interact and learn from each other.
Our communication boards offer various customization levels. You can choose from predefined options available on our website, including different sizes, colors, and common customizations, or opt for a 100% custom design that meets your specific needs. Our team can incorporate specific symbols, color schemes, and even your school logo.
Yes, we offer several funding options and discounts to help schools integrate Smarty Symbols communication boards into their environments. Understanding the budget constraints often faced by educational institutions, we provide volume discounts for bulk purchases which can make a larger implementation more affordable. Additionally, schools and districts can benefit from special pricing when they choose to bundle our communication boards with Smarty Symbols Studio, our custom resource creation software. This bundle not only enhances the functionality of the communication boards but also supports a more comprehensive approach to inclusivity across the entire school or district. We also assist in identifying potential grants and funding opportunities that can further offset costs, making our solutions accessible to a wider range of educational settings.
Ordering Smarty Symbols communication boards is designed to be seamless and ensures that every detail meets your exact needs. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to proceed:
Online Customization: Visit our website and utilize the dropdown menu to customize your communication boards. You can select from a variety of options including sizes, colors, symbols, and languages. The website provides real-time pricing updates as you make your selections.
Request Further Customization: If your requirements extend beyond what’s available in the dropdown menu, you can contact our team directly. We are happy to set up a virtual meeting via Zoom to discuss your project in detail, understand your specific needs, and provide a tailored quote.
Digital Proof Approval: Before any manufacturing begins, we always send a digital proof of your customized communication board. This allows you to review and approve every aspect of the design, ensuring that it meets all your expectations and requirements.
Place Your Order: Once you have approved the digital proof, you can confirm your order. This can be done either directly through our website for simpler designs or through a purchase order after a virtual consultation for more complex customizations.
Production and Delivery: After approval, we proceed with manufacturing your boards using high-quality, durable materials. We keep you informed about the production timeline and when you can expect delivery.
Installation and Support: Along with your delivered boards, we provide detailed installation guides to facilitate a smooth setup process. Additionally, our customer support team is available to assist with any installation questions or concerns to ensure that your boards are set up properly and effectively.
This thorough process ensures that your Smarty Symbols communication boards are precisely what you envisioned and are ready to enhance the communication dynamics within your educational setting.
At Smarty Symbols, we are committed to promoting diversity and delivering the highest quality in all our imagery. Our communication boards are equipped with the Smarty Symbols Image Library, which features over 60,000 meticulously designed icons. These images include a wide array of representations concerning age, ethnicity, abilities, and cultural backgrounds, ensuring that every student can see themselves reflected in the visuals. We prioritize inclusivity and accessibility in education, and our images are crafted to support this by being vibrant, clear, and easily recognizable from a distance. Each image is created using advanced graphic design techniques to ensure they are engaging and durable, even in outdoor environments. This approach not only enhances visual communication but also fosters an inclusive atmosphere where every student feels valued and included.
Once you submit a purchase order for Smarty Symbols communication boards, the process is efficient and timely to ensure you receive your products as quickly as possible. Here’s what you can expect:
Proof Review: Within one week of receiving your purchase order, we will send you a digital proof of the communication board for your review. This proof allows you to see exactly how the finished product will look and make any necessary adjustments or approvals.
Production: After you approve the proof, the production of your communication board begins. Our team works diligently to ensure that your board is manufactured to the highest standards with quality materials.
Delivery: Once production is complete, which typically takes 2 to 3 weeks, your board will be shipped directly to your location. We strive to ensure that the total time from the submission of your purchase order to the delivery of your board is as swift and seamless as possible.
We understand the importance of timely delivery, especially in educational settings where planning and implementation are key. Our process is designed to provide you with a quick turnaround while maintaining the quality and accuracy of your custom communication boards.
