How symbols are used

Communication Aids

Symbols help people who are not able to speak, read or write, to communicate their needs, wants and ideas.

Symbols can enable this group of people to communicate in two ways:

High tech device where a finger, switch or head pointer can be used to identify a symbol which is then converted into speech output.

Low tech method of pointing to symbols on paper.

Where people are unable to speak but may be able to access text, ideas can be communicated much more quickly to others using symbols rather than pointing to individual letters to form words.