Playground Communication Board FAQs: Everything You Need to Know
Implementing inclusive play is more than just a physical upgrade; it’s about ensuring every child has a voice. If you are a city planner, school administrator, or community advocate, you likely have technical questions about communication boards. This guide is designed to help you navigate the selection process on how to choose a playground communication board for your community.
What is the process to order a playground communication board?
- Please complete the Quote Request
- Within 24 hours you will receive a quote via email.
- When we receive a form of payment (PO, Credit card, etc). we will begin to process the order.
How to choose a playground communication board is a question we get asked frequently. These quick answers to some of the most frequently asked questions help most communities. Selecting AAC communication boards is a question we get asked frequently. These quick answers to some of the most frequently asked questions help most communities.
Do the boards include multiple language options to accommodate the diverse needs of our community?
- ALL of our communication boards can accommodate up to 4 langauges per cell.
- There is a set-up fee for the addition of languages other than English.
What symbol systems can I choose from?
- Resources at Lakeshore Speech, LLC. has licensing for Boardmaker© or SymbolStix© symbol systems.
How do you install the playground communication boards?
- Resources at Lakeshore Speech, LLC. does not install nor do we sell installation materials.
- We do provide installation suggestions
- We recommend consulting with your Building and Maintenance Dept.
How do I get funding for a playground communication board?
We frequently hear the question: “How do we fund these boards for our local park?” when groups begin to explore how to acquire playground communication boards for their community park or pool.
Where Can I Look for Funding?
State and Local Grants:
Many states have “Land and Water Conservation Funds” or “Recreation Grants” that prioritize neurodiversity and communication access.
Foundation Support:
Organizations like the Flutie Foundation and Channing’s Joy offer specific grants for playground communication boards.
Service Clubs:
Local Rotary, Kiwanis, and Lions Clubs are excellent partners for funding inclusive playground equipment as a gift to the community.
Refer to our Funding Information Page for more informaiton, letter templates, etc.
What are the best materials for outdoor communication boards?
When researching how to choose an inclusive communication board, the first consideration is the environment. Unlike indoor clinic boards, playground boards must withstand UV rays, extreme temperatures, and heavy public use.
What are the playground communication boards printed on and will they hold up in extreme weather conditions?
- All communication boards are printed on MaxMetal alluminum compostie alloy.
- The heavy duty aluminum composite panel of MaxMetal will hold up in all weather conditions.
- Our Emotional Balance Boards and Clinic Communication Boards are available on corrugated plastic (Coroplast) and magnetic tile.
- Corrugated plastic and magnetic tiles can be used outside however indoor use is recommended.
Why is Aluminum Alloy best for playground communication signs?
For high-traffic, outdoor areas, we recommend our Aluminum Alloy boards. These are constructed from two sheets of aluminum with a solid polyethylene core, totaling a 3mm thickness.
Longevity: Estimated lifespan of 5+ years even in harsh coastal or northern climates.
Vandal Resistance: Our aluminum boards feature a protective finish that allows for the removal of most graffiti or permanent markers without damaging the underlying symbols.
Heat Management: While metal can get hot, our boards are finished with specialized coatings that help reflect sunlight, ensuring they remain comfortable to touch even in summer.
When should I use Coroplast vs. Aluminum for communication boards?
- Coroplast (Corrugated Plastic): Best for indoor gyms or temporary “pop-up” inclusive events. It is lightweight, budget-friendly, and portable.
- Magnetic Tiles:Ideal for interactive “daily check-ins” in special education classrooms or therapy clinics where students can physically manipulate markers to show their choices.
Where to buy durable communication boards for thearpy use?
You have found the right place. Our Clinic Communiation Boards are available in MaxMetal, coroplast or magnetic panels. These materials will hold up to repeated use and chemicals for cleaning and sanitizing, while retaining the sharp clear images.
Where can I find professional sevices offering custom communication board design and printing?
Resources at Lakeshore Speech, LLC was found and is run by 2 dedicated ASHA certified speech-language patholgists with 60+ years combined professional expertise. Our communication boards are 100% customizable to meet your specific needs. Once you approve the final draft of your customized board, they are sent to production and are delivered to your door in 2-7 business days.
What do I include on a Communication Board?
Our communication boards are designed by certified speech-langauge pathologists providing evidenced based icon layout and vocabulary selection. Their clinicial expertise provides insight to attention to linguistic mapping, sensory considerations and use of inclusive vocabulary and icon selection.
What age group uses playground communication boards?
Communication boards in general are approriate for all age groups. While the symbols are clear and easy for children to understand, the design is professional and dignified enough for use in adult neuro-rehabilitation centers, group homes, and mental health facilities.
What are the benefits of playground communication boards for children?
- Encouraging Peer Interaction – Children of all abilities can use the boards to communicate, fostering inclusion and socialization.
- Supporting Emotional balance – Kids can express feelings like excitement, frustration, or discomfort using simple symbols.
- Enhancing Safety – Clear communication options help children convey concerns, such as feeling too hot at the pool or needing a break from play.
- Providing Independence – children with communication differences can participate in play activities without relying solely on caregivers to interpret their needs.
- Facilitate Expression: They give individuals the means to express their thoughts, needs, and emotions, fostering independence and confidence.
- Enhance Relationships: By improving communication, they strengthen connections between individuals and their families, friends, and communities.
- Support Development: They play a critical role in educational and therapeutic settings, helping individuals achieve their full potential.
How do visual communication boards enhance inclusive play?
The “Triple-Effect” of Functional Participation
Research consistently indicates that access to a communication board acts as a catalyst for physical activity. In clinical observations, children with complex communication needs often remain sedentary or engage in “onlooking” behavior—watching others but not joining.
Doubling the Rate of Peer-to-Peer Friendships
One of the most significant metrics in social interactions is the “reciprocal exchange.” Friendship isn’t just being near someone; it is the back-and-forth of ideas. Studies show that children using communication boards for children form friendships with neurotypical peers at 2x the rate of those without them.
70% Reduction in Solitary Play
Isolation is the enemy of development. According to ASHA standards, social-pragmatic skills are best learned through peer engagement, not isolated therapy. Time spent in solitary play (playing alone despite others being present) drops by 70% when AAC tools, like playground communication boards are available in public spaces.
Accelerated Conflict Resolution and Emotional Regulation
In any high-energy environment like a pool or playground, conflicts are inevitable. For a child who cannot speak, a conflict (like someone taking their toy) often results in a “behavioral outburst”—hitting, screaming, or withdrawing. Communities report a significant decrease in playground “incidents” after installing boards.
Peer Learning and “Universal Design” Outcomes
The benefits aren’t limited to the child with a disability. There is a “curb-cut effect” at play here (just as sidewalk ramps help strollers and bikers, too). Neurotypical peers show increased levels of empathy, patience, and “communication flexibility.”
Where to buy durable communication boards for playgrounds near me?
Communities across the nation are making steps towards giving everyone a voice! Resources at Lakeshore Speech ship communication boards to all 50 states. Our boards made from aluminum alloy hold up in all weather conditions. From the extreme heat to driving rain to freezing cold we make sure everyone’s voice can be heard!
What is the typical cost range for a durable playground communication board?
Boards printed on aluminum alloy start at $550. Our company’s vision has always been rooted in providing affordable communication boards and therapeutic resources to enhance the lives of individuals with communication differences. Every decision we make is filtered through this lens.
Communication boards printed on alluminum alloy (includes: Playground, Pool, Clinic Therapeutic Riding boards):
- 2’x3′ and 3’x2′ sizes start at $550
- 4’x2′ size boards start at $675
Communication boards printed on Coroplast (corragated plastic) or Magnetic Tiles (includes: Clinic and Emotional Balance communication boards)
- 18″x24″ start at $200
All communication boards (excluding the Emotional Balance Boards) are 100% customizable (fees apply) to meet your communitites specific needs.
How to choose the right symbols for a playground communication board.
Selecting the right visual language is a process known in the SLP world as “feature matching.” It is not about aesthetic preference; it is about finding the most functional tool for the user. When choosing symbol systems, consider the following clinical criteria:
Evaluate the Learner’s Visual Profile –
Can they see fine lines, or do they need bold, high-contrast icons?
Consider Iconicity and Transparency –
Iconicity refers to how closely a symbol resembles the real-world object it represents.
Environmental Consistency –
It is often best to use the same symbol system on the communication boards at their school or local playground. This reduces the “cognitive load,” allowing the user to focus on what they want to say rather than learning a new language every time they change locations.