Communication A to Z

Somebody hands you a leaflet that says AAC. A review mentions partner-assisted scanning. A ward asks whether your dad has a communication passport. Everyone else in the room seems to know what these words mean, and asking feels like admitting you're behind. You aren't. This library explains each one plainly: what it is, who it helps, how it works, and what you can do about it this week. Search by the word you heard.

Please note: This page is general information about communication and the ways people are supported to communicate. It is not an assessment, a diagnosis or speech and language therapy, and it does not know the person you have in mind. If you are worried about someone's speech, language or communication, ask a GP, a health visitor or a speech and language therapist. In an emergency, call 999; if you cannot speak, Relay UK on 18000 or the emergencySMS service reach the same operators.

301 topics, showing 51–60 (page 6 of 31).

C

Colours

Also called Colour words, Colour vocabulary

Useful, overtaught, and the most drilled words in special education. How to use colours for choosing and describing rather than for testing.

Comic strip conversations

Also called Comic Strip Conversations, Conversation drawing, Stick-figure conversations

Drawing a conversation as stick figures, speech bubbles and thought bubbles, to work out what went wrong in it and what could go differently.

Commenting rather than questioning

Also called Comments not questions, Fewer questions, Testing questions

A question is a test with a right answer. A comment is an invitation with none. Count your questions for an hour and you'll see the problem.

Comments

Also called Commenting, Social comments, Opinion words

'That's funny', 'I like it', 'boring', 'wow': the words that make conversation rather than requests, and the reason people talk to you back.

Communication Access UK

Also called Communication Access Symbol, CAUK

A free online course for any business or service, and a symbol on the door that says the staff inside know how to communicate with you.

Communication aid

Also called Communication device, AAC device, AAC equipment, Electronic communication aid

The umbrella term for the equipment, and what a person is entitled to expect from one: assessment, provision, training, repair and a backup.

Communication assessment

Also called Speech and language assessment, SLT assessment, Language assessment

What happens when a speech and language therapist assesses someone, what a good report contains, and what to do with a bad one.

Communication at the GP

Also called GP appointments and AAC, Primary care communication

Ten minutes is not enough when every sentence takes a minute. You can ask for more, and the practice has a duty to give it.

Communication at work

Also called Workplace communication adjustments, AAC at work

Meetings, phones and colleagues all assume speech. The adjustments that fix them are cheap, and the law says you can have them.

Communication board

Also called Topic board, Situation board, Activity board, Choice board

One board, one situation. The quickest AAC to make and the one that lives on the fridge, in the bath and at the school gate.

Try a voice now, free

Fiducia Talk is a complete talking board: 308 symbol cards, a phonics keyboard and a big-key keyboard, speaking in your device's own voice. No account, no subscription, and nothing you say leaves your device.

Open the board