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.

What it is

Colour words are red, blue, green, yellow, black, white, pink, purple, orange and brown. They are describers, and their job on a board is the same as any adjective's: to say which one. "Red cup" picks a cup. "Blue" plus a point picks the blue thing.

They are also, for reasons nobody can quite justify, the most drilled vocabulary in special education. Children spend years being asked "what colour is this?" by adults who already know, while still unable to say "wrong", "help" or "no". Colours are worth having. They are not worth that.

Who it can help

Anyone who chooses between things that differ mainly by colour: cups, clothes, pens, the two identical toys in different shades. They help children in school where colour is used in instructions, and adults who want to say what to wear. For a few people, colour is a passion, and a full palette on the board is a joy.

They do not help a person who has nothing else to say. And be aware that not everyone sees colour the same way; colour vision deficiency is common in men, and a person who "won't learn colours" may simply not see the difference you are testing.

How it works

Colour cards are the one case where the symbol is simply the colour: a square of red says red. Because they are so easy to draw and to test, they are easy to overteach. The useful mechanism is combination: a colour before a noun, or a colour plus a point, does the work of naming things the board has no card for.

They are part of the describing words and behave the same way in a sentence: "want" plus "red" plus "cup". A small set (six to ten) covers ordinary life; more can be added for a person who cares.

The Talk board includes colours with its describing cards, so a colour can be added to any request or comment from any set.

Getting started

This week, use colours to choose, never to test. Hold up two cups, press "red" or "blue" on the board for the one you hand over, and let the person do the same. Stop asking "what colour is this?" unless you genuinely need to know.

Model colours as opinions: "I like" plus "green", "not" plus "pink". A colour that expresses a preference gets used; a colour that answers a quiz does not.

If the person is not picking up colours, check colour vision before assuming anything else, and move on to the words that matter more.

Where to get help

Speech and Language UK on concept vocabulary in early language. Communication Matters for AAC vocabulary. For colour vision, an NHS opticians' test is free for children and for many adults; ask your GP or a high street optician.