Grandpa’s Talking Board: Option 1

What you need--

1. A piece of cardboard cut in half
2. Markers and/or crayons
3. Scissors
4. Glue Stick
5. Tape

What you do--

1. Pick out the pictures for your board
1. The pictures need to be big enough to see clearly.
2. They need to help someone say what they want and think
3. You can find pictures from magazines, or click here and here.
4. Cut them out. Color them if you need to.  Set the pictures to the side.
2. Use your markers and a ruler or straight edge to divide your board into squares like a checkerboard

3. Lay out your pictures in your squares
1. What things go together?
2. What does you family memjber need help with during the day? (Tired, bed)
4. When you have the order you like, glue your pictures to the board.
5. Laminate your board (ask an adult to help you) OR use clear packing tape (the wide kind) to cover your pictures to help keep them strong and clean.
6. Use it yourself, or give your board away to a family with a member who has trouble speaking!

Option 2 (Ask an adult for help)
What you need:

1. A piece of cardboard (the side of a cardboard box is great!)
2. Velcro (only if you want to use cardboard)
3. Hot glue gun (Ask an adult for help)
4. Picture symbols
5. Scissors

What to do:

1. Make sure your cardboard is the size you want
1. Big enough to put pictures on
2. Small enough to move around and use easily
2. Place the cardboard on the Velcro sheet. 
3. Cut the Velcro into 2 pieces,
1. The piece to cover the back should be two inches longer and two inches wider than the board

2. The piece to cover the front should be 3 inches longer and 4 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the first piece.

4. Using the hot glue gun (ask an adult for help with this part):
1. Put lines of glue on the back of the cardboard and then lay the cardboard in the middle of your smaller piece of Velcro
2. Press the cardboard down so that the glue really sticks!
3. Put a line a glue line around the edge of the cardboard on the front side and fold the Velcro over only the front

5. Do Step 4 again for the front of the board.  The Velcro edges should overlap
6. Now, choose the pictures you want on your board.  The pictures should help someone tell you what they want or think without them having to speak. 
7. Color your pictures and cut them out.  Print pictures on cardstock, or laminate them to help them stay strong!
8. Stick Velcro hooks to the back of the pictures.
9. Put your pictures on the board
10. Use your board yourself or give it away!
    
    You can create boards to use in different places: the grocery store, clothing store, restaurant, mall (with stair and elevator icons), etc.
    
    Every picture board will be different. Talk with your parents, doctor and speech therapist (if your family member has one) to find out what your family member needs when it comes to communicating.  Different needs will change the way you use the picture board. 
    
    Sometimes the person can’t understand spoken language.  They hear, but the words don’t make sense.  For them, you might point to a picture so they understand what you mean. 
    
    Janie’s Grandpa understood language. The words other people spoke made sense to him, but he could not speak back very well.  Imagine only being able to say three words!  Telling someone what you want or need would be very difficult.  To help Grandpa explain what he wanted to say, Janie chose pictures that Grandpa could point to and that she could ask questions about. 
    
    When Grandpa pointed at a blanket, Janie would ask if he was cold.  When Grandpa nodded, Janie could ask if he wanted a blanket.  The pictures held Janie understand what Grandpa want to say
    
    Talk with your parents, family members or caregivers.  They can help you figure out what kind of picture board will work best and how to use it to help you and your family member talk with each other.