For this assignment, you will be creating a general communication board (an actual, physical communication board).

First, create your board and take a photo of it.

Then, write a 2-3 page paper in which you discuss:

(a) WHO is this for? Briefly describe the person for whom you are designing this communication board. Include some information about his/her age, disability, means of communication, current environments, etc. (If this set-up is for a hypothetical person, describe his/her characteristics.)

(b) What is the PURPOSE of this communication board and the PROBLEM to be overcome? What specifically will it enable the user to do? What is the need you hope to address with this communication board? What special issues did you have to consider?

(c) Message Selection: In detail, describe the vocabulary of the messages. What words/phrases/sentences needed to be included?

(d) Symbol System: What symbol system did you decide to use and why?

(e) Design Considerations: Discuss your selection and arrangement of keys. Include your decision-making regarding the size of displays, groupings, colors if appropriate, spacing, etc.

(f) Technical Details: Describe the specific hardware and software you used (if any) to develop the communication board using appropriate terminology.

(g) Benefits/Problems: Discuss the overall advantages to this communication board. Also consider possible problems or questions you might have about its effectiveness. What might the next steps be to improve this person’s communication?

Submit both your photo and your paper.