This unit describes some of the key issues to consider in choosing a symbol set to support AAC use

1. Choosing a Symbol Set
Module 1
Unit 4

2. What we will cover
In this unit we will
• Discuss some of the available symbols sets
• Identify some of the key features of symbols sets
• Suggest some of the considerations in choosing a symbol set

3. Refresher – what are symbols?
Symbols are used widely in everyday life as a kind of visual language.
Road signs, care symbols on clothing, or direction symbols at an airport
are examples of how symbols can convey information quickly and
effectively.
Symbols can be read, regardless of the person's language or literacy
skills.
People with communication difficulties may benefit from using symbols
to understand what other people are saying, as well as to express what
they want to say.

4. Symbol sets
Symbols are mostly available as collections or sets. Many symbol sets
are available which have been designed specifically for AAC.
Most present the symbol together with the word or phrase it stands
for.
Typically the word is printed above the symbol if the focus is on
communication as communication partners need to be able to see the
words because they may not know what all the symbols mean.
Where the focus is on literacy, the reader may need to be able to see
the symbols to help decode the written word and as emerging readers
often point to words as they read, the symbol is printed above the
word.

5. Examples of Symbol Sets
PicSymbolstix™
SymbolStix consists of more than 12,000 symbols that are available on
a number of Voice Output devices. Symbolstix symbols were created to
support a website with educational materials and news of current
events for people who could not read this information as text. The
symbols are available through an online subscription.
www.n2y.com/symbolstix-prime

6. Examples of Symbol Sets
Blissymbols™
Originally devised as an international language, Blissymbols were
adopted for use by people with complex communication difficulties in
the 1970s. Symbols are built with systematic visual elements which
have consistent meanings.
www.blissymbols.co.uk

7. Examples of Symbol Sets
Picture Communication Symbols (PCS)™
There are approximately 5,000 symbols in a core library. Addendum
libraries of PCS and country-specific libraries bring the total to
approximately 12,000 symbols. PCS is available in 44 different
languages. The symbols consist of simple drawings that can be
represented in black and white or colour. There are versions that have
thin outlines or are in high contrast.
www.mayer-johnson.com

8. Examples of Symbol sets
Arasaac
ARASAAC is a free portal for (AAC) Augmentative and Alternative
Communication funded by the Aragonese Government. All of the
symbols are free for non-commercial use and are licensed under
Creative Commons.
The site provides over 11,000 colour symbols and supports several
European languages - black and white versions of all symbols are also
available.
www.globalsymbols.com

9. Examples of Symbol sets
Tawasol
Tawasol is a freely distributable bilingual Arabic / English symbol
dictionary of frequently used words in spoken and written
communication represented by images and pictograms. Tawasol builds
upon the Arasaac collection.
Based upon crowd sourced design and Arabic language and values, the
symbols are freely usable and can be adapted to meet the needs of
other language communities and needs.
www.globalsymbols.com

10. Choosing a Symbol Set
Symbol sets vary in several ways including: how pictorial, how
guessable, how flexible, how consistent and how visually complex.
Each symbol set has strengths and weaknesses and the choice of a
symbol set should be based on the needs and abilities of the person
using AAC.
Selecting symbols for the communication environment is also
important, this will include language and culture
Practical issues such as whether software is available to produce
printed materials, or which are available for a particular AAC system,
will also influence any choice.

11. Features of symbol sets
How pictorial
Some symbol systems are more pictorial than others.
However, abstract concepts such as ‘love', ‘mother' or ‘idea' are
difficult to convey in a simple pictorial way.
Symbol sets will need rules as to how such concepts are represented

12. Features of Symbol sets
How guessable
Where symbols are easier to guess, the AAC user may be able to
recognise the meaning intuitively rather than having to learn each
symbol individually.
Symbols that represent objects, rather than abstract ideas, tend to ne
easier to guess and often are represented in similar ways regardless of
the symbol set.
Other symbols are not so easily guessable, and in these need to be
learned individually.

13. Features of Symbol sets
How flexible
Such sets of highly pictorial symbols are easy to guess, but may be less
easy to apply in all contexts.
Thus a symbol for 'water' might not work so well to express the
message "my eyes began to water".

14. Features of Symbol sets
How consistent
Symbol systems which follow clear rules which combine consistent
visual elements are often easiest to learn. Such consistent systems can
allow children to express ideas which are not in their AAC system,
where they can combine elements to convey new or subtle meanings.

15. Features of Symbol Sets
How visually complex
Children with vision loss find it easier to process symbols with
particular design features, such as being in black and white, presented
as line drawings, or in high contrast.
The capacity to size symbols without loss of quality can also be
important in supporting those with vision loss

16. Features of Symbol sets
Selecting symbols for the communication environment
Using symbols in everyday settings is recognised as a being a core
aspect of establishing Total Communication.
Where symbols are already in use around a setting such as school or
clinic that the child attends regularly, there is great value in using the
same set in implementing the child’s individual communication system.

17. Features of Symbol sets
Choosing a symbol set to match the needs of the individual
The symbols must support the range of words and types of word that
they are and will be needed.
This is particularly important for those with good language skills and
who need a range of specific vocabulary items, or abstract words, or
symbols for that denote grammar.

18. Summary
Choosing a symbol set is first and foremost based on meeting the
needs of an individual. This includes considering the design of the
symbol set, the ways in which the symbols will be used and the
environment in which communication will take place.
Those charged with implanting AAC systems should seek to be aware of
the strengths and weaknesses of a range of symbol sets to guide the
process.

19. Points to remember
• There are many symbols sets which may be available. Some are free, some
must be purchased
• Symbol sets can be considered in several ways including: how pictorial,
how guessable, how flexible, how consistent and how visually complex.
• Each symbol set has strengths and weaknesses and the choice of a symbol
set should be based on the needs and abilities of the person using AAC.
• Selecting symbols for the communication environment is also important,
this will include language and culture
• Practical issues such as how the symbols are to be used, is software
available to produce printed materials, or which are available for a
particular AAC device, will also influence any choice.