Although there are many information resources related to AAC tools on the Web, the Georgia Project for Assistive Technology (GPAT) provides a great overview of the categories of assistive technology tools on its website. The GPAT section on AAC tools includes the following categories of products (which have been included here with permission and edited only slightly).

The devices listed on this and the next several pages are arranged from “low tech” to “high tech” except for the final category which is unaided strategies.

Low Tech, Non-Speaking Communication Aids

Object-based communication displays. These low tech solutions use object symbols to represent messages in the context of daily activities. Objects representing certain events and activities are attached to a board. The user selects or touches the object to indicate his wants and needs.

Object-based communication displays are typically developed for children who are very young, individuals with severe intellectual disabilities and individuals with severe visual impairments who are also nonverbal.

Picture communication boards and books. These low tech augmentative communication solutions contain pictures to represent frequently communicated messages. The pictures are organized on various pages or displays typically around certain activities of the individual’s day. For example, the book may contain dedicated pages for organization, snack, leisure, academics or job skills, etc.

The pages are manually turned by the user or by another person in the environment as the activities change to provide access to appropriate vocabulary.

Alphabet boards. Individuals who are able to generate new messages through spelling can use an alphabet board. Letters of the alphabet are printed on the board, typically in the same order as a computer keyboard. The user touches the individual letters in sequence to build words, phrases, and sentences.

This communication solution provides the person with a means of communicating unique messages that may not have been available on a picture board. Alphabet board and picture board are frequently combined so that the user has quick access to language that is used often and also the abilities to generate unique messages.