Core Board Maker for AAC Core Vocabulary

Build a core vocabulary board with the everyday words a learner uses most. Start from a ready-made set with symbols, change any cell, then print it or use it on a tablet.

Make a Core Board

Free to use. No account needed.

What You Can Do

Click any cell to edit

Change the word, the symbol and the color of a cell in a couple of clicks.

Symbols included

A ready-made set of everyday words comes with symbols. Search for images, upload your own, or pick from the built-in symbol library, which has a Core Words section.

Any grid size

Choose a grid from 4 by 3 up to 8 by 5, or set the columns and rows yourself. Every word stays in the same row and column when you resize, so the learner can still find it by where it is.

Color by word type

Color cells with the Modified Fitzgerald Key (nouns, pronouns, verbs and the rest). Color the whole cell or just the border, use all ten colors or a few, and print a color key on the board.

Tap to talk on a tablet

Start a session and each word is said out loud when it is tapped. Tapped words build a sentence that can be said all at once. It uses the device's own voice and works offline.

Print and update

Print the board, and edit and reprint it when the vocabulary grows.

Make One in Three Steps

1.Choose the words. Start with a handful of core words like go, stop, more and help.
2.Add symbols. Pick a clear picture for each word.
3.Print and model. Keep it within reach and point to words as you talk.

Great For

Low-tech AAC alongside therapy
Home and classroom communication supports
Modeling language with aided language input
Backups when a device is not available

Common Questions

Is it free?: Yes. You can build and print boards for free without an account. Free prints and PDFs include a small watermark, and Pro removes it, saves your boards to your account, and makes photo search unlimited.
Does this replace an AAC device?: No. A printed core board is a low-tech option. A speech-language pathologist can advise on the best system for a learner, and a printed board often works alongside it.
Does it speak?: In a session on a tablet or computer, yes: tapping a word says it using the device's own voice, and tapped words can be said as a sentence. The voice is the one your device provides, so how it sounds depends on the device. It works offline.
Which words should I start with?: A small set of high-use words, such as go, stop, more, want, help, like and all done. Your speech-language pathologist can suggest the right starting set.