You can assemble a usable emergency communication board in 10–20 minutes using free printable templates from public health and disability agencies. Download a PDF, print it at home, laminate or slide it into a plastic sleeve, and you have a ready-to-carry tool that lets a nonverbal person point to needs, pain locations, and yes/no answers during any crisis.
Three immediate paths to get started:
- Download a free PDF template from Temple University’s Institute on Disabilities, the Autism Society, or Texas DSHS
- Print and laminate at home or at any office supply store for under $5
- Save a digital copy on your phone as a backup when a physical board is unavailable
What you need on hand: a printer, standard 8.5×11 paper (or legal 8.5×14 for larger icons), a laminator or plastic sleeve, scissors, and a permanent marker for the personal info form on the back.
Pro Tip: Print two copies at once: one to laminate for daily carry and one to keep flat in your emergency go-bag.
Key Takeaways
A usable emergency communication board can be assembled in 10–20 minutes from free printable templates, and consistent practice before a crisis is what makes it reliable when it counts.
| Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Assembly time | Download, print, and laminate a board in 10–20 minutes using free PDFs from Temple University, the Autism Society, or Texas DSHS. |
| Back-of-board form | Fill in name, emergency contact, primary language, and medical details before storing the board. |
| Language options | Texas DSHS templates are available in English, Spanish, and ASL; Philadelphia’s board covers English and Spanish. |
| Practice frequency | Run a 5-minute daily scanning drill and a 10-minute emergency role-play weekly to build reliable use under stress. |
| Buildingblockresolutions | Offers parent coaching and behavioral staff training to support guided board customization and crisis communication practice. |
Table of Contents
- What an emergency communication board is and when you need one
- Where to download free, ready-to-print templates
- How to print, assemble, and carry your board
- How caregivers and first responders should use the board in a crisis
- How to customize the board for one person
- Pre-printed boards and kits: what to expect
- Practice routines that make the board reliable under pressure
- Why the board matters most before the crisis happens
- Buildingblockresolutions supports families and teams with guided board training
- Sources
- FAQ
What an emergency communication board is and when you need one
An emergency communication board is a low-tech augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) tool that uses pictures, symbols, letters, or a simple keyboard so a person can point to what they need when speech is unavailable or unreliable. The City of Philadelphia’s Department of Public Health describes it as an acute-crisis supplement to formal interpretation services, not a replacement for ASL or video remote interpreting.
These boards are most useful in:
- Medical emergencies, where a patient cannot speak due to pain, intubation, or shock
- Evacuations, where noise and stress make verbal exchange unreliable
- Situations where a person is nonverbal due to autism, a speech impairment, or a stroke
- First-responder encounters, where neither party shares a common language
Caregivers, autistic individuals, people with aphasia, overwhelmed patients, and first responders all benefit. The board gives everyone a shared, visual language when seconds matter.
Where to download free, ready-to-print templates
Several vetted public health and disability organizations publish free PDFs. Each offers something slightly different in format and language coverage.
Temple University’s free downloadable aids include a picture communication aid and a letter/word communication aid, both designed to be printed back-to-back or laminated. The Autism Society’s board is particularly useful for individuals who can spell, since it includes a full alphabet row, a numeric row, and yes/space keys. Texas DSHS goes further by offering PDFs in English, Spanish, and ASL, and recommends saving a copy offline on your device. ASHA’s communication access resources list pain scales, picture/word boards, and alphabet boards suited for inpatient and outpatient settings.
All of these are free. Lingraphica also offers free health-related communication boards with hospital graphics covering basic wants, feelings, and medical concerns.
How to print, assemble, and carry your board
Follow these steps to go from download to carry-ready in under 20 minutes.
- Download the PDF from your chosen source and open it in any PDF viewer.
- Choose your print size. Use 8.5×11 for a wallet-style board or 8.5×14 for larger icons that are easier to point to under stress.
- Print both pages if the template is multi-page. Set your printer to “fit to page” and use at least 24-lb paper for durability.
- Cut and paste back-to-back so the picture side and the keyboard/letter side face outward, or print each side separately and glue them together.
- Laminate or sleeve. A home laminator works well; a plastic document sleeve from any office supply store is a fast alternative.
- Fill in the personal information form on the back. Temple University’s template includes a dedicated form for name, emergency contact, primary language, and key medical conditions. Fill it out in permanent marker before storing the board.
- Hole-punch and add a cord or lanyard so the board can hang from a go-bag, wheelchair, or stroller.
Materials checklist: printer, 24-lb paper, laminator or plastic sleeve, scissors, glue stick (if printing two separate pages), and a permanent marker.
Pro Tip: Laminated boards can be wiped down with a disinfectant wipe between uses. Avoid alcohol-based cleaners on boards with printed ink unless the lamination fully seals the edges.
How caregivers and first responders should use the board in a crisis
The board only works if the person holding it knows how to introduce it quickly. Start with a calm, direct prompt rather than an open-ended question.
Scripted openers that work under stress:
- “I have a communication board. Can you point to what you need?”
- “Point to yes or no.”
- “Show me where it hurts on this picture.”
- “Point to a letter to spell it out.”
Dos and don’ts:
- Do hold the board steady at eye level and give the person time to scan before pointing.
- Do confirm each selection aloud: “You pointed to ‘pain.’ Is that right? Point to yes or no.”
- Don’t ask two questions at once or offer verbal choices while the person is scanning.
- Don’t rush. A few extra seconds of patience produces a clearer answer than a pressured guess.
For medical triage, ask about pain location first using the body diagram, then severity using the pain scale, then immediate needs (water, medication, bathroom). For evacuation scenarios, focus on mobility needs and allergies. The Patient-Provider Communication project offers printable pain scales and ICU-relevant images that pair well with a standard board during medical emergencies.
Pro Tip: Attach a laminated one-page instruction card to the back of the board so any first responder who picks it up knows exactly how to use it, even without prior training.
How to customize the board for one person
Generic templates are a solid starting point, but a board tailored to the individual communicates faster and more accurately in a real crisis.
- Photos vs. generic icons: Use real photos of familiar objects, people, or places for individuals who respond better to concrete images. Generic icons work well for most adults and older children.
- Enlarge icons to at least 2 inches square for anyone with a motor or visual impairment. High-contrast borders (black outline on white background) improve visibility in low-light emergencies.
- Add medical alerts directly on the front: allergy icons, medication names, and a “do not give me X” symbol. These details can be life-saving during a medical response.
- Bilingual labels: Print the word in English above and Spanish (or the user’s home language) below each icon. Texas DSHS templates already do this for Spanish speakers.
- Fill in the back-of-board personal info form completely: full name, date of birth, emergency contact name and phone number, primary language, key diagnoses, current medications, and known allergies.
For readers who want a fully customizable layout, a free customizable AAC emergency communication board is available through educators’ resource pages and supports TD Snap import. Check the terms of use before distributing copies.
Pro Tip: Keep the board to one or two pages maximum. A board with too many symbols slows scanning and increases stress for both the user and the responder.
Pre-printed boards and kits: what to expect
For families or organizations that prefer a ready-made option, pre-printed kits are available from specialty vendors including Chileda and SPEAK Unlimited, Inc. These kits are designed specifically for EMS, police, fire, and hospital settings.
A typical kit includes:
- Pre-printed, laminated boards (often sold in packs of 5–10)
- Boards tailored by setting: one for EMS/fire, one for police encounters, one for hospital use
- An instructional video or printed manual showing responders how to introduce and use the board
- A lanyard or holder for field carry
- Multi-language packs (English and Spanish at minimum)
Kentucky’s CSEPP PrepareKY program aggregates links to several of these resources, including Chileda’s pre-printed packs and SPEAK Unlimited’s setting-specific boards, making it a useful single-stop reference for emergency managers sourcing kits for their departments.
Buyers should verify which languages are included, whether an instructional video is part of the package, and whether the boards are laminated or require additional protective covering before field use.
Practice routines that make the board reliable under pressure
A board sitting in a drawer does not help anyone during a crisis. Short, repeated practice sessions are what make the tool usable when stress is high. ASHA’s practitioner guidance recommends role-play and pre-crisis practice with both the AAC user and caregivers so the user becomes comfortable navigating symbols and caregivers learn facilitation techniques.
Three session templates to build into your routine:
- 5-minute daily scanning drill. Place the board on a table and ask the user to point to three to five symbols in response to simple prompts. Rotate the prompts daily to cover needs, feelings, and body parts.
- 10-minute emergency role-play. One person acts as a first responder, the other uses only the board to communicate. Run through a medical scenario, then an evacuation scenario. Time the interaction to build comfort with pacing.
- Weekly caregiver refresher. Review the board together, update any outdated information on the back, and practice the scripted openers from the usage section above.
Practice checklist:
- Include the user in any customization decisions so the board reflects their actual vocabulary
- Practice in varied contexts: at home, in the car, and in public spaces
- Use simple reinforcement (praise, a preferred activity) after successful practice sessions
- Schedule at least one role-play session with local first responders annually
For families working on autism conversation skills, these drills pair naturally with broader communication practice at home. Behavioral staff training programs can also incorporate board use into crisis de-escalation protocols for school and care teams.
Pro Tip: Contact your local fire station or EMS agency and ask if they will participate in a 15-minute practice session. Many departments welcome the opportunity, and real-world transfer improves significantly when responders have seen the board before an actual emergency.
Why the board matters most before the crisis happens
The families I work with who have practiced board use before an emergency consistently report calmer, faster interactions with first responders compared to those who pull out the board for the first time during a crisis. The tool itself is simple. The preparation behind it is what makes it work.
A filled-in personal information form on the back, a laminated board in the go-bag, and three or four practice sessions with the actual user are the difference between a board that helps and one that sits unused. Families who want guided support customizing boards, practicing interaction scripts, or training caregivers and school staff do not have to figure this out alone.
Buildingblockresolutions supports families and teams with guided board training
Families who have downloaded a template and printed a board have taken the right first step. The next step, guided practice with a trained professional, is where real confidence builds. Buildingblockresolutions offers parent coaching that includes hands-on support for customizing communication tools, running practice drills at home, and coaching caregivers on how to facilitate board use during a crisis. For school teams and care organizations, the services list includes behavioral staff training that can incorporate AAC board use and crisis communication protocols directly into staff development.
Every engagement is built around the individual, whether that means a single parent coaching session to review a board layout or an ongoing training contract for a school district. To get started, visit the services page and book a consultation with the Buildingblockresolutions team.
Sources
- Emergency Communication Board Now Available | Department of Public Health | City of Philadelphia
- Free Downloadable Emergency Communication Aids
- Communication Access Resources: Communication Aids
- 2024 ASA Emergency Communication Board – English
- Emergency Communication Aid | Texas DSHS
FAQ
What is an emergency communication board?
An emergency communication board is a low-tech AAC tool using pictures, symbols, letters, or a keyboard so a nonverbal person can point to needs, pain, or yes/no answers during a crisis. It supplements, but does not replace, formal interpretation services like ASL or video remote interpreting.
Where can I download a free emergency communication board template?
Free PDF templates are available from Temple University’s Institute on Disabilities, the Autism Society, Texas DSHS (English, Spanish, and ASL), and the City of Philadelphia (English and Spanish). All are printable at 8.5×11.
What should go on the back of the board?
The back should include a personal information form with the user’s name, emergency contact, primary language, key diagnoses, current medications, and known allergies. Temple University’s template includes a dedicated form for this purpose.
How often should caregivers practice using the board?
A 5-minute daily scanning drill and a 10-minute emergency role-play weekly build reliable use under stress. ASHA’s practitioner guidance recommends including the AAC user in practice and scheduling at least one session with local first responders annually.
Can Buildingblockresolutions help with board training and practice?
Yes. Buildingblockresolutions offers parent coaching and behavioral staff training that include guided board customization, caregiver practice sessions, and crisis communication protocols for school and care teams.
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