The Shift Toward Inclusive Play

At Resources at Lakeshore Speech, our team of speech-language pathologists works every day with children who communicate in diverse ways. Across the country, we collaborate with families, schools, community leaders and parks and recreation teams who share one common goal: to create environments where every child can play, connect and feel included.

As inclusive design becomes the standard—not the exception—communities are increasingly turning their attention to tools that support meaningful social participation. One tool is rising to the top of playground equipment trends: playground communication boards.

Communication boards have existed for decades in clinical and educational settings, but their expansion into public play areas represents a powerful step toward equity. When paired with evolving ADA-compliant playground standards, sensory-friendly features and universal design principles, they help ensure that every child—regardless of communication ability—can participate in play.

In this blog, we’ll answer the questions:

• What is a communication board?
• Why are playground communication boards so important in public spaces?
• How do they support neurodivergent children and those who use AAC (augmentative and alternative communication)?
• How do boards fit into broader playground equipment trends?
• How does one stay informed as inclusive playground solutions continue to evolve?

As SLPs, we are thrilled to see communities asking not just “Is this playground fun?” but “Is this playground accessible, welcoming and communicatively inclusive?”

What Is a Communication Board?

A communication board is a visual tool containing a selection of symbols, illustrations, or words that represent commonly used vocabulary. Individuals point to or touch these symbols to express needs, ideas, and emotions. Communication boards are one of the simplest and most widely used forms of AAC (augmentative and alternative communication).

On playgrounds, communication boards typically include core vocabulary such as:

• “Help”
  
  
• “Stop”
  
  
• “Go”
  
  
• “Want”

And fringe vocabulary such as: 

• ”Slide”
  
  
• “Swing”
  
  
• “My turn”
  
  
• “Let’s play”
  
  
• “Friend”
  
  
• Emotion symbols for happy, scared, tired, excited
  
  

Though often mounted near entrances, next to high-traffic activities like slides or swings or even installed directly on the playground equipment.

Why Do Communication Boards Work?

Communication boards allow children to:

• Interact with peers even without spoken language
  
  
• Clarify their wants and needs during play
  
  
• Build functional vocabulary in real-world environments
  
  
• Increase social participation
  
  
• Reduce frustration, meltdowns and misunderstandings
  
  

For children with autism, developmental delays, apraxia, down syndrome, ADHD, sensory processing differences or selective mutism, the presence of a board can be the difference between accessing play and watching play happen around them.

But communication boards don’t just support children—they support adults, too: teachers, paraeducators, SLPs, playground staff and caregivers who may need a quick, low-tech tool to model language or support a child in a moment of need.

How do boards fit into broader playground equipment trends?

Latest Equipment Innovations in Inclusive Playgrounds

The rise of playground communication boards fits into a broader movement toward inclusive play spaces that support children of all abilities. These projects are driven by evolving standards for ADA compliance playground design, updated research on sensory-rich environments, and global conversations about the importance of universal design.

Below are some of the biggest equipment and design trends shaping today’s playgrounds.

1. Sensory-Friendly Features

Sensory-friendly playground equipment is becoming a non-negotiable element in inclusive design. Communities and manufacturers are integrating sensory play to support children with autism, sensory processing disorders, ADHD, developmental disabilities and motor challenges.

Common sensory-friendly features include:

Visual

• Calming color palettes
  
  
• High-contrast pathways for safe navigation
  
  
• Visual schedules mounted near entry points
  
  

Auditory

• Musical elements like chimes or drums
  
  
• Noise-buffering materials to reduce overwhelming echoes
  
  

Tactile

• Textured climbing features
  
  
• Sand, water and sensory tables
  
  
• Smooth and rough sensory borders
  
  

Proprioceptive & Vestibular

• Cozy nooks and quiet zones
  
  
• Swings that support varied body positioning
  
  
• Spinning elements with safety modifications
  
  

Playground communication boards naturally complement these features by helping children label sensory experiences, request breaks or communicate discomfort—critical tools for self-regulation.

2. Universal Design Principles

Universal design principles ensure that built environments can be accessed and used by the greatest number of people without the need for adaptation.

When applied to playgrounds, universal design encourages:

• Equipment that is multilevel and approachable from multiple angles
  
  
• Wide, clearly delineated pathways
  
  
• Ramp access to elevated play structures
  
  
• Equipment usable by children with and without mobility devices
  
  
• Clear signage and visual supports
  
  
• Social-communication tools like playground communication boards
  
  

By incorporating boards directly into playground pathways, communities send a powerful message: communication access is as essential as physical access.

3. Growth of Special Needs Playground Equipment

Demand for special needs playground equipment has surged. Not because children with disabilities require separate areas, but because appropriately designed equipment can elevate participation for all children.

These adaptations include:

• High-back, harnessed swings
  
  
• Spinner bowls with supportive seating
  
  
• Ground-level merry-go-rounds accessible to wheelchairs
  
  
• Safe-entry slides with guardrails
  
  
• Motion-controlled interactive panels
  
  
• Social-emotional learning panels
  
  
• Play structures designed for lower sensory load
  
  

Adding communication boards alongside this inclusive equipment promotes collaborative, accessible, language-rich play.

Why are playground communication boards so important in public spaces?

The Role of Playground Communication Boards in Public Spaces

Playgrounds are more than recreational zones—they are learning labs for social communication.

Below are the key reasons these boards are becoming essential across the United States.

1. Promoting Social Inclusion

Children who struggle to communicate often withdraw during play. A communication board levels the playing field by giving access to shared vocabulary. Children who are minimally verbal, emerging communicators, or new to English can all participate more fully.

Boards also help typically developing children initiate communication with peers who communicate differently—leading to friendships that may not have formed otherwise.

2. Supporting AAC Users

Many children rely on digital AAC devices such as tablets with speech-generating apps. However:

• Devices may not be allowed in sand or water areas
  
  
• Families may worry about damage
  
  
• The device may not be available at the moment
  
  
• Devices can glitch, freeze or lose power
  
  

Playground communication boards provide a reliable low-tech backup, recommended by SLPs and AAC guidelines.

This ensures that communication doesn’t disappear when a device is inaccessible.

3. Increasing ADA and Accessibility Compliance

While ADA regulations do not yet explicitly require communication boards, they strongly encourage inclusive, accessible communication options in public spaces.

Boards support:

• Functional communication
  
  
• Emotional regulation
  
  
• Safety and emergency communication
  
  
• Equal participation
  
  

Communities striving for an inclusive ADA compliance playground often adopt communication boards proactively, recognizing that communication access is a fundamental right.

4. Supporting Children With Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities

For many autistic children or others with language-based disabilities, play can be overwhelming. Communication boards help them:

• Request space or breaks
  
  
• Communicate emotions
  
  
• Ask for specific sensory experiences (“swing,” “spin,” “quiet”)
  
  
• Navigate turn-taking and social rules
  
  
• Reduce frustration and dysregulation
  
  

Boards also serve as visual anchors—helping children anticipate what’s available and what to expect next.

5. Encouraging Language Modeling by Adults

Boards create instant opportunities for adults to model language. An SLP, parent, paraeducator, or even a peer can point to symbols to demonstrate:

• Requesting
  
  
• Commenting
  
  
• Greeting
  
  
• Problem-solving
  
  
• Emotional expression
  
  

This is especially valuable because children learn language through experience—not drills.