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Overview

Visual Aids, visual tools that can be used for communication, originally may have been developed by and for people with intellectual and speech limitations or people who are speech-impaired, but they serve a much broader audience, including individuals who do not speak English as a first language. Moreover, visual aids can work across a spectrum of functional limitations. Some people have learning styles that favor visual interactions. For example:

  • Some head injuries may have affected areas of the brain that handle language and writing but spared the parts of the brain that process visual images.
  • Some languages favor this learning style, most notably Sign Language. These languages are stored in the visual part of the brain.
  • In the case of stroke or head injury where spoken and written language is difficult or non-existent it is possible for an individual to communicate in sign language if they were knowledgeable prior to the injury.

Victim service providers, courts, police, disability agencies and others can use visual aids as a way to communicate with individuals who have experienced violence/abuse and have limited language abilities. 

As a universal design strategy, consider having a collection of visual aids for the topics you discuss with survivors. There are widely recognized gaps in existing symbol vocabularies. These are some attempts to fill those gaps:

  • IndependenceFirst This link will open a new browser window. produced Communication Book: For Individuals who are Victims of Violence/Abuse. It is a tool that can be used by victim service providers, courts, police, disability agencies and others as a way to communicate with individuals who have experienced violence/abuse and have limited language abilities.  Each page contains a word in English, a picture symbol of the word, an American Sign Language image of the word and translations in Spanish, Russian and Hmong.  There are 143 color pages, divided into 10 sections: People, Places, Body Parts, Actions, Feelings, Things, Time, Colors, and Useful Words.” Stickers can be developed and applied to the cards for other languages.
  • Sexual Health and Safeguarding Communication Displays This link will open a new browser window. is Canadian software for accessing information through pictures. “The sexuality and safeguarding pictures have been developed by Mayer-Johnson Inc. in collaboration with Speak Up team members and input provided by 12 adults who use AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication).”
  • How It Is This link will open a new browser window. is an image vocabulary about feelings, rights and safety, personal care and sexuality. There are 383 free images available in the set online that can be browsed by subject or searched. They are divided into five sections: Feelings, Rights and safety, General vocabulary, Personal care, Sexuality.
  • Legal Pix This link will open a new browser window. produced A Pictorial Journey Through British Columbia's Criminal Justice System. “The LEGALPIX series will assist persons with special communication needs and their caregivers to understand how British Columbia's justice system operates. This first completed publication contains material specific to the criminal justice system. Included are: a dictionary of 98 picsyms; a detailed educational curriculum; and, a brief guide to criminal justice system personnel for using legalpix to enhance communication.”