St. Clair Catholic Building Inclusive Playgrounds with Core Boards

Playground core boards are helping support inclusive communication and play across St. Clair Catholic schools.

The boards feature commonly used words with accompanying symbols to help students communicate during recess. They can help students take turns, ask for help, problem solve and interact with others. The board is a form of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), and while it is designed for students who are non-speaking or may need help communicating, they can be used by everyone.

Developed by St. Clair Catholic’s Speech-Language Department, the outdoor core boards are now being used at 14 schools.

“We had found that it was difficult for students to take out their individual communication books or high-tech communication devices like iPads, especially in snowy weather,” says Heather Molyneaux, a speech-language pathologist with St. Clair Catholic. “Core boards feature high-frequency words and corresponding pictures to communicate for a range of purposes. We are excited to see them in use for our first winter.”

St. Clair Catholic is proud to continue creating accessible and inclusive learning environments that support meaningful participation for every student.