: Access to over 80,000+ symbols compared to the limited set on older CDs. No Disc Required
The Boardmaker CD was once a staple of special education classrooms, serving as the primary way to access and print Picture Communication Symbols (PCS) for communication boards and visual supports boardmaker cd
For decades, the "Boardmaker CD" has been a staple in special education classrooms and speech therapy clinics. If you have found a copy in a drawer, inherited one from a predecessor, or are considering purchasing one, you might be wondering: What exactly does this do, and is it still relevant? : Access to over 80,000+ symbols compared to
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Prior to the widespread adoption of personal computers in education, creating visual supports for students with autism, Down syndrome, or cerebral palsy was a labor-intensive craft. Educators relied on hand-drawn sketches, cut-outs from magazines, or expensive, physically produced flashcards. The inability to quickly customize materials meant that communication aids often lacked relevance to the specific user’s environment or interests.
In its early years, the Boardmaker CD (specifically versions like Boardmaker Plus! V.6 ) was a prized tool in classrooms. It provided a massive library of Picture Communication Symbols (PCS) —simple, clear drawings used to represent words and concepts. For the first time, teachers could easily print customized communication boards, visual schedules, and interactive activities. However, this era came with technical hurdles: discs could be lost or scratched, and the software often required the CD to be physically present in the drive to run, leading to "CD-wars" in schools with limited copies.