Communication board on playground with wood mulch chips as base and green sliding board to left. "Board shown as example only." WHAS Crusade for Children logo in left bottom corner

The Crusade for Children has awarded a $10 thousand grant to Grayson County Schools. The funding will allow the district to provide communication boards for elementary and preschool playgrounds, where it can sometimes be challenging for students to communicate and interact with their peers. This can be especially true for those who may have limited or non-verbal abilities, or simply need help with visual cues of expectations.

The communication boards will be mounted on posts in the ground with simple pictures and cues that children already use in their daily lives. The boards are a simple but very effective tool that will take academic, social and emotional learning outside the classroom, making district playgrounds even more inclusive. 

Students learn in every environment and these boards will open that learning in a social setting where communication is so important through the use of these stationary pictures and cues to expand learning into their play.

The boards will assist all students, particularly those with physical and mental, and emotional challenges, by giving them a visual picture to understand where their language skills may not yet be adequate. Schools will also encourage parents to learn about the signs and how they work since the playgrounds are accessible to families after hours. 

“We are grateful to the Crusade for Children for granting this funding for our students,” said Special Education Director Tracie Johnston. “Our thanks also go to the many fire departments and volunteers whose tireless efforts raise these funds each year for our kids and our community.”