Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is the term used to describe a broad range of  communicative behaviours and methods which support and enhance  the communication of individuals who are unable to use speech. Everyone can ‘talk’ provided they are given the right communication system and the opportunities to communicate. A display made with pictures to represent vocabulary is such a system and is a means of expression for many AAC users. Communication displays can be used extensively because they are versatile, non-expensive and easily made, and are prepared according to the needs and abilities of the users. With its vast experience in the field of AAC, IICP took up the challenge of developing symbols that would be appropriate to a wide range of  users’ communicative needs and at the same time would be linguistically and culturally appropriate.Making communication displays can be an elaborate and time consuming process. Thus a library of digitized picture icons has been created and the software IPSC has been designed to navigate this library, to replicate the picture symbols and to design different types of communication displays and teaching material.

The salient features of this software are:

• A range of pre made customized grids available for making communication displays.
• Easy search facility.
• Scope to add new categories and symbols.
• Labels for the picture symbols can be typed in any language depending on the fonts available in the computer being used.
• Displays can be printed or saved for future use.

This software is for facilitators (teachers, therapists, caregivers and parents) who want to make communication displays for people with complex communicative needs and can be used as teaching material in both special and mainstream schools.