5 Tips to Communicate Successfully with a Choice Board

by Susanna Horn

All children, including kids with special needs, need and want to communicate.

The simplest way to effectively communicate with a child who has limited speech and movement control is with a Choice Board. To create a Choice Board, you can use either a paper and marker or a small white dry erase board.

Outlined below are recommendations you will find helpful for successful communication using a Choice Board:

1. Get started with Yes or No questions: Do not be afraid to have a conversation with your child who doesn’t have enough language to hold one. What’s the best type of question to start with?  Yes or no questions! These are easy for you and your child to start with. You begin with these options so you feel and learn how your child is going to move their hand and touch the answer.

A Simple “Yes” or “No” choice board

2. Follow up on your child’s answers: It is essential that you not only believe in your child’s answers but also follow up with the answer they give you. Even if your child had a drink recently if your child points to the option for “water” on the board indicating they want some, give them water. They might still be thirsty, or perhaps they did not intend to say that, but at least they will know you are trying to get to know their thoughts and opinions. With this, they will eventually know that the choice board is an effective communication tool. 

A Choice Board when asking your child, “What do you want for a snack?

3. Use it consistently: Use the choice board anytime you need to communicate with your child. This means throughout the day. This is one of the few programs we do not stop at 6 pm unless you do not talk after 6 pm either. Do not consider the choice board to be like other elements of the Doman Method™ program as communication is important all day long.

4. Support is key: Give support to your child’s hand or arm, and do not let it go until you receive an answer. Give your child time to process the question and answer you. There could be several seconds between you asking the question and your child answering. This might be due to a delay in hearing, in choosing the answer, in the coordination of movement to physically point at the answer, or all the above. You can repeat the question and choices, but be patient and allow enough time to pass before repeating. Some children need thirty seconds or more to complete processing the question before pointing at one of the choices.

5. Ask good questions: The quality of questions is essential. Make it fun! Ask interesting and silly questions, involve your child in family conversations, talk about books, movies, cartoons, people. Ask them the same questions you ask their siblings, friends, or cousins. 

Most importantly, be relaxed - there is no need to be tense or hasty. Allow yourself the opportunity to learn things you don’t yet know about your child. Getting to know your child better is the most special thing about the Choice Board.