Educational Resources

In addition to the materials available for purchase, we are always working to provide you with access to other resources. These include online courses, free materials for download and a free online communication assessment service.

View Design to Learn products you can purchase online

Tangible Symbol Systems Primer (free)
20-page document including basic information about tangible symbols, how to teach individuals to use tangible symbols to communicate and tips from parents and professionals [free download-pdf].

Online Communication skills assessment (free)
The online Communication Matrix is a tool that guides you through a step-by-step process to assess how an individual is currently communicating; designed for parents and professionals to assess early communicators who may not use speech [free online service in English and Spanish].

www.communicationmatrix.org
www.matrizdecomunicacion.org

Home Talk (free)
42-page assessment tool developed by and for parents of children who are deaf-blind to help them participate in their child’s educational program on an equal footing with professionals [free download in MsWord (English), MSWord (Spanish), PDF (English), or PDF (Spanish) ].

Assessment Guide for Young Children who are Deaf-blind (free)
56-page guide to assessing young children who are deaf-blind or who have multiple disabilities [free download-pdf]

Online Courses

Pre-symbolic Communication
This 7-unit course addresses the use of pre-symbolic means of communication by individuals who are not able to use symbols to communicate [online course].

Tangible Symbol Systems
This 7-unit course provides instruction on all aspects of teaching an individual to use tangible symbols to communicate. Tangible symbols are concrete symbols, such as pictures and objects; they are easier to understand than abstract symbols, such as spoken and written words [online course].