Symbol Communication

The use of graphic symbols — pictograms, ideograms, line drawings, or photographs — alongside or in place of text to convey meaning. Symbol communication supports people who cannot rely on spoken or written language, including many AAC users, children and adults with intellectual disabilities, people with aphasia, deafblind individuals using symbol-based systems, and travellers or migrants without the local language. Common symbol sets include PCS, Widgit, Bliss, SymbolStix, and ARASAAC; accessible content that uses symbols consistently and pairs each key concept with a single recognisable icon is a core technique in Easy Read and cognitive accessibility.