By Carly Roy, Principal, Westview Ta na wa Ns7éyxnitm tlá Teltíwet

At Westview Ta na wa Ns7éyxnitm tlá Teltíwet, the playground is at the heart of the school community. It is a place where children and families gather before and after school, where friendships are formed, and where social relationships are developed and practiced. In order that the playground is a place where everyone feels a sense of belonging, it is fully accessible for all mobility needs, with accessible surfacing and play equipment. Now, with the installation of our new Communication Board, it feels more accessible for students who have communication accessibility needs as well.

Playground communication boards are large panels with symbol-based language. They offer an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) tool in an outdoor setting. At Westview, we were fortunate to have our playground communication board installed in October 2025. The Communication Board has been an important component of our welcoming, safe, and inclusive school by providing:

• Accessibility in all areas of the school: While many students use AAC devices indoors, playground boards ensure communication continues in all spaces. Children with communication differences can join games, express needs, and share ideas, reducing barriers to inclusion.
• Community awareness: The communication board introduces our whole community (students, staff and families) to symbol-based language, making diverse communication methods familiar to all.
  

"It is really fun! The board is like buttons," explained Dave, Grade 2. 

We have noticed strong curiosity and engagement from all of the students and families as we continue to build understanding around how we can use the communication board in play and interactions. The presence of the communication board has enhanced how students interact with each other. Not only has it benefitted students who use alternate communication forms, but access to visuals is a huge support for students learning English.

The installation of this board at Westview Ta na wa Ns7éyxnitm tlá Teltíwet has had a positive impact on our community that extends beyond the playground. Parents see how all children are included in play. The communication board has been a topic of conversation around the school and with the Parents' Advisory Council (PAC), in classrooms, and of course, on the playground.

Our plan is to formalize education around the communication board in January 2026. In collaboration with the school district AAC Speech and Language Pathologists and teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, we will be delivering universal lessons to all classes about AAC, the communication board and how we can use it to support everyone in the community.

The presence of this communication tool on Westview Ta na wa Ns7éyxnitm tlá Teltíwet's playground sends an important message about accessibility and creating play spaces where all students can communicate their ideas and perspectives.