Images(3)

Device, Visual Signaling

Object number2019.120.2

Datec. 1985

OriginPittsburgh, PA

MediumPaperboard; Paper; Ink; Adhesive; Adhesive tape; Fabric tape; Velcro

Credit LineGift of Beth Anne Luciani

DescriptionRectangular communication board. Board is constructed of thick gray paperboard. One side is overlaid with white fabric tape overall and the other side is overlaid with brown paper, is edged with white fabric tape, and has one strip of white Velcro loop in each bottom corner. Front and back are then covered in colorful paper sections each with a different grid of letters, words, and/or pictures; boards also have circular yellow stickers with letters on them; also each grid has black numbers to the viewer's left of each row. Clear adhesive tape overlays the board overall on both sides. One side has an off-white sticker in the viewer's bottom right corner with organizational and owner information.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth: 15.75 x 19.938 x 0.5 in. (40 x 50.6 x 1.3 cm)
InscriptionsBoth sides have grids of letters, words, and captioned pictures; some are printed and some are handwritten.

Both sides have circular yellow stickers with black printed letters "A", "B", "C", and "D".

Both sides have black numbers to the viewer's left of each grid row.

One side has grid in the viewer's top right corner with text "house", "store", "hospital", and "park".

Other side has grid with "calendar", "month", "day", and "year" in the viewer's top left corner and an off-white sticker in the viewer's bottom right corner with printed text along top "The / Rehabilitation / Institute / of Pittsburgh / 6301 Northumberland Street / Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15217" and handwritten text in background "BETH / ANNE" and over background "Beth Anne Luciani / If found, return to / Speech. Language Therapy dept."
Historical NotesCommunication boards used by the donor, Beth Anne Luciani, who was born with cerebral palsy. The board was made c. 1985 by her speech therapist at The Day School, the boards became more complicated as she matured. She used about six boards total throughout her life and received a new one about every three to five years. The boards were made to fit the size of the tray on her wheelchair. Beth Anne was born with cerebral palsy in 1979, which made her unable to walk or talk. At the age of two she started to attend the Easter Seals. They used the communication boards from an early age to help her communicate her thoughts and feelings. At five she started at The Day School of the Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh and over her next 16 years at the school she worked with the same speech therapist. As her vocabulary expanded her communication boards became increasingly complex and large. She had many other ways of communicating while at the Day School including a Light Talker and communication books, she also had boards. In 2000, she started at the California University of Pennsylvania with a major in creative writing. As of 2019, Beth Anne no longer used communication boards or devices but chose to communication by eye gaze and spelling. She has positive memories of her communication boards and how they helped her express herself and she used them even after she began using devices because she found them quicker and easier.

Previous owner Beth Anne Luciani (born 1979)

Related institution The Day School

Related institution The Children's Institute of Pittsburgh

Related institution Easter Seals

Related institution California University of Pennsylvania

Related institution The Rehabilitation Institute of Pittsburgh

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