At Inclusive Technology, our communication boards are designed by AAC experts using the PCS symbol language and follow the Fitzgerald Key colour system. They are available in a range of durable formats, including:
What Do the Colours on a Communication Board Mean?
Communication boards are essential tools for individuals who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). But have you ever noticed the bright, structured colours on many of them?
Those colours are far more than just decoration. They follow the Fitzgerald Key, a colour-coded system designed to support users in finding the right words more quickly and constructing sentences with confidence.
In this post, we’ll explain what the Fitzgerald Key is, what each colour represents, and how this thoughtful design helps improve communication for AAC users of all ages and abilities.
What is the Fitzgerald Key?
The Fitzgerald Key is a widely used colour-coding system created by Edith Fitzgerald, an educator of the deaf in the early 20th century. It was originally designed to help learners understand sentence structure and word function through visual organisation.
In AAC and communication boards, the Fitzgerald Key uses specific colours to represent different parts of speech, making it easier for users to:
- Visually categorise words
- Build meaningful phrases and sentences
- Navigate the board quickly with less cognitive effort
By applying consistent colours to specific word types, communication boards become easier to learn, more intuitive to use, and more supportive of language development.
Yellow: People and Pronouns
What it means:
Yellow is used for personal pronouns and people. This includes words like I, you, he, mum, dad, nurse, and others.
Why it helps:
These are often the first words used in communication. Colour-coding them in yellow helps users quickly refer to themselves and others, forming the foundation of personal expression.
Orange: Places, Objects and Things
What it means:
Orange represents nouns - the people, places, and tangible things in our world. Examples include bed, TV, car park, school, or hospital.
Why it helps:
By grouping everyday items and locations in one colour, users can more easily find what they're talking about and stay focused when building a sentence.
Purple: Questions and Conversation Starters
What it means:
Purple is used for question words such as what, where, who, why, and how.
Why it helps:
These words are essential for engaging with others. Colour-coding them helps users learn to initiate conversations, ask for things, and explore the world around them.
Green: Verbs and Action Words
What it means:
Green highlights action words, or verbs, such as go, stop, help, sit, and walk.
Why it helps:
Actions are key in communication. Green makes these high-frequency words easy to spot and use, especially when forming requests or describing activities.
Blue: Descriptive Words and Feelings
What it means:
Blue is for descriptive language, including adjectives and emotions, such as happy, sad, hot, tired, itchy, and cold.
Why it helps:
These words help users express how they feel and describe the world around them. Using blue provides consistency and encourages emotional literacy and expressive language.
Grey or White: Core Words and Sentence Builders
What it means:
Grey or white is used for core functional words that help build complete sentences. These include yes, no, not, with, to, and, and more.
Why it helps:
While they might seem small, these words are essential for making sentences work. Colour-coding them ensures they don’t get lost among more visually prominent words.
Why Colour Coding Matters
The Fitzgerald Key is more than a visual aid; it is a language development tool. For users of AAC, it provides structure, boosts confidence, and improves speed and independence in communication.
By helping users visually differentiate between types of words, communication boards become far more accessible and intuitive, especially for learners with additional needs, processing difficulties, or limited literacy.
Shop Our Colour-Coded Communication Boards
A-Frame Communication Board
A freestanding, double-sided board ideal for schools, libraries, playgrounds and other public spaces. Designed for quick, accessible communication wherever it’s needed most.
PVC & Aluminium Communication Board – Dark Background
Built for durability, this wall-mounted board is perfect for indoor and outdoor use. The dark background provides high contrast for easier symbol recognition.
PVC & Aluminium Communication Board – Light Background
With the same accessible layout but a brighter design, this board is ideal for environments where a light background may better suit visual or sensory needs.
They’ve also been designed to suit different spaces. We have boards to support communication in hospitals, classrooms, libraries, playgrounds and town centres.