PCS® Collections

Picture Communication Symbols (PCS) are a range of drawings originally created by Boardmaker, and now supported by Tobii Dynavox, that represent words and or phrases. They are commonly used in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and can be used with both high tech and low tech communication systems.

There are many examples of people using symbols of all types around the world for a variety of reasons in addition to AAC. Symbols can make an environment more inclusive. We can label items or areas with symbols so that people using different languages can understand. Hospitals often label their signage with symbols to enable people to more easily navigate the hospital environment. Multilingual communication boards have also been created to support refugees coming into a new country so that they can get the help they require quickly.

PCS Policy if you own Boardmaker:

Owned by a School/District:

If software is purchased by a school / school district, it must be provided to a single teacher or therapist. That individual (or teaching assistants) may use the PCS® materials with persons on his/her caseload. Sharing the software between multiple instructor is illegal.

Owned by an Individual:

If software is purchased by an individual, that individual may use the PCS® materials with people on his/her caseload. This also means that an itinerant teacher or therapist may use the materials for students on multiple schools if the students using the materials are in his/her caseload. Sharing the software between multiple instructor is illegal.

Owned by a Hospital:

If software is purchased for a hospital, it may be shared by a group of therapists. Those therapists may use the PCS® materials with the patients of the hospital. Sharing the software between multiple hospitals is illegal.

Activity Sharing:

Anyone who owns the software and symbols, is encouraged to share activities using the Boardmaker Online Community.

For all other uses:

For uses that do not conform to the guidelines above, you will need permission to use PCS®.

PCS for licensing:

Selling or giving away materials using PCS® in paper or electronic form, unless for the sole benefit of the student/clients you serve as addressed in the Policy section of this page, is illegal without the permission of Tobii Dynavox.

Below are the different options for obtaining permission to legally distribute PCS. Please select which membership best fits your needs.

PCS Maker Free

Do you want to distribute your Boardmaker activities in PDF format at no cost? Are you creating public service materials, writing a book, decorating a website, illustrating support materials for disaster relief? If so, you’ll need a no-cost Maker Free Account.

Benefits:

• Assures you copyright compliance
• Become an official licensed PCS® publisher

PCS Maker Personal

Are you a start-up creating a new Autism application? Do you have a thriving print activity business? Do you plan to introduce products that use PCS® symbols? If so, you will need a Maker Business Account.

Benefits:

• All the benefits of Maker Personal plus
• A customized agreement based on your business model that can accommodate subscriptions, one-time purchases, in-app purchases, or other creative ideas.

Pricing varies, please request a quote for details.

For more information on PCS Maker Free, PCS Maker Personal, or to request a quote for PCS Maker Business, please visit goBoardmaker.com.

More information