This page is the practical plan. Read the theory of AAC and card exchange separately. What is AAC and card exchange

Where to start teaching a non-speaking learner

You don't need to be a specialist to begin. One card, one motivator, one step is enough. This guide walks you through the first month of teaching.

TL;DR
  • Start with 1 card of the learner's strongest motivator.
  • The first goal is to teach exchanging a card for the desired item. No speech. No pointing.
  • Expand only after the first step is solid (3-5 successful exchanges in a row).
  • Write down what worked and what didn't — later this becomes input for AI analysis and consultations.
In this guide
  1. Before you start
  2. Step 1. Find a motivator
  3. Step 2. Make the first card
  4. Step 3. The first exchange
  5. Step 4. Consolidate the skill
  6. Step 5. Expand vocabulary
  7. Common mistakes
  8. FAQ

Before you start

Before making your first card, answer 3 questions:

What does the learner love most?

Not the «right» food or the «useful» toy — the one they're willing to work for. If there's no such item yet, observe for a week and write notes.

When are you with them every day for 5-10 minutes?

No scheduled lessons needed. Short moments in everyday life: breakfast, the way to school, before bed.

Are you ready to NOT give the item without a card?

The most common cause of stagnation is adults giving in. Without that constraint, the motivation to exchange disappears.

Step 1. Find a motivator

A motivator is something the learner wants so much that they're willing to work for it. For most learners it's food (cookie, grapes, juice), less often a toy or a video.

What matters:
  • The motivator has to be specific («this particular cookie»), not general («sweets»).
  • It has to come in small portions — one exchange = one small portion.
  • While learning the first card, this item is available ONLY through exchange. Otherwise there's no motivation to exchange.
  • The list of motivators changes every 1-2 weeks — learners get satiated.

Step 2. Make the first card

The card must clearly depict the desired item. Not «fruit in general», but «that specific cookie».

How to do it:
  1. A photo of the item on a white background is the clearest option.
  2. A label of 1-2 words («Cookie»). At level 1 the learner doesn't read yet, but the adult sees and speaks the word.
  3. Size ~10×10 cm on paper or 200×200 px on screen — large enough to grab with a hand.
  4. In TalkAndLearn — add a card to the «Food» category and pick a photo from the gallery or ARASAAC.
It takes one minute in the app
Open the first-card form

Step 3. The first exchange

The most important step. You need TWO adults: one «physical prompter from behind» and one «communicative partner» (the recipient of the card).

First-exchange script:
  1. The partner holds the motivator in sight, but doesn't give it.
  2. The learner reaches for the motivator.
  3. The prompter from behind takes the learner's hand, helps grab the card and place it into the partner's open palm.
  4. At the moment of receiving the card, the partner says «Cookie!» and immediately hands over the motivator.
  5. Repeat 5-10 times per session, several sessions a day.
Critical:: The prompter is SILENT. No verbal prompts, no «take», «put», «give». Only physical guidance with the hand. Otherwise the learner depends on your voice, not on their own initiative.

Step 4. Consolidate the skill

When the learner reaches for the card 3-5 times in a row and places it into the partner's hand without help — move to consolidation.

Consolidation looks like this:
  • The prompter gradually fades help: first guide, then just touch, then withdraw.
  • The partner starts to extend their open palm a little later — giving the learner time to make the gesture themselves.
  • Increase distance: the learner crosses the room to fetch the card.
  • Rotate communicative partners: grandparent, tutor, second parent — so the skill isn't bound to one person.

Step 5. Expand vocabulary

When the first card works reliably — add a second, a third. Important: new cards must also be motivators or important requests.

Order of expansion:
  1. First 2-3 more motivators of the same type (if the first was food, add more food).
  2. Then 1-2 actions («walk», «video»).
  3. When there are 5-7 cards — teach selecting the right one from two (learning level 3).
  4. When discrimination is solid — add the «I want» card and teach sentences (level 4).

Tip: Don't rush. 5 cards the learner uses confidently give more than 50 cards on a shelf they don't use.

Common mistakes

Giving the item without a card

The most common one. You feel sorry — you give it anyway. The exchange loses meaning. While teaching the first card, the motivator is available ONLY through exchange.

Verbal prompting

«Take the card», «give», «say». The learner starts working for your voice, not for their own request. The prompter is silent — that's the rule.

Expanding too fast

10 cards added in week 2. The learner can't build the skill, gets lost. Better one week per card than one week per 10 cards.

«Testing» the learner

Asking «Where's the cookie? Show me the card» is not card exchange. Card exchange is initiated by the learner, not a response to a test. Test comprehension separately from communication.

Quitting halfway

The first 2 weeks are often hard. If you can — don't quit. Most learners cross the threshold between days 7 and 14.

FAQ

The earlier the better, but there's no fixed minimum. If the learner can already grab objects and understands basic cause-and-effect — you can start. That's often 1.5-2 years for toddlers, but adult learners also do great with card exchange.

Don't «practice». Embed the exchange into moments when the learner WANTS the motivator: breakfast, snack, walk. 5-15 exchanges per day is enough.

Check the motivator: is it really strong today? Reduce the distance to the card. Try a different motivator. If nothing works for 3-4 days in a row — consult a behavior analyst.

Yes — at the exchange stage the app works just like a paper card: the learner taps it and hands it to the partner. The advantages: easy to add, no losses, statistics. From level 3-4 on, an electronic communicator saves a lot of time.

If there's no progress for 2-3 weeks — get a consultation. If the learner has behavioral challenges (aggression, self-injury) — better to work with a certified BCBA from the start.

Ready to try?

Launch the free communicator and create the first card right now — it takes a minute.

Create the first card Open the demo