Free Universal Core 36 communication board
The Universal Core 36 is the set of 36 high-frequency words researchers found cover the majority of everyday communication. This printable board lays all 36 out in fixed, color-coded spots so your child and everyone around them can model on the same page.
- 36 words
- Free printable PDF
- Editable in browser
I
You
He
She
It
That
Want
Go
Stop
Do
Get
Put
Make
Turn
Open
Help
Like
Look
Can
More
Finished
Good
All
Some
Same
Different
Not
In
On
Up
Here
What
Where
When
Who
WhyThe Universal Core 36 comes from AAC research into which words matter most. A small set of high-frequency words, pronouns, verbs, and little words, shows up in almost everything we say, and 36 of them cover the bulk of a child's daily communication. This board puts all 36 on one page.
Because the same 36 words appear across home, school, and play, one board works everywhere. The layout follows the Fitzgerald key, coloring people, action words, describing words, and little words differently, so the position and color of each word become cues your child learns over time.
Print it, keep it in reach, and model on it constantly: point to a word as you say it, every day, long before your child points back. A shared 36-word board that every adult uses gives your child far more practice than a board only one person knows.
When to use this board
Choose this board when you want the complete, research-backed core-word set on a single page, the same 36 words your child can use at home, at school, and everywhere in between.
How to customize this board
- Keep all 36 words in their spots; the fixed positions are what make a core board work.
- Add a few personal photos or nouns around the edges for the specific things your child requests.
- Switch to black and white in the editor if your child reads a higher-contrast board more easily.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the Universal Core 36?
- The Universal Core 36 is a research-backed set of 36 high-frequency core words, pronouns, verbs, describing words, and little words, that together cover the majority of everyday communication. AAC programs use it because these words work in almost any sentence.
- How is this different from your other core boards?
- Our beginner, standard, and full boards mix core words with some picture nouns and feelings. The Universal Core 36 is a complete, curated core-word set: 36 words chosen by research to give the widest communication from a single page.
- Is 36 words too many for one page?
- For a child ready for a full core board, no. The board is sized so all 36 cells print clearly on one Letter page. If 36 feels crowded for your child, drop back to the 20 or 30 cell board and grow into this one.
- Do I model on it or does my child?
- Both, but you go first. Adults model by pointing to a word as they say it, again and again, the same way a hearing child hears words constantly before speaking. Your child learns to point back over time.
- Is the Universal Core 36 board free?
- Yes. Edit and print it for free with no sign-up. Laminate it so it survives daily handling, and reprint whenever it wears out.