Symbolstix are Everywhere!

Over time the default picture symbol set used for curriculum support and communication in special education is becoming SymbolStix.  Originally designed for use in News-2-You, the current event based curriculum for special needs, SymbolStix are now available in many products.  Some special education programs are moving to SymbolStix instead of other picture symbols in order to offer a consistent symbol set across many materials and programs.

Here are some of the many places you can find SymbolStix being offered for curriculum and communication:

Curriculum and Software:

• Click to Read Life Skills Stories is a software program designed to teach core vocabulary and social skills as well as early literacy through stories and games, includes switch access $49
• Clicker5 and ClozePro multimedia authoring software allowing teachers, therapists and caregivers to design learning activities in all curriculum areas, SymbolStix are now available as an add-on package
• Environmental Print Program Levels One and Two are integrated language arts programs focusing on comprehension and instruction of safety/community signs, includes software $699
• PCI Reading Program is a researched reading program using sight word instruction for individuals with moderate to severe learning disabilities/special needs $629
• News-2-You is a current events program for students with special needs
• Unique Learning Program is a comprehensive and differentiated, standards aligned curriculum for students in elementary school through adult who have moderate to severe special needs $140 a classroom, a year
• SymWord is a talking word processor with symbol support and the ability for users to use grids of symbols to write, also works as an email program with symbol support and to create symbol supported materials.  Access includes switch scanning and mouse alternatives.  $195
• Word Problems for Non Readers is three levels of math story problems designed for students to address math skills without literacy, Banking for Non Readers is a continuation focusing on financial skills $49 a level

Communication:
Overlays and Manual Communication Boards:

• AMDi Overlay Designer Pro allows users to make custom overlays for AMDi mid-tech communication devices like the Tech/Talk and manual communication boards, it includes a flash disk burner for use with the AMDi Smart Series $258
• Go Talk Overlay Designer is sold by Attainment and can be used to make Overlays for the Go Talk series of mid-tech AAC devices as well as manual communication boards and books $79
• Matrix Maker is a communication board making software that had overlay templates for many mid-tech communication devices, worksheets, visual schedules and more $230
• Pogo Boards is an online communication board design program $69 a year
• Symbol Mate is a complete board making and curriculum materials solution from Tobii $200
• SymbolStix Online is a web based subscription that allows you to search all the available SymbolStix, including new ones that many not be in other software programs you use and download those symbols to use in other programs $99 a year

Dynamic Display Communication Software/Devices:

• Communicator from Tobii is a dynamic display AAC, environmental control and internet communications software program that comes standard on Tobii devices and is offered on other company's devices as well, SymbolStix is the default symbol set
• Cyrano is a handheld dynamic display device, SymbolStix are available as an add-on
• Saltillo makes the ChatPC and ALT-Chat series of dynamic display communication devices, these devices are small and rugged, SymbolStix is the default picture symbol set
• MindExpress is a dynamic display communication software program which now offers SymbolStix, you can find it on software like the AAC devices from Jabbla
• The Grid is a symbol and text based AAC system in addition to alternative computer control, it is offered on my communication devices, SymbolStix is an add on purchase

iPod/iPad Apps:

• ArtikPix is an app to assist with teaching articulation through flashcards and games $29.99
• iCommunicate is a visual cueing and choice making app $34.99-$49.99 
• Parlerai is a simple dynamic display solution offered along with other features on the Parlerai website $29.99 a month
• Proloquo2Go is a complete iPod/iPhone based dynamic display speech system $189
• TouchChat is Saltillo's AAC app, using the same researched vocabulary sets as their stand alone devices $140

Update May 2022 - Symbol Support Text has been proven not to prove much, if any, aid to comprehension and to be detrimental to learning to read.  This post is keep up for historical purposes.  Please don't use symbol supported text.