Billedkortene

Billedkortene is a term used for sets of small cards that show pictures, symbols, or photographs representing words, actions, objects, or concepts. They are part of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and are used to support individuals with limited verbal expression in communicating needs, wants, feelings, and daily routines.

In Norwegian contexts, billedkortene are widely used in education, speech-language therapy, and home settings. They aid language development, social interaction, and participation in activities by providing a visual means to express requests, choices, emotions, and sequences of actions.

Design and use vary, but common features include laminated or durable cards, often sized for easy handling. Cards may be organized into thematic sets (for example food, hygiene, play) or into functional categories (nouns, verbs, adjectives, phrases). They are frequently integrated into larger communication tools such as kommunikasjonsbøker (communication books) or kommunikasjonsflater (communication boards), and can also be employed in digital formats or apps.

Historically, billedkort have been part of AAC practices for decades, influenced by picture exchange systems such as PECS, developed in the United States in the late 20th century. Today, Norwegian practitioners use a range of standard and locally adapted symbol sets, and may create bespoke cards tailored to individual users.

Availability and variation include commercially produced sets, environmentally friendly DIY cards, and resources that use photographs, simple drawings, or standardized symbol systems. They serve as a flexible, patient-centered tool to support language learning, independence, and participation in everyday life.