A flat surface that can be used for communication by children who are unable to speak clearly enough to communicate with others, such as children who have orthopedic handicaps affecting their speech apparatus and who are not able to write. For young children who have not yet learned to read, a set of standardized symbols called Bliss symbols have been developed; once children are able to read and spell, they can move letters and words into position on the board to “converse” with others.