A communication board is a visual aid with pictures, symbols, and words that allows people with limited speech, such as many children with autism or developmental disabilities, to point to what they need or feel

The Herman Heights board was manufactured by Landscape Structures of Delano. It is bilingual with English on one side and Spanish on the other. It includes icons for common needs and feelings such as “yes,” “no,” “help,” “hungry,” “swing” and “climb,” plus an alphabet and numbers. 

Park and recreation staff installed it this summer between the Little Free Library and the playground fence at a height accessible to children.

Kallie Schugel, a Brown County Human Services autism social worker, initiated the effort.

Ada Bundy points to icons on the board with guidance from Kallie Schugel. (Photo by Amy Zents)

“I initially started doing some fundraising back in 2020,” Schugel said. “I had a couple of different providers that agreed, ‘Yes, we’ll donate,’ and then COVID happened and providers kind of shut down, so I put this project on pause.”

She said she was inspired after seeing a similar board during a visit to a client in Sioux Falls. Tavern 507 supported a fundraiser. The Optimist Club donated $500. Park and recreation staff handled the purchase and installation at no extra cost to the city.

New Ulm Park and Recreation Department Assistant Director Cheryl Korman said after Schugel approached her about the communication board, she checked into it and found a Minnesota company, Landscape Structures, manufactures them.

Korman said there were a couple options available. She selected a larger board in English and Spanish.

The board was purchased last fall to avoid price increases and stored over winter. Hermann Heights was selected because of its visitor volume and existing features.

Kallie Schugel and Ada Bundy stand together by the new communication board at Hermann Heights Park. (Photo by Amy Zents)

“It’s already an inclusive playground with the pour-in-place surfacing. It’s already a Landscape Structures park,” Korman said. “We decided that Hermann Heights was the best spot for it because of the volume of visitors that park sees. We decided to install it kind of between the little library and the fence, right off the path but not right in the line of traffic.”

Korman said staff completed the installation. Crew leader Bob Haala led the work. Korman and Park and Recreation Director Joey Schugel discussed the placement.

Korman said she has seen positive comments on social media since the June 17 announcement.

“People were asking about possibly fundraising for more parks,” Korman said. “It’s a great idea. It’s amazing, thank you Tavern 507.”

One person commented that her granddaughter had so much fun naming all the pictures on the board.

Kallie Schugel kneels with Ada Bundy as they use the board. (Photo by Amy Zents)

Korman said there are no current plans for additional boards, but that could change.

“We wanted to just start with this one and see how that goes, and we’ll have to see from there,” she said.

She added that park improvements focus on broad use.

“When we look at adding things to parks, whether it’s playgrounds or park benches or communication boards, we try to not duplicate what we have in other facilities. We also want to make sure that we try to implement something that is for everyone. We try to cast a wide net and want to be inclusive as much as we possibly can,” Korman said.

Schugel visited the park with Ada Bundy and her mother, Maggie Bundy. Ada, who has autism, pointed to icons on the board, including one for the swing.

“She’s high functioning,” Maggie Bundy said. “It’s been wonderful having Kallie as a resource since we moved here from New Orleans. She’s set us up with OT, therapy and has come to conferences at the school with me for Ada. Ada participates in a social group with Kallie and some of the other kids too.”

Schugel said the board has wider applications.

“It’s not just for kids on the spectrum, but kids learning how to talk too. Even like Ada’s mom was saying too. Many kids do occupational therapy where they talk a lot about these emotions. This visual can assist being able to say, if something happens and you’re frustrated, you can say, ‘I’m mad’ or ‘this made me sad.'”

Schugel provided Centers for Disease Control (CDC) data that 1 in 31 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder by age 8.

Korman said the city is fortunate in its recreation opportunities.

“Everybody wants to play, everybody wants to recreate, and we are very fortunate to have all of these opportunities that many communities do not have,” she said.

Schugel said she hopes the board leads to more accessibility features.

“My hope is when they are planning on redoing parks, this will just become a standard. We won’t have to do extra fundraising for things because I just think it offers so much.”

Schugel and the Southern Minnesota Autism Coalition are holding “Popsicles in the Park” Tuesday, June 30, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Hermann Heights. The event is open to the public with a focus on connecting families.