Unlike generic children's drawings, ARASAAC pictograms follow a strict design standard:
This consistency means that once a user learns how to "read" one picture, they can decipher hundreds more without retraining.
Under the hood, ARASAAC functions as a massive relational database. Currently, it hosts over 15,000 pictograms, each tagged with metadata in multiple languages (Spanish, English, French, Catalan, etc.). Each image file is saved in two primary formats:
Unlike commercial systems (PCS, SymbolStix, Makaton) that charge licensing fees, ARASAAC operates under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA license. This means:
When professionals ask, "How does O ARASAAC work perform in a therapeutic setting?" they are usually referring to three distinct pillars: design, licensing, and application.
Teachers use ARASAAC to create visual schedules. For a student with autism who experiences anxiety about transitions, a strip of pictograms showing "Math → Recess → Lunch → Home" provides concrete predictability. The work involves printing, cutting, and arranging these symbols on a Velcro board to create a dynamic visual timetable.
Educators use the pictograms to create visual schedules (timetables) for classrooms, which helps students with anxiety or transition difficulties understand the flow of the day. Additionally, the tools can be used to create "visual stories" to help children with social interaction challenges understand social scenarios.
ARASAAC is more than just an image gallery; it is a suite of technical tools designed for customization.
