My AAC Symbols and Nothing Else

This blog is just for me to share the AAC symbols I make, typically for myself. I do take requests but I can't promise I'll do them. I do not have a DNI. AAC and communication are for everyone. [Icon ID: A brown bunny with a cream muzzle and ears, and blue eyes. it has a lightning bolt coming from the left side of its face.]

[dustyaacsymbols]

intro/about post

Dusty | Adult | No Pronouns, aux. any pronouns

I've been making personal AAC symbols for a while. I've decided to put them on Tumblr for greater access. Most symbols made by me are for me, all others are requests from AACIL or submitted to this blog that I'm also posting here.

Interaction

I do not have a DNI. AAC is for everyone.

I do not participate in any drama, discourse, or arguments. If you try to bring drama, discourse, or start an argument with me, I will ask you to stop, and if you do not stop, I will probably block you. I will take anything sent to me in good faith and do not insult people so please don't let this bullet point scare you away.

Please don't send me donation things. I am a food + housing insecure person and a genuine barrier to my (fully) independent living is struggling to manage my own money.

I would prefer credit if you use anything here outside of AAC but ultimately I don't care.

Editing is encouraged. Making symbols based on mine which make more sense to you than what I made is encouraged. Copying or mimicking my style is cool. Please tag me so I can see and reblog the cool stuff you made.

Here's a link to my style guide.

Requests

I take requests. As long as the ask box is open requests are open.

I may not do requests. It's up to me and I will not explain why I don't do them.

I do not edit existing symbols. My symbols are specifically made to be as easy to edit as possible. See the next bullet point.

I have video tutorials on how to edit my symbols. They are below and entry level using the free program FireAlpaca. I highly recommend giving this a shot if you can edit one of my symbols to meet your needs.

Please tell me in your request if you would like your blog to be tagged. I do not publish requests and if you don't let me know to tag your blog, I will not tag you.

I will only make symbols for AAC use. I'm flattered if you like my symbols enough to use them outside of AAC, but I am an AAC user making AAC symbols for other AAC users. I will not make symbols for something that is not for use in AAC.

Masterposts: D&D | Core Words | Descriptions | Actions | Nouns | Pronouns | Matching Sets | Phrases | Last updated 2/25/26

Google Drive of Symbols

Tutorials: Tutorial Playlist | Changing Symbol Colors | Adding Drawings to a Symbol | Erasing Parts of a Symbol | Style Guide Explanation | More to be added | I do not take tutorial requests.

Tagging system and Continued About under the cut.

Tagging System

Posts tagged #bunny talk are posts where I'm just speaking (no symbols)

Posts will be tagged with a general "category" for the word.

Current categories are: #about aac #actions #concept #descriptions #disability #dungeons and dragons #insects #medical #mobility aid #neopronouns #objects #phrases #pronouns #psychology #psychosis #punctuation #science #silly #speech #trauma

Posts that are just stylized images of text are tagged #wordmoji and a category.

More About Me

I am a system and may use we/us sometimes.

I use AAC full time. I have selective mutism and no functional use of speech. I experience hemiplegic migraine, transient expressive aphasia, and sometimes need to use a switch control rather than direct access.

I use TD Snap and Proloquo4Text as well as light/no tech communication methods. I am an advanced beginner (A2) in ASL. I have utilized a communication partner in the past.

I have a side blog where I talk about myself and disability stuff. ( @dustbunnyaac )

Last edited 6/19/26

[dustyaacsymbols]

ID: Two AAC symbols. The first shows a green figure moving quickly in a wheelchair with speed lines behind them. The second shows a wheelchair wheel with a hand pushing it, and a red arrow pointing in the direction it turns. End ID.

Move, Turn

[dustyaacsymbols]

ID: Three AAC symbols of a green figure in a wheelchair. In the first they shield their eyes to look to the distance. In the second they hold out a drawing of a cat. In the third they face away from the viewer, looking at a television. End ID.

Look, Show, Watch

[dustyaacsymbols]

ID: Three AAC symbols. The first shows an AAC device and a cell phone next to each other, both with speech bubbles coming from them. The second shows a green figure cupping their ear. The third shows a green figure swaying with headphones on. End ID.

Call, hear, listen

[petrichoremojis]

A Guide to Making AAC Symbols, for Emoji Artists

[PT: A guide to making AAC symbols, for emoji artists. End PT]

Making symbols for AAC is not as easy as adding the AAC symbols tag to one of your normal emojis. Here are some things to keep in mind when creating AAC symbols.

AAC symbols should be representative, not abstract. [PT: AAc symbols should be representative, not abstract.]

An AAC symbol is usually used by an AAC user to distinguish the button they want from the other buttons on the page. Most AAC users scan in some form, and many look for the symbols and not the button's label, meaning that an AAC symbol should in some way be a visual symbol for the concept. This means that wordmojis do not typically work as AAC symbols.

2. The symbols are typically seen only by the user and not who they are speaking with. [PT: The symbols are typically seen only by the user and not who they are speaking with.]

In a Discord emoji, both the person communicating and who they are communicating with see the emoji. With high-tech AAC, typically only the AAC user sees the symbol, with the people they're talking with audibly hearing the words instead. There are some exceptions, such as light tech AAC or situations where an AAC user is showing their screen to who they are talking with, but they are generally exceptions.

3. Avoid low contrast. [PT: Avoid low contrast.]

An AAC symbol on a button is generally very small, and it is usually one of many buttons on a page, and it is usually on a coloured backdrop. Furthermore, there are many AAC users who are blind or low vision. Having high contrast on your symbols, such as by making the lineart much darker than the filling, makes your symbol easier to see and makes the details easier to notice.

4. High levels of detail usually disappear on an AAC board. [PT: High levels of detail usually disappear on an AAC board.]

Because buttons are small and there are usually many buttons on a page, high levels of detail tend to be very hard to notice when a symbol is on a button. Furthermore, lots of detail can make a symbol visually busy and thus potentially overwhelming for an AAC user.

5. Many AAC users dislike words on their symbols. [PT: Many AAC users dislike words on their symbols.]

Most AAC users have words on the button label already. For some, this means that having words on the symbol as well is redundant, overwhelming, or annoying. If you put words on your symbols, it is best to also provide a version without words for those who prefer that.

I hope that this is informative and helpful. Please do keep in mind that while I am an AAC user and an AAC symbol artist, I am only one of many, and AAC users are not a monolith. The advice I have provided here reflects the common attitudes I have seen in the community but it will not reflect the entire community.

[dustyaacsymbols]

ID: Two work schedules back to back, one with a setting sun on the last two shifts and the other with a rising sun on the first two shifts. End ID.

Clopening Shift

[dustyaacsymbols]

ID: Ten AAC Symbols. The first is a bottle of alcohol next to a swearing speech bubble. The second is a name tag with scribbles instead of words. The third is the letters ETC. The fourth is a minimalist film projector. The fifth is a director's clap board.

The sixth is a blue person, purple person, and pink person inside a head. The seventh is a simple daily schedule with a row for morning, for daytime, and for night. The eighth is four shapes, a red circle, green hexagon, yellow square, and blue rectangle. The ninth is two hands flapping. The tenth is a red cube and a red glass. End ID.

Mature | Name | Misc.

Movie | Movie Alt

Plurality/DID | Schedule

Shapes | Stimming | Things

The new folder symbols without a folder background.

[dustyaacsymbols]

ID: Four AAC symbols of a work schedule with different sections highlighted. In the first, the first two rows are bright blue with a rising sun. In the second, the middle two rows are bright green with a sun.

In the third symbol, the last two rows are orange with a setting sun. In the fourth symbol, the first and last rows are dark blue with a crescent moon between them. End ID.

Morning Shift | Day Shift

Evening Shift | Night Shift

[dustyaacsymbols]

ID: Three AAC symbols featuring a yellow baffled looking person gesturing at another person. In the first they are gesturing to a smiling blue person with sunglasses and a ball cap. In the second they are gesturing at a blue person with a tie and a mustache. In the third they are gesturing at Jesus in a red and white robe. End ID.

What the fuck dude?

What the fuck man?

Jesus fucking Christ

[dustyaacsymbols]

ID: Three AAC symbols of a yellow, baffled looking person in a red shirt. In the first they are pointing at a red square. In the second they are gesturing at a red circle. In the fourth they are holding out both hands, palm up. End ID.

What the fuck is that?

What the fuck is this?

Why the fuck would you do that?

[dustyaacsymbols]

ID: Two AAC folder symbols. The first has four faces, a yellow happy face, an angry red face, a sad blue face, and a gray neutral face. The second has a yellow clock. End ID.

Feelings folder | time folder

[dustyaacsymbols]

ID: Ten AAC symbols for folders. The first has a bottle of alcohol and a swearing speech bubble. The second has the letters etc. The third has a simple movie projector outline. The fourth has a director's clap board. The fifth has a name tag with scribbles instead of words.

The sixth has a blue, purple, and pink person inside a head. The seventh has a simple schedule with rows for morning, day, and night. The eighth is four shapes, a red circle, a green hexagon, a yellow square, and a blue rectangle. The ninth has two flapping green hands. The tenth has a red cube and a red glass. End ID.

Mature folder | misc. folder | movie folder

Movie folder (alt) | Name folder

Plurality / DID Folder | Daily Schedule Folder | Shapes Folder

Stimming Folder | Objects Folder

[dustyaacsymbols]

i have finally gotten around to making a google drive with all my (public) symbols.

they're organized about the same way they are in files on my computer. many of the files are named in ways to help group them together. i hope this can be a helpful resource - i'm also adding the link to my pinned.

[dustyaacsymbols]

ID: A small, white dog with floppy ears and brown gunk on its muzzle, ears, paws, tail, and around its eyes.

Crusty White Dog

[dustyaacsymbols]

i am still actively hanging around and if youve sent me a request i do have it and want to do it.

i've had a few weeks where it's a struggle to sit up and also use my dominant hand reliably so the lack of symbols is due to disability and not anything else :)

[vixys-aac-hoard]

We, Us, Our (sys/plural)

Ours, Ourselves (sys/plural)

Alt. It, Its, Itself

We/Us Inspired by @dustyaacsymbols

[dustyaacsymbols]

ID: Two AAC symbols. The first is of a gray person who is thinking a green check mark and saying a red X. The second is identical, but the gray person is highlighted in yellow. End ID.

Lie, Liar