PictoAndes: A Customizable Communication Board for Inclusive Education and Multicultural Accessibility

Mayra Carrión-Toro, David Morales-Martínez, Marco Santórum, Alexis Vizuete, Verónica Maldonado-Garcés and Patricia Acosta-Vargas ()
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Mayra Carrión-Toro: Departamento de Informática y Ciencias de la Computación, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito 170525, Ecuador
David Morales-Martínez: Departamento de Informática y Ciencias de la Computación, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito 170525, Ecuador
Marco Santórum: Departamento de Informática y Ciencias de la Computación, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito 170525, Ecuador
Alexis Vizuete: Departamento de Informática y Ciencias de la Computación, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito 170525, Ecuador
Verónica Maldonado-Garcés: Psychology Faculty, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito 170501, Ecuador
Patricia Acosta-Vargas: Intelligent and Interactive Systems Laboratory, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170125, Ecuador

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 3, 1-23

Abstract: Children with speech and language difficulties often face significant challenges in expressing their needs, emotions, and thoughts, which can lead to frustration, social isolation, and hindered participation in educational and social activities. Addressing this issue, we present a customizable communication board designed to facilitate effective and autonomous communication for these children. Unlike traditional solutions, this application offers a culturally adaptive and user-centered approach, enabling the inclusion of personalized pictograms, such as representations of familiar objects, to create a more relatable and engaging gamified experience. The platform “PictoAndes” leverages modern technology and gamification principles to transform therapy into an interactive and motivating process. By integrating pictograms that resonate with users’ unique contexts, the board enhances communication, strengthens emotional connections, and fosters a sense of belonging. Built on agile methodologies, the application provides a dynamic solution that adapts to individual needs and evolving challenges, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity. The evaluation of the platform, guided by WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards, demonstrates its effectiveness in reducing communication barriers and promoting active participation. Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 and 10, this project contributes to inclusive education and reduced inequalities by offering a practical and transformative tool. By empowering children to express themselves in meaningful ways, the customizable communication board represents a significant step toward enhancing the quality of life and fostering social inclusion for individuals with speech and language difficulties.

Keywords: language disability; iPlus methodology; SCRUM framework; pictograms; inclusive education; Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); Universal Design for Learning (UDL) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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