Symbol libraries and private databases

Symbols or text

Symbol for Windows programs can be used with alphabetical text. The program even offers support for text-based writing. But most of the time symbols are used, for several reasons:

Especially for people who were born with a speech impediment, it can be hard to learn to write alphabetical text, because letters are based on the sounds they represent. Writing with symbols is not based on sound, but on meaning. Children can learn how to communicate with symbols from a very young age.
Symbol communication is used by people with a mental handicap, who can't read or write, or have difficulty learning it. Writing with symbols can either replace text-based writing here, or be an aid in learning how to read and write with letters.
Most of the time, typing symbols is faster than typing text.

Symbol libraries to choose from

A great advantage of Symbol for Windows is that you are completely free to choose the symbol library (or libraries) that best suits your needs. You no longer have to purchase or learn how to use a new computerprogram for each symbol language.

Er is een groot aantal symboolbibliotheken te gebruiken met Symbol for Windows. In de tabel hieronder kunt u voorbeelden zien van de plaatjes van elke bibliotheek. Naast een groot aantal goed onderhouden betaalde symboolbibliotheken, kunt u vanaf de Gold versie ook twee gratis bibliotheken downloaden om met de Symbol for Windows programma's te gebruiken, namelijk Sclera en binnenkort Arasaac (zie onder). Bovendien is binnenkort ook de populaire Widgit bibliotheek verkrijgbaar met Symbol for Windows.

Below, you can see an overview of the different symbol libraries that can be used with the Symbol for Windows software. Besides a large number of well-maintained paid symbol libraries, we also offer two libraries free of charge, starting from the Symbol for Windows Gold version: Sclera and Arasaac (see below).

Using your own pictures

It is possible to use your own pictures and/or photographs with Symbol for Windows. You can import them directly into the Symbol for Windows programs one by one, or you can create your own database with the Image Manager. With your own database, you will have your own collection of symbols ready at hand, when you need it in different user files or different Symbol for Windows programs.

Do you have a collection of symbols, pictures or sound files that you would like to make available to all Symbol for Windows users? Contact us! Practically any collection of symbols can be converted into a standard Symbol for Windows database by us.

Database	I	Number of Symbols	Number of Concepts
about Sclera	The Sclera symbol library consists of pictures that are designed by Bart Serrien from Belgium. Handicom has put them in a database as a service to users of Symbol for Windows and Sclera. Naturally, this database is free of charge, as are the Sclera pictures. The database is not constantly maintained, however, so if you would like to add to the collection, you can download the new pictures from www.sclera.be (English language available).
Sclera		4055	2114
about Arasaac	The Arasaac symbols have been created by Sergio Palao. They are the property of CATEDU (http://catedu.es/arasaac/) under Creative Common's License. (Terms of use) You can also download the symbols in the form of zipped .png files (Portable Network Graphics) from Catedu's website As a service to our users, the Arasaac database will be maintained and updated for use with our software, free of charge.
Arasaac		7139	4282
Compic		1750	1600
Bliss extended		3250	3050
PCS		8600	4950
Pictogram		1150	1100
Beta		2550	2350
Picture This		2700	2700
WeerklankFoto		1300	775
Beeldlezen		1100	950
Parler Pictos