Amir Sohail
ANNAPOLIS, Md., Aug. 31, 2026 (ZM NEWSWIRE) — A new communication board at Quiet Waters Park is giving children with autism and other communication differences another way to connect, participate and be heard.
The installation is part of a partnership between Verbal Beginnings, the Autism Society of Maryland and Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks, bringing accessible communication tools into one of the county’s popular outdoor community spaces.
The need for inclusive spaces continues to grow. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in 31 children were identified with autism in 2022, compared with 1 in 36 in 2020. As more children and families with autism become part of communities across Maryland, accessibility extends beyond schools and clinical settings. Parks and playgrounds are important places where children develop communication, social and independence skills.
The communication board provides a visual way for children to express wants, needs, choices and observations while they play and explore. For children who are nonspeaking or communicate differently, tools like these can make everyday experiences more accessible.
“There is something incredibly powerful about giving a child the tools to communicate in the places where they actually live, play and experience their community,” said Diana Wolf, BCBA and Co-CEO of Verbal Beginnings. “Every child deserves the opportunity to make a choice, express a need, share an experience and be understood.”
For children with autism, communication may include spoken language, gestures, sign language, picture-based systems or speech-generating devices and apps, commonly known as Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).
Inclusive community spaces can help children practice communication and social skills in natural environments—whether asking to play, choosing an activity, expressing a feeling or sharing something they see.
“We know that families want their children to be part of their communities, not just supported in clinical or educational settings,” said Nick Chappell, BCBA and Co-CEO of Verbal Beginnings. “A park is a place where children should be able to explore, play and connect with other people in their own way.”
Verbal Beginnings’ multidisciplinary model brings together Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Speech-Language Pathology and Occupational Therapy, with services that support children across a range of developmental and communication needs.
About Verbal Beginnings
Verbal Beginnings is a family-focused network of professionals providing exceptional comprehensive autism services to families across Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia. A team of Board Certified Behavior Analysts develops individualized treatment programs to teach and increase communication, feeding, appropriate behavior, social skills, and adaptive living skills. The team approach ensures that the most progressive techniques are used to meet each child’s individual needs.
Services include early intervention, feeding therapy, social skills development, after-school and summer programs, in-home and center services, Speech and Language Pathology, Occupational Therapy, and more. As a BHCOE-accredited provider of ABA Therapy, Verbal Beginnings is committed to Changing Lives. One Child at a Time. One Professional at a Time.
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