Krislyn Hart, a 12th-grade student at Richardson High School and an Ambassador in Girl Scout Troop 6637, recently completed a Girl Scout Gold Award Project focused on helping non-verbal students communicate more easily during outdoor play.
Thanks to Hart’s big heart, several elementary school playgrounds in Richardson ISD now have a communication board.
A communication board is a visual support that uses pictures and words to help students share their needs, feelings, and ideas. Having one on the playground allows students to use the same symbols and images they rely on in the classroom to communicate while they are outside.
To make the boards even more useful, Hart also included additional images related specifically to playground activities.
“I added extra pictures of playground items so students could better communicate what they want to do while they’re outside,” said Hart. “Having a board on the playground lets non-verbal students use the same pictures to communicate outside that they do in the classroom.”
As part of her project, Hart worked to design, create, and install communication boards at four RISD campuses:
- Richland Elementary
- Hamilton Park Pacesetter Magnet Elementary
- Little Rams and Little Wildcats Learning Child Learning Academy at Springridge
- Aikin Elementary
The boards are now permanently installed on playgrounds, giving students a way to communicate during recess and outdoor activities.
Hart’s project was designed to be scalable and continue helping more schools.
Other schools in RISD that want communication boards can now order them through the district’s Print Services Department, making it easier for additional campuses to adopt the same resource.
Through her project, Hart has helped create a more inclusive environment where all students—regardless of how they communicate—can participate more fully in play and social interaction.
Hart’s project was recently approved and she has officially earned her Girl Scout Gold Award!
Hart has been proud to be part of the RISD family since her early learning years. She attended Bowie Elementary and Westwood Junior High. Her commitment to making an impact in the community has seen her grow, and her work demonstrates how one student’s idea can make a lasting difference across RISD.
