New substitute teacher. New babysitter. New nurse during a hospital stay. New aide at summer camp. Every time a new person enters your child's life, the same problem comes up: they don't know how to communicate with your child, and your child can't explain it to them fast enough.
That's the problem communication passports solve. They're short documents that introduce the AAC user to new people, written from the user's perspective. But paper passports get lost, left at home, or forgotten in a backpack pocket. And by the time you need one, it's usually too late to print a new copy.
SabiKo's About Me tool puts the communication passport directly on the AAC device. It's always there, always up to date, and always one tap away from anyone who needs to read it.
What's in the About Me Tool
About Me is organized into five sections, each designed to answer the questions a new communication partner has when meeting your child for the first time.
My Communication
This is the most important section. It tells the reader how your child communicates and what they need to know to interact successfully.
What to write here:
- "I use the SabiKo app on my tablet to talk"
- "I tap symbols and the app says the words"
- "I also use gestures and facial expressions"
- "I understand everything you say, even though I can't speak"
- "Please give me time to respond"
Keep it simple. The person reading this might have 30 seconds before they need to interact with your child. Clear, short sentences work best.
My Likes
Things your child loves. This section helps new people connect quickly. Instead of fumbling through awkward silence, the new caregiver, teacher, or aide can lead with something your child is interested in.
In SabiKo, you add likes as individual items, each with an optional symbol. So "Pizza" shows up as a chip with a pizza symbol next to it, making the list visual and quick to scan.
What to include:
- Favorite foods (pizza, goldfish crackers, apple juice)
- Favorite activities (swinging, bubbles, drawing, Legos)
- Favorite shows, songs, or characters
- Favorite people or pets
- Sensory preferences (soft blankets, music, being rocked)
My Dislikes
Equally important. Knowing what to avoid prevents meltdowns, sensory overload, and misunderstandings before they happen.
What to include:
- Foods they refuse or are allergic to
- Sensory triggers (loud sounds, certain textures, bright lights)
- Activities they find stressful
- Things that cause anxiety (crowds, sudden changes, being touched)
Be specific. "Doesn't like loud noises" is helpful. "Covers ears and gets upset when the fire alarm goes off or when people clap loudly" is better.
About Me
General information about your child that doesn't fit neatly into the other sections. This is where you add medical information, personality traits, and anything else a new person should know.
What to include:
- Allergies and medical conditions ("Allergic to peanuts")
- Medications and when they're taken
- Personality notes ("I'm shy at first but warm up quickly")
- Important context ("I have a seizure disorder. If I have a seizure, call 911 and my parents")
- School information ("I'm in Mrs. Johnson's class, room 204")
How to Talk to Me
Practical communication tips written as a numbered list. These are the instructions that make the biggest difference in how well a new person interacts with your child.
Example entries:
- "Give me 10 seconds to respond"
- "Talk to me, not about me"
- "Use short, clear sentences"
- "Show me what's happening next"
- "If I'm upset, give me space and offer my tablet"
- "Ask yes/no questions when I'm struggling"
This section turns abstract AAC knowledge into concrete, actionable steps that anyone can follow immediately.
Setting Up About Me
Step 1: Add a photo
Tap Edit and add a clear, recent photo of your child. This is the first thing anyone sees when they open About Me. A photo makes the whole document feel personal rather than clinical.
Step 2: Fill in My Communication first
This section is the priority. Even if you leave everything else blank, My Communication alone gives a new person enough to start interacting with your child. Write 2 to 3 sentences about how your child communicates and what the other person should do.
Step 3: Add likes and dislikes
Start with 3 to 5 items in each list. You can always add more later. Think about the situations where a new person is most likely to interact with your child (meals, play, transitions) and focus on likes and dislikes relevant to those situations.
Step 4: Fill in About Me and How to Talk to Me
Add medical essentials and 3 to 5 communication tips. Prioritize the information that would make the biggest difference if a stranger had to interact with your child right now.
Step 5: Share and print
About Me has three buttons in the top bar:
- Edit to update any section
- Share to send the profile digitally (email, messaging apps)
- Print to export as a PDF
Print a copy for the backpack, one for school, and one for any regular caregiver. Keep the digital version on the device as the always-current primary copy.
When About Me Makes the Biggest Difference
First day of school
New teacher, new aide, new classmates, new lunch monitor. That's four or five people who need to understand your child's communication on day one. Sending the About Me PDF to the school a week before classes start gives everyone time to read it. For more on working with schools, see our guide on talking to your child's school about AAC.
Hospital stays and medical visits
Hospitals mean rotating staff. The nurse at 7am is different from the nurse at 3pm. Taping a printed About Me to the hospital bed or adding it to the chart means every person who enters the room can quickly learn how to communicate with your child. This pairs well with preparing vocabulary for doctor visits and having Quick Phrases ready for emergencies.
New babysitters and caregivers
Hand the sitter the tablet, show them the About Me screen, and let them read it. In two minutes they know what your child likes, what they don't like, how they communicate, and what to do if something goes wrong. That's faster and more reliable than a verbal handoff at the front door.
Respite care and group homes
Rotating staff is the norm in these settings. A communication passport that lives on the device and can be printed means every staff member has access to the same information, regardless of whether they've met your child before.
Summer camps and community activities
Camp counselors, swim instructors, and activity leaders often have minimal training in AAC. About Me gives them everything they need in a format they can read in under two minutes.
Keeping About Me Updated
A communication passport that was written six months ago might describe a child who has since changed significantly. Review and update About Me regularly:
Every 3 to 4 months:
- Update likes and dislikes (interests change fast, especially for young children)
- Update the photo if your child's appearance has changed
- Review communication tips (are they still accurate?)
When something changes:
- New medication or allergy
- New school, teacher, or classroom
- New communication skills (went from single words to phrases, started using the spelling keyboard)
- New behavioral strategies that work
At the start of each school year:
- Fresh photo
- Updated classroom and teacher information
- Revised communication tips based on current skills
- Print new copies for school
Let your child help. If they're able to participate, ask them what they want in their About Me. What are their current favorite things? What do they want people to know? For older children and teenagers, the About Me should be a collaborative project. It's their introduction to the world.
Free vs. Pro
About Me is available in both the free tier and SabiKo Pro, with one difference:
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Photo and name | Yes | Yes |
| My Communication | Yes | Yes |
| My Likes | Limited entries | Unlimited |
| My Dislikes | Limited entries | Unlimited |
| About Me section | Yes | Yes |
| How to Talk to Me | Yes | Yes |
| Share and Print (PDF) | Yes | Yes |
The free tier covers everything most families need. Pro removes the limit on likes and dislikes entries, which matters for older children, teenagers, and adults who have more detailed preference profiles.
Common Questions
Is About Me different from a communication passport?
About Me is SabiKo's version of a communication passport. The concept is the same: a short, personal document that introduces the AAC user to new people. The difference is that About Me lives on the device itself, can be updated instantly, and exports as a shareable PDF. For background on the concept, see what is a communication passport.
Can different profiles have different About Me pages?
Yes. Each user profile has its own About Me. If you have a shared device with multiple users, each person's profile, likes, dislikes, and communication tips are separate.
Does About Me work offline?
Yes. Everything in About Me is stored locally on the device. You can view, edit, and show it to someone without internet. Sharing via email or messaging requires internet.
What format is the PDF export?
The exported PDF includes all sections with a clean, readable layout. It's designed to be printed on a single page so it's easy to tape to a hospital bed, clip to a chart, or keep in a folder.
Can my child open About Me themselves?
Yes. About Me is accessible from the tools menu. An AAC user who can navigate their device can show their own About Me to a new person. This is a form of self-advocacy: introducing yourself on your own terms.
How About Me Fits with Other SabiKo Features
- Quick Phrases deliver key information out loud in real time ("My name is ___," "I use this app to communicate"). About Me provides the same information in a written format that someone can read at their own pace.
- Choice Maker helps identify preferences over time. Choices the child makes consistently can inform the My Likes and My Dislikes sections.
- Communication boards are for active, real-time communication. About Me is for passive introduction, the background information someone needs before the conversation starts.
- Visual Schedule shows what's happening today. About Me shows who this person is and how to interact with them.
- Print Board exports communication boards as PDFs. About Me exports the personal profile as a PDF. Together, they give caregivers both the tool (boards) and the instruction manual (About Me).
Getting Started
- Open SabiKo and navigate to the tools menu
- Tap About Me
- Tap Edit and add a photo and your child's name
- Write 2 to 3 sentences in My Communication
- Add 3 to 5 items each to My Likes and My Dislikes
- Add 3 to 5 tips to How to Talk to Me
- Tap the print button and put a copy in the backpack
Your child deserves to be understood by every person they meet. About Me makes that possible in under two minutes.
Download SabiKo free and set up your child's About Me profile today.