Color Communication Badges
GREENYELLOWRED

Color Communication Badges are a system which were first developed in
Autistic spaces and conferences. They help people tell everyone who can see
their badge about their communication preferences.
A color communication badge is a name tag holder that can pin or clip ontoclothing. In the name tag holder there are three cards: one green card that says
“GREEN”, one yellow card that says “YELLOW”, and one red card that says
“RED.”
The card that is currently visible is the active card; the other two are hidden
behind the first one, accessible to the person if they should need them.
Showing a green badge means that the person is actively seeking
communication; they have trouble initiating conversations, but want to beapproached by people who are interested in talking.
Showing a yellow badge means that the person only wants to talk to people
they recognize, not by strangers or people they only know from the Internet. The
badge-wearer might approach strangers to talk, and that is okay; the approachedpeople are welcome to talk back to them in that case. But unless you havealready met the person face-to-face, you should not approach them to talk.
Showing a red badge means that the person probably does not want to talkto anyone, or only wants to talk to a few people. The person might approachothers to talk, and that is okay; the approached people are welcome to talk back

to them in that case. But unless you have been told already by the badge-wearer
that you are on their “red list”, you should not approach them to talk.
Color communication badges are a good aid because they allow people toexpress their current communication preference quickly, nonverbally, andsimply - people can change what card is showing if their preference changes.
They are a good way to prevent situations where someone is caught in a social
situation they do not want to be in, or situations where someone wants to talkbut can’t initiate.
This means that communication badges can help make conferences,conventions, meetings, college campuses, and other spaces more accessible.
People with communication impairments, people who have trouble expressing
their communication preferences, and people who have trouble reading social
cues about communication preference, may find color communication badges
useful.
Color communication badges also help all people, abled or disabled, to moreeasily and effectively let people know whether they want to be approached
for conversations or not. This can creates a positive impact on the social
atmosphere where communication badges are being used.

If you have any questions about the color communication badge system, pleasecontact ASAN by email at info@autisticadvocacy.org.
This Resource Guide was developed for ASAN’s Pacific Alliance on Disability
Self-Advocacy project. Pacific Alliance is an effort funded by the Administration
on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to support self advocacy groups
with technical assistance. For more about the ASAN or the Pacific Alliance, visit
us at www.autisticadvocacy.org.

ASAN

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) is a non-profit organization run by and for autisticpeople. ASAN provides support and services to individuals on the autism spectrum whileworking to change public perception and combat misinformation. Our activities include public
policy advocacy, community engagement to encourage inclusion and respect for neurodiversity,
AUTISTIC SELF ADVOCACY NETWORK quality of life oriented research and the development of autistic cultural activities.
www.autisticadvocacy.org