About us
About us
Welcome to Smarty Symbols, where we embark on an extraordinary journey of empowering education through the power of visual supports. Our mission is to create inclusive learning environments, break communication barriers, and inspire the minds of tomorrow.
The Root of Our Mission
Our story is rooted in the recognition of the profound impact of visual supports in education and communication. It all started with one woman’s mission to make educational images more inclusive. Barbara Fernandes, a passionate Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), noticed a critical gap in the world of visual supports. Existing symbol sets lacked diversity and representation, failing to capture the rich tapestry of humanity. Determined to challenge the status quo, Barbara founded Smarty Symbols in 2014.
A Library of Diversity and Inclusivity
Driven by her dedication and unwavering commitment, Barbara and her talented team of illustrators set out on a mission to create a symbol library that celebrates individuality and inclusion. Smarty Symbols offers over 60,000 symbols, each thoughtfully crafted to represent diversity and inclusivity. Our innovative “Character of Choice” feature allows users to personalize visual supports with characters representing various skin tones and diverse backgrounds.
Empowering Education Through Innovation
Over the years, Smarty Symbols evolved from a digital library into a robust web-based platform—the Smarty Symbols Studio. Equipped with a powerful activity designer, it empowers educators, speech therapists, families, and special education professionals to create personalized visual materials with ease. Our library of over 30,000 symbols and more than 10,000 ready-made activities streamlines resource creation and enhances inclusive learning experiences.
Making Spaces More Inclusive
Our passion for inclusion extends beyond technology. Smarty Symbols spearheaded a national movement in 2022 to make public spaces more inclusive by designing purposeful communication boards. Collaborating with organizations, we create tailored communication boards for public areas like playgrounds, waterparks, museums, and clinics. The goal is to foster communication, social engagement, and active participation for individuals of all ages and abilities.
A Remarkable Impact
“At Smarty Symbols, our mission is to empower educators and learners to communicate, connect, and thrive. We believe that every learner deserves to see themselves represented and included. With the power of visual supports, we’re shaping a brighter, more inclusive future for education—one symbol at a time.”
Real Impact
Smarty Symbols has left a profound impact on the education landscape and beyond.
We Raised the Bar
Our symbol library enriches thousands of educational products and platforms, making learning engaging and accessible for students worldwide.
Our Team
Meet the faces behind Smarty Symbols—a team of passionate individuals dedicated to driving positive change. From our CTO Yousaf’s tech brilliance to VP of Sales Jonathan’s storytelling magic and Sales Director Remi’s advocacy for accessible communication, each team member contributes their unique talents to shape an inclusive future for education.
At Smarty Symbols, we’re not just a symbol library; we’re a community of educators, creators, and advocates working together to make a difference. Join us on this transformative journey, where Representation, Innovation, and Quality converge to redefine the world of visual supports. Together, we’ll empower learners, break barriers, and celebrate the beauty of diversity
Barbara Fernandes
CEO & Founder
Jonathan Fernandes
VP of Sales & School Partnership
Yousaf Quomar
CTO
Danica Avillon
Customer Support Lead
