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.”

Barbara Fernandes, Smarty Symbols, Founder & CEO

Real Impact

Smarty Symbols has left a profound impact on the education landscape and beyond.

We Partner

We have empowered hundreds of educators, speech-language pathologists, and entrepreneurs in the field through low fees and commercial agreements.

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 a Few of Smarty Symbols Faces

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

Yousaf Qamar
Yousaf QamarCTO
Meet Yousaf Qamar, our whizz CTO! With a background in Aeronautical Engineering and a passion for IT, Yousaf’s journey took him from multinational firms to freelancing, before landing at Smarty Symbols. He’s our very own tech-swiss-army-knife, able to pivot from web development to digital marketing and even dabbling in cryptography. Known for his skill in navigating complex challenges and enthusiasm for exploring new data sources, he’s the digital dynamo driving our technology forward. Oh, and he’s also a staunch advocate for discovering the beauty of his home, Pakistan!
Jonathan Fernandes
Jonathan FernandesVP of Sales
Meet Jonathan Fernandes, our ever-creative VP of Sales! A former high school English teacher, Jonathan has a knack for storytelling and a deep understanding of education. Now, he weaves his pedagogical insights into his work at Smarty Symbols, turning the onboarding process into a narrative of learning and discovery. He takes schools by the hand and guides them on their journey to effective communication, ensuring every step is smooth and enjoyable. He’s not just a salesman, he’s a story-weaver, making every interaction with Smarty Symbols a compelling tale to remember.
Remi Salami, M.S CCC-SLP
Remi Salami, M.S CCC-SLPSales Director
Meet Remi Salami, our energetic Communication Boards Sales Director. An experienced speech-language pathologist, she uses her passion for AAC tools to help organizations bring Smarty Symbols Communication boards to life. Having worked with diverse age groups and language learners, Remi has a keen understanding of unique communication needs. She’s not just selling communication boards, she’s equipping individuals with the power to express themselves. An active advocate for inclusion, Remi is a voice for all, she’s the enthusiastic heart driving our commitment to accessible communication in public spaces.
Danica Avillon
Danica AvillonOperations Manager
Meet Danica Avillon, our dedicated Operations Manager! With a keen understanding of team dynamics and a passion for customer satisfaction, Danica ensures that every aspect of Smarty Symbols runs smoothly. From overseeing daily operations to managing our diverse team, she’s the backbone of our company. Danica’s exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail guarantee that our customers receive top-notch service. Whether it’s coordinating with staff, fulfilling orders, or handling complex logistical challenges, Danica is always on top of it. Her commitment to excellence and proactive approach make her an invaluable asset to Smarty Symbols.
Miranda Van Dunk, M.S., M.Ed., CCC-SLP
Miranda Van Dunk, M.S., M.Ed., CCC-SLP Trainer
Heather Hall
Heather HallSmarty Symbols Studio Trainer
Meet Heather Hall, our passionate advocate for Special Needs: Embracing Autism! With a robust 16-year career as a special education teacher in Arizona’s public schools and both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Special Education from Arizona State University, Heather brings a wealth of experience to our team. In 2019, she furthered her qualifications with a certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University.

Currently serving as a Special Education Professor at Arizona State University, Heather leverages her extensive knowledge to educate and inspire aspiring special education teachers. Her dedication to fostering a more inclusive and hospitable environment for individuals with autism and other disabilities is unparalleled.