DS’ first sentence!

[SinkGirl]

This happened today - my twins are non verbal and have been using PECS cards to exchange for an item for ages. Last year I had a big court battle to get them into the right specialist school and now they are doing so well.

DT1 has just started making sentences - first it was “I want X” and today he surprised me with “mummy I want biscuit please”. I could honestly cry.

He will be getting a tablet with special software soon so it can talk for him but I expected him to just be able to make one word requests - now it seems i might hear actual sentences!

I know it’s not the typical first sentence but it’s so hard for him to learn and I’m so happy!

Made my day! Thank you for sharing this with us

@Marshmon

That’s brilliant. You sounds like such an amazing mum

It’s definitely the school, not me! I tried my best from when they were little but I never managed to help them make much progress - they have 1:1 at school so can do a lot I can’t do at home with both of them at once. I did the work to get them in, but the school are doing the hard work.

If anyone is fighting this battle, keep going. Hardest thing I’ve ever done and I’m still angry about the year they lost while arguing over funding, but it’s all been worth it!

I'm a reception class teacher and I have a boy in my class this year who is non-verbal and just beginning on the PECS journey, so hope he gets to this stage, well done to your son, this brought a tear to my eye!

Amazing news OP. Love to see posts like this!

@EdithGrantham

I'm a reception class teacher and I have a boy in my class this year who is non-verbal and just beginning on the PECS journey, so hope he gets to this stage, well done to your son, this brought a tear to my eye!

Thank you for supporting your pupil with this! It’s such a hard slog in the beginning but makes such a difference.

There’s one day I will never forget as long as I live. DT2 had a regression and stopped playing with toys - we had weekly sessions with portage for months just trying to get him to even pick up a toy, post a ball etc. He just wasn’t interested. We started PECS, again wasn’t interested unless it was for food.

Then I found a toy he liked (one of those floppy rubbery caterpillar thing). I gave him a turn then counted down and said “my turn” and took it to play with it - he walked past me holding the toy, went to his folder, found the caterpillar card and brought it to me. I thought I was hallucinating!

It’s so hard for them not being able to communicate - it makes so much difference to them to just be able to make basic specific requests. Hang in there!

Yay! Well done that lad! One of my DD’s first makaton signs was biscuit. Second one was cake

@Embracelife

Awesome So polite Moving to dynamic tablet AAC my ds really took off I am sure will be the same for your dc

Yes I think he’ll be the same. Trying not to get too pissed off about the fact he should have had it in October so has lost several months thanks to my LA... but I know it will help him so much. He’s so good with tech and so smart (can already spell so many words, most of which I have no idea where he picked them up) so I know he’s going to fly when he has the right tools and with all the help he’s getting at school.

🥳

This made me tear up.

Fantastic 💖

What a wonderful post to read. That’s fantastic.

AMAZING! Thank you for sharing this special moment, it is really lovely

That’s brilliant! I remember your battle to get them in to school and I’m so glad they are getting on well!

So lovely Op !

Wonderful! Such a lovely post!

You can get secondhand ipad and gridforipad for monthly fee so might be feasible? Rather than waiting.
Download a free trial
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The support is good from smartbox

That’s fab, sinkgirl. My DS really took to PECS as well. I didn’t have a computer or laminator 18 years ago so I hand drew loads of cards and covered them with Fablon. All his favourite toys and games so he’d get the hang of the point of communication. Food is such a good motivator.

I hope your twins come on leaps and bounds. Every small milestone is so precious.

That is great news Op, thanks for sharing this special and wonderful moment with us. Massive well done to you and your DT1. Sounds like your DT2 is making a bit of progress too.

Congratulations to your DC that is wonderful news indeed!!

My DN moved from cards to a "talker tablet" for a couple of years and we were all suprised (and over the moon) when he figured out how to use his voice.
His speech is difficult to understand, with words and a syntax of his own, but he manages to make his immedeate needs and wishes known.

Well that had me mopping my eyes! I am so chuffed for you. It's bloody wonderful.

Awww this thread is everything that's fab about this site. It's supportive, cheerful, tear jerking and celebrating a child's accomplishments.

You've made my day

@SinkGirl that's fantastic!!!!! Well done him and you. If you are on facebook the is a very active group called PECS User Support Group which has nearly 20,000 members and is a great place to ask questions and get ideas.

@SusannahSophia did your son move on from PECS or does he still use it?

[quote Embracelife]You can get secondhand ipad and gridforipad for monthly fee so might be feasible? Rather than waiting.
Download a free trial
thinksmartbox.com/product/grid-for-ipad/[/quote]
Thank you - I was holding off because I wanted him to use the same thing they use at school, and I’ve had confirmation now that they’ve definitely sorted it so he should have it when he goes back next week. Will make it easier if he uses the same software as the others at school as the staff are all trained in it etc.

If for any reason they don’t sort it I’m definitely just going to get something myself though!

Ahh. That’s amazing OP! Brilliant on its own but also really gives hope for use of AAC.

I am intrigued though. My use of pecs was limited to jump starting speech. How on earth do they teach manners??!