PECS

[PinkDaydreams]

Evening all!
I’m wanting some help please about how to use PECS. 28 month old ds has no speech (did have six words but completely gone) and possible autism. Awaiting salt appointment and community pediatrician for autism assessment then lockdown happened.
Anyway, I have some PECS cards but am wondering how to use them please? Where do I put the now and next cards, do I stick them to the kitchen cupboard so he can see them and I can point to them and talk about them or do I pass them to him and tell him then put them away?
Apologies for sounding completely clueless! Thought I’d give them a try as I know salt will suggest this so trying to get ahead.
Thanks all!

I don’t know how to do clicky links, but we followed this.

autismpdc.fpg.unc.edu/sites/autismpdc.fpg.unc.edu/files/PECS_Steps.pdf

It seems a bit wordy, but actually explains the phases quite well. We had a SALT at the same time, but she was telling us the same. We only used the first few phases before speech started so can’t say beyond that.
The most important things as I remember were that the ‘helper’ doesn’t say anything at all, and that you don’t move on from each phase until dc has really got it, and then a bit longer!

Good luck

Turns out I can do clicky links. Who knew?

Thank you for that link. I’ve got to try do it myself, DH works a lot so I’ll have to do the ground work and then show him how he can help.
I just don’t know what to do with the now and next cards?

Choose somewhere that's visible to DS where he is a lot. Then just tell DS we're getting dressed now and next we're going to play. Maybe think in your head first how you'll chunk up the day rather than flitting between things otherwise you'll be constantly moving the cards.

You probably know but children especially toddlers love routine (as do children with ASC) so try having a routine that follows a similar format each day (perhaps a little different st the weekend).

Thank you @KatyB222. We spend a lot of time downstairs, mainly the kitchen, so I’ll put it on his cupboard that will be at his eye height.
To be honest most days are the same for us, I like routine myself and find that it motivates me to get up and go. I remember the hv mentioning routine being good for him too.

Now/next boards and visual timetables are all excellent visual aids. However they are not pecs. Visual aids are great for routine, reducing anxiety. We still use them now ds is much older.

Pecs (picture exchange communication system) is a very specific system which is categorised by an exchange. I'd start off with high motivating items using a single card. For my ds it was fireman sam and chocolate buttons. Don't take on to much at once and get him used to the exchange. It is very important that when you give him the item you say the word verbally as the goal is to bring on verbal speech if at all possible. Good luck!

I think I’m going to take photos of real objects and use those. The pecs cards I have are line drawings and I think pics of real things he can relate to will work much better.
Thanks for the advice regarding not taking on too much at once. I’ve been trying makaton, only milk and water (keeping it simple) , but he has no interest at all.

@PinkDaydreams try the makaton for something he loves, then maybe he'd be more motivated to use it.. like to play outside, watch tv, chocolate. It's probably not the healthiest of things but it may help him to get the idea that he can communicate and get something he wanted.

We found with pecs we needed something immediate. We started with just one thing, and only one picture to show that thing. We got though a lot of chocolate buttons....

Now and next boards are a way to deal with frustration in not being able to communicate, so it could be you put a picture of a necessary chore next to a fun activity to explain that now we do this but then we get to do this.

Its not just about having no words but at 28 months my DS had no concept of what words meant at all and it took a long time for him to learn that things had labels e.g. words and verbs were even harder.

the website teachmetotalk is really good