picture communication/prompt cards

[JaneMare]

has anyone made their own at all?

i've got a laminator, a printer but am a bit stuck on how to get the pictures...is it best to take lots of pictures around the house and then sit and cry while i try to work out how to print them onto a manageable size do it like that or has anyone successfully used anything like this... www.senteacher.org/Worksheet/6/PECS.xhtml

I think the most important thing is that you don't simply expect a child to know what the picture represents. No matter how 'obvious' to you the child might need to actually be taught what it represents.

In this way, you probably want to keep to clear symbol-like pictures as you can.

The best visuals are of course the written language, so you might want the word on the picture somewhere too.

If you can get hold of a copy of Widget (communicate in print) that would be useful. It's expensive but you can always ask at school. Otherwise google is your friend. I used photos and pieces of food packaging to start off with, then went for hand drawn cartoons, similar to widget. Will your DC be using PECs at school as it's best practise to use the same pictures to avoid confusion, with the word always included at the bottom. My DS used PECs a lot for about 6 months at 3.6 - 4 which kickstarted his verbal communication, he could finally see a point to communication, it got him what he wanted. Hope it works for you.

Crossed with Star. Photos to begin with if they don't get that the symbol represents an object is good advice.

that's what i'm afraid of Starlight

if i'm trying to help DD i don't want to confuse her more

she is learning to read right now (4.8yrs old) so think yes to simple words as well, she's familiar with the Makaton symbols from seeing them on TV - i wonder if they might be suitable?

The makaton symbols are almost identical to widget. Would be a very good starting point, keep it consistent.

and the tip about using the same 'things' at school is a really good one

and it has to be on her 'level' - the SENCO has given her a small toy dog to give to the nearest adult if she needs help with changing but DD won't use it because she says that toys are for playing with.

Perhaps a piece from a nappy packet would be more suitable, if mounted and laminated?

JaneMare

There are many free clip art sites from which you can download a a great many pictures or clipart which can be used to represent various things.
I have used clipart for fun with my children, on my own web sites, etc you could have a look at this one BestClipart there are many others but sometimes the ads can become a problem.

Have a look on ebay. You might be able to get a pics for Pecs CD cheap. There is also a web site called do2learn which you can subscribe to which has a sort of set up which will let you re size the pictures to what you want and will also allow you to put in photos as well. Think it cost me about 35.00 for the year.

cansu from what i can see the 'PECS' system uses pre-determined pictures doesn't it?

is the 'do2learn' easy to use? i'm not very good with PC skills and i'm really tight scared of wasting money

HI JaneMare
I'd try and use the same system that they're using at school, ie using the Makaton symbols if she recognises them. Why not ask the school to run off an extra set or 2 that you can use at home. Then for the words you might need at home that school isn't using eg cereal/weetabix etc, try photos, packet labels, cartoon versions or send the list of words into school and ask them to get the Makaton or Boardmaker symbol for you.

Go for it!

they aren't using anything at school right now, Summer only a photograph on her coat peg and the daft toy dog

there isn't a problem there apparently

sorry, the angry face was directed towards school, not you

Don't apologise Janemare - my mistake, I've re-read your 1st ppost now and i realise you meant the Makaton symbols from the TV, not school.
you must be feeling a bit frustrated

look at mrsriley.com
it doesn't use standardised symbols so if your child needs very specific ones you would be better using boardmaker or communication in print but if its more generic ones or photos then it is a subscription which lets you use templates and sorts out the layout etc and has lots of symbols ready to use or you can upload photos. As you say you can mess around and do it yourself but this makes it very easy.

everyone for the ideas and information here, i knew you'd come up trumps