Help with PECS

[SallyBear]

DS4 ASD non verbal aged 6 uses PECS in a haphazard way. He loves movies and will bring me a PECS card with a picture of a DVD on it plus the actual DVD he wants. I think this is great as he is making his needs known and being specific about what he wants. DH thinks that's wrong and that we should have a library of PECS cards with each DVD pictured in each card - cars, cars 2, Tangled etc. I think that DH is being pedantic about this.

What do you think? Is he right, or have I taken the easy route? Opinions please!

You re both right. A lot depends on how much energy you want to put into it.
If you have a 'category' card, that helps with semantic development.
Your son decides he wants to watch a dvd so goes for generic card.
You then ask him which one he wants and he goes to a specific one.
It simulates natural conversation.
Have you been on a PECS course? Would highly recommend.
I'll post dertaisl if you are not sure how to go about it.

Personally I think your way is better as having a card for each DVD is a bit limiting. It is better that he realises that the card represents all DVDs and he can then communicate which particular one he wants. In fact if you have the DVDs out of reach you could then use the fact that you know he wants a DVD as an opportunity for him to communicate further by say holding up two of them and asking him which one he wants? Or encouraging him to point to the one he wants?

There is a 2 day course on PECS run by Pyramid Training which is meant to be very good - you might want to look into it?

We did the course about three years ago, but it sort of faltered at home.
He's now going to a special school and he is travelling with cards - generally at in opportune moments like when you're in the shower! I agree in theory with DH, but seriously I cannot be bothered to photograph and laminate 250+ DVDs! I think the issue is that we need to move on from DVDs and foods and do something else with them - activities etc. At what point will he be able to use PECS to express his feelings?

Identify his reinforcers (preferred activities) and make his getting them contingent on using the cards.
He needs to move from the stage of manding (asking) to tacting (I see/feel/hear etc)
Have you an s/lt to help?
Umfortunately, many don't know how to use PECS properly.
A behaviour analyst and/or PECS consultant would be the best person to help if you have the £££

(Coming to you in the shower is very encouraging!)

Yes there is an independent SLT at his school. I think that we need to move forward with this. I'm losing the will to live with the asking and I think that he is too. I will email her to start this in September.

And thank you both of you!

Telling me he needs to go to the loo would be epic! At the moment I just watch him to see when he needs to be rushed to the loo! Can sometimes be a bit premature on my part

Press her for specific advice and measurable intervention. That is her job but if you don't get onto her, she doesn't know you need help.

Thanks.