Goodness,what can I add? You people know your stuff!!BH,surprised that BIBIC didn't give you one tbh. Did they give you info on precisely how to use it? This is really important.
The PECS single day ones are nice.However,you may want to consider a weekly one as it allows more orientation in time (chance to reflect on the past and look the future. Sounds like your dd coulc cope with this easily.)
Ideally, a weekly one will work from left to right (ie Mon-Sun) and of course top to bottom
(start of day to finish of day)If you are good on the computer,you can make one,alternately,sketch out what you want and ask someone else to do it.
Some people like to permanently mark in 'constants' such as meals and dinner time.
Size? Again,depends on child but A3 would be good. I find you have to design and plan with paper and a paper and pencil to work out dimensions and what size picture will fit into your timetable.
In my work,we try to stick to commonly agreed dimensions for timetables and picture diaries as well as agreeing on which part of the Velcro goes on which bit,so that systems are flexible!!
(It's all these small points that take up so much time and energy believe it or not!)
You will also need a colour printer,Velcro,a laminator and good quality paper to print on. (Incidentally,we obtain Widgit for families who need it,and bill it to the health trust as a 'communication aid'. Have also done this with Social Services as it is pricey)
Some people go completely over the top and put in everything which is tedious for all parties. In your case,you might want to think about a space between meals to put one thing in (eg on a w/end there could be room for a morning,afternoon and possible post dinner activity.)
As the others say,Widgit or Boardmaker are good. I use Widgit,and have written an 'idiots' guide' to using it,as the manual can really freak people (including me!!) out! Looks so dull....
I can send you a copy if you like.Not in place of work at present but will be in 2 weeks. (Same goes for anyone else btw-happy to share.)
You can use a digital camera and incorporate photos as well-useful if you want say a picture of the grandparents to symbolise a visit.
Needless to say,think carefully about what picture symbolises what activity. (eg Widgit symbol for 'sausages' uses American style round ones-useless for a British kid!)
Also consider using words as well. Your dd is reading and this will boost that.Other children may be confused by writing,but we often include it even with children who are not reading as it helps adults use a commonly agreed vocabulary-important for people with communication issues (consider a picture of swings-could be describes variously as park/playground/swings/walk. Could be confusing couldn't it?!
I've had some people start with pictures,move to pictures and words,then rely solely on words which is great!
Again some children need it to be used very rigidly and to have the picture removed at the end of the activity. Others can cope with them being left up,which again is a great lang. opp.allowing a child to respond appropriately to a question that may be impossible without visual prompts such as 'What did you do yesterday morning?' In that case,I encourage people to have something like a huge florescent arrow which slides back and forth on a string and can be moved daily to mark the appropriate day. (You'd be amazed how many people forget that was is obvious to you and me,isn't to someone who has comm. difficulties. The times I have to explain to people that a visual timetabe that isn't used religiously is in effect a waste of time! Grrr!!!)
A simple calender (white block for each day) is very useful too. Use it with my dd. Part of bedtime routine is to cross off a day-good left/tight sequencing practice. We draw (or use Widgit picture) in a salient feature of the day-tonight it will be a big cake as we visited friends and they brought out a huge one!). You can put in exciting stuff that is coming up too. My dd can now see who in the family is having a b/day soon!
You can just use a shop bought one-only problem is that there are often blank blocks at the bottom or top,as months are not even in length of course. I block these out,as I want my dd to understand the concept of her filling in the blocks,not having to turn a page,but still seeing blank spaces. You can devise a code for school days. One of the mothers I work with puts a tiny blue dot on school days,I outline them in red pen.
Final thing I use a lot is a picture diary to supprt home/school written diary,which is great but inaccessible to non readers. We just ha ve a laminated 7 page diary (page for each day of the week.) Parents and school have all relevant pictures. When the child goes home,school have put 3 pictures in to symbolise school activities (eg music,jigsaw,swimming). Child is encouraged to show diary to parent independently,and a conversation ensues.Next day,diary gets sent to school but this time the parents have put in pictures to symbolise what was done at home. Doessn;t have to be flash (could be bath,video,cleaning teeth) but the point is the child is learning to transfer info from one point to another (ie communicate).
People need to be organised,and pictures returned to their home base,but it does work. So great to seenon verbal children being able to joing in with news time.
Finally,have mentioned an ace book by an American s/lt called 'Visual Strategies for people with Communication Difficulties'. Don't have exact details as again it's in the office,but will post it. I urge you to get it-so readable,logical and relevant.My bible!!
That's it I think.
Need a lie down now. Phew!!!
Hope it has helped.