RE: [SPAM] Re: Help with communication... PECS?

March 19, 2008

My son did not begin to speak until about 7 years old - he's now 12. They

used PECS in his ASD class - grades 1-3, but he really had very little

interest in communicating anything but his basic needs. Against the SLP's

recommendations, I learned, and taught, my son sign language when he did

begin showing interest in communication. It was probably the best thing that

I ever did - besides finding Dr. G (which was three years later). He would

learn a new sign and use it with the verbal word within a few hours. We

started with nouns, then verbs, and then concepts (above, below, between,

etc.). Signing really helped my son use his visual learning ability to learn

to speak. The teachers at school, however, made it very clear that they

would not learn sign. About four months after I first started teaching my

son sign the SLP told me that she was wrong and she could see a great

improvement in my son's vocabulary. For the past three years he has been in

an SDC and they use some visuals with him. We don't sign as much anymore,

but I throw a few signs in periodically, especially if I'm trying to get him

to understand synonyms and homonyms. My son will automatically sign as he

speaks if he gets nervous or can't find the words - besides, Sign Language

meets the foreign language requirement at our local High School, when we get

there.

Good luck,

Patti

_____

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of

alaine0617

Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 9:31 AM

Subject: [sPAM] Re: Help with communication... PECS?

,

's always been verbal, but was severly echolalic. Although we

didn't adopt the entire PECS system, we found parts of it to be

really useful in helping him replace the echolalia with functional

language, as well as pinpoint what functions the echolalia was being

used for. We used it (and still do) alot for sentence structure,

vocabulary building, utterance length...

You might also want to look into signing - at one point last year we

looked into a total communication program at a local school for the

deaf (didn't end up placing him there). The kids are immersed in

speaking, signing, pictures and other technological aides (many of

the hearing impaired kids had implants). We ultimately found that,

here and there, had been utilizing simple signing (we didn't

realize because we didn't know the signs). His public school teacher

uses signs in conjunction with speaking, even though noone in his

class is hearing impaired.

The way it's been explained to me is that the internal language

development process is the same no matter what ultimate method of

cumminication you're using. So the pictures (or sign language) will

help develop the communication, and if your son can talk, he

eventually will replace the pictures (or sign language) with speech.

Hang in there...

Alaine

March 20, 2008

I'm *shocked* that your SLP was against signing to begin with.

That's not the norm. My son still likes to use a few signs every now

and again paired with the words even though he doesn't need to sign

anymore. I think he's still holding on to " more " .

Cheryl

On Mar 19, 2008, at 9:08 PM, PATRICIA SWEETMAN wrote:

> My son did not begin to speak until about 7 years old - he's now

> 12. They

> used PECS in his ASD class - grades 1-3, but he really had very little

> interest in communicating anything but his basic needs. Against the

> SLP's

> recommendations, I learned, and taught, my son sign language when

> he did

> begin showing interest in communication. It was probably the best

> thing that

> I ever did - besides finding Dr. G (which was three years later).

> He would

> learn a new sign and use it with the verbal word within a few

> hours. We

> started with nouns, then verbs, and then concepts (above, below,

> between,

> etc.). Signing really helped my son use his visual learning ability

> to learn

> to speak. The teachers at school, however, made it very clear that

> they

> would not learn sign. About four months after I first started

> teaching my

> son sign the SLP told me that she was wrong and she could see a great

> improvement in my son's vocabulary. For the past three years he has

> been in

> an SDC and they use some visuals with him. We don't sign as much

> anymore,

> but I throw a few signs in periodically, especially if I'm trying

> to get him

> to understand synonyms and homonyms. My son will automatically sign

> as he

> speaks if he gets nervous or can't find the words - besides, Sign

> Language

> meets the foreign language requirement at our local High School,

> when we get

> there.

>

> Good luck,

>

> Patti

>

> _____

>

> From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of

> alaine0617

> Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 9:31 AM

>

> Subject: [sPAM] Re: Help with communication... PECS?

>

> ,

>

> 's always been verbal, but was severly echolalic. Although we

> didn't adopt the entire PECS system, we found parts of it to be

> really useful in helping him replace the echolalia with functional

> language, as well as pinpoint what functions the echolalia was being

> used for. We used it (and still do) alot for sentence structure,

> vocabulary building, utterance length...

>

> You might also want to look into signing - at one point last year we

> looked into a total communication program at a local school for the

> deaf (didn't end up placing him there). The kids are immersed in

> speaking, signing, pictures and other technological aides (many of

> the hearing impaired kids had implants). We ultimately found that,

> here and there, had been utilizing simple signing (we didn't

> realize because we didn't know the signs). His public school teacher

> uses signs in conjunction with speaking, even though noone in his

> class is hearing impaired.

>

> The way it's been explained to me is that the internal language

> development process is the same no matter what ultimate method of

> cumminication you're using. So the pictures (or sign language) will

> help develop the communication, and if your son can talk, he

> eventually will replace the pictures (or sign language) with speech.

>

> Hang in there...

>

> Alaine

>

March 20, 2008

Way to go, Patti! That's awesome you found a way for your son to

communicate.

It's frustrating to hear that so-called professionals (SLP and teachers)

would not support a way for a language-challenged person to find a

communication method that works so beautifully so your son could be

successful.

I'm glad he has overcome their limitations ;-)

Kristy

[sPAM] Re: Help with communication... PECS?