As I've mentioned previously my son is severely autistic. He's not yet developed any speech at all and has never uttered a recognisable word although he merrily babbles with lots of consonant sounds. How then can he wander over to me and purposefully ask for some chocolate buttons and a maisy video?
Well it's all down to the magic of PECS (the picture exchange communication system). I have talked about it here before so I'm not going to repeat myself but I will say again that PECs has transformed life for our family and given my little boy a 'voice'. For some time now I have been meaning to put in some intensive time to try and develop Toby's use of PECs further. At the moment he uses it confidently to request food, toys, videos and favourite places like the park but I am hoping that one day he will be able to comment on things he sees, hears and thinks and that we may be able to have more of a 2 way conversation.
So you're probably thinking "what has all this got to do with aprons?" Well, let me introduce my new secret weapon...
Lovingly handcrafted from beautiful fabrics and made especially for me by the wonderful Carolyn at Laughing Duck it has 2 perfect pockets for storing PECs cards and strips. When I'm wearing this I have all of the symbols that I need readily available so I can show Toby the symbol for 'wait' while saying it, the symbol for 'plane' when he glances up to look at one passing overhead and generally begin expanding his vocabulary and teaching him by example that he can use symbols to communicate rather than just for requesting things.
It will take time and lots of work to get him there but, as we have no reason to believe that he will ever learn to speak, using PECs is the best way to equip him with the ability to communicate with others. He's been a real star to achieve what he has already with it so I've no doubt we'll get there in the end and Carolyn's gorgeous apron is going to make getting there a lot easier and more fun! Thanks Carolyn!
oh, julie, good for you! and what a beautiful apron to motivate/help you in this big endeavor! best of luck to you and toby!
(and now, if you haven't already read 'rules' you really must! there's a character in it who communicates through PEC's (and it's not the autistic one)).
xo
Posted by: kirsten | November 18, 2007 at 12:49 AM
How sweet of her to make and send you the apron! I hope the PECS continue to work well for your family :)
Posted by: Nikki | November 18, 2007 at 02:20 AM
What a lovely apron! I work with high needs students, and we use PECS every day! Our children have these fabulous tiny binders with all the signs on pages of velcro. I don't know how we would get along without them!
Posted by: Janine | November 18, 2007 at 02:25 AM
Practical, yet stylish! great idea and so practical!! Take care Julie
Posted by: jill | November 18, 2007 at 07:17 AM
Such a lovely gift.
I am always humbled when I read about Toby- about what I take for granted and the amount of love and care you give him. He is a lucky boy.
Posted by: janet clarej | November 18, 2007 at 08:16 AM
You are doing such a great job with Toby - he is so very lucky to have such a lovely mum. Lucy x
Posted by: Lucy Locket-Pocket | November 18, 2007 at 08:41 AM
This is great!!!Love the the apron! You are doing a great job, Julie!!!
Posted by: Martine | November 18, 2007 at 09:11 AM
What a wonderful idea (and a lovely apron too!). My son's inability to speak at the same age was an enormous worry for me at the time and we didn't have PECs (or any other language system). I can hardly remember now how we managed as he's nearly 19 - but I do remember some of our first breakthroughs were through songs. The tantrums were the worst part - without communication the frustration was overpowering at times. I could have done with a "wait" symbol back then!
PS I adored the Little Cotton Rabbits story.
Take care
Denise
Posted by: Denise | November 18, 2007 at 09:18 AM
What a thoughtful gift from your friend.
What a good mother you are to your son.
Posted by: Jennifer | November 18, 2007 at 12:49 PM
What a stylish apron to help in expanding communication with Toby.It must have been awful to not know what he wanted before PECS.
Posted by: French Knots | November 18, 2007 at 02:42 PM
Hi Julie
I was privileged to have worked with children and their families and learn so much about Autism and work with PECs . For a gift from a family they bought me two wonderful books "More than Words" ~ Fern Sussman and It takes two to talk ~ Ayala Manolson......brilliant books they were my lifeline!
anyways... just love anything you make really, especially little cotton rabbits,
take care
julia x
Posted by: Julia | November 18, 2007 at 04:38 PM
We have a litle boy who uses this system at school - I didn't realise it was a recognised programme, just thinking that the teachers in school were particularly clever! It's great. Our little chap's speech has definitely improved, so don't despair, one day Toby may very well surprise you and come out with a whole string of words. Here's hoping for you!
Posted by: michaela | November 18, 2007 at 07:45 PM
Great idea to have everything to hand - hope the new system goes well.
Posted by: Rebecca | November 18, 2007 at 09:50 PM
Hi Julie,
What a great system. My parents tried something similar with my brothers who are now 33 and 35. It was basic and they got it a little, but they have cerebral palsy.
Any little bit helps so much, with the day to day stuff.
Posted by: Kirsty | November 19, 2007 at 01:21 AM
How wonderful to find a way to communicate. You should be so proud. He was sent to you for a reason.
Karin
Posted by: Karin | November 19, 2007 at 01:38 AM
That is such a great idea, and i love the apron too! Wonderful! Seems like others could use it too! I need to mention it to the Life Skills dept at my school! I have to tell you that my daughter often looks over my shoulder when I am clicking through my list of daily blog reads and she always seems to be present when I happen upon your blog and she sees the "Monkey". "Oh, Mom i have got to have that monkey!". She is in love. (She is a monkey crazy kid) Anyway, I guess I will have to learn to knit Monkeys, ha fat chance:) Tooo hard!
Posted by: Cindy | November 19, 2007 at 06:53 AM
Aaah, those wonderful little symbol cards and velcro strips! We have 3 kiddies on them in our class at the moment, none with autism but it really helps with those having trouble with their communication. Glad to hear how well PECS is working for you, and the apron is very stylish! I'm sure it will become second nature in the end and Toby's world will open up even further. Have you tried him on a leap pad/alphasmart toy computer or is it still too soon? I knew an autistic lad who didn't speak at all and one day when he was in his late teens his family found him typing on his sister's computer and discovered he was fluent in 5 languages!!! Incredible!
Any further enlightenment with the yellow food experiment?
Caroline x
Posted by: Caroline B | November 19, 2007 at 07:08 AM
What a really clever system. Glad it helps you and your son. The pinny is lovely. I saw you in Let's Knit :)
Posted by: Craftydramaqueen | November 19, 2007 at 01:15 PM
that apron is a lovely idea, you'll have to let us know how toby is getting on using the system : )
Posted by: lucykatecrafts | November 19, 2007 at 02:20 PM
What a lovely lovely apron. What is it about aprons that is so wonderful, I think for me it reminds me about baking sessions with my Mum ... aprons, love em. Can't wait to get out my Christmas apron next month!
Posted by: Rebecca (living sustainably and felting in rural Ireland) | November 19, 2007 at 10:16 PM
hi julie
Posted by: denaz broacha-jones | November 19, 2007 at 10:37 PM
hi julie
hope u remember me!! i still love ur blog!! how are you?? whats happened to ur etsy shop?? i've just opened one!! joyandjewels - check it out when u get a chance :-)
wuld love to hear from you! denaz xxxx
Posted by: denaz broacha-jones | November 19, 2007 at 10:39 PM
What a lovely apron from Carolyn and such a terrific idea.
Marie x
Posted by: marie | November 20, 2007 at 01:34 AM
I wish you and Toby great success furthering yourselves in this system! Your pretty new apron will make keeping the cards in order and at hand much simpler :)
Posted by: Danielle | November 20, 2007 at 07:18 AM
It is a wonderful idea! I am sure that it will be of great help to you and your son.
A big hug to you both
Gallinavecchia
Posted by: Gallinavecchia | November 21, 2007 at 10:35 AM
What a beautiful apron and so handy to boot! It's good to hear that there's communication systems available for those with autism.
My nephew had severe trouble communicating when he was a toddler so my BIL and SIL used a form of sign language to communicate with him. It definitely helped. He's now 11 and can speak better, although he still goes through episodes where he's upset. We think that he has some form of higher functioning autism. He gets help from the school district, but it's slow going for him at times. The one thing I've noticed is that he gets upset if his routines are changed.
Kudos to you for hanging in there and finding ways to communicate with your son. Here's to more PECs words in 2008!
Posted by: Tami | December 04, 2007 at 01:11 AM
My daughter is 2 years old and was diagnosed privately in july with autism and offically by nhs paed this week. She is non verbal and is learning phase 4 PECS and can currently ask for cheese, juice, ginger bread man, ride on toy, sensory room and crisps using single exchange PECS symbols. She is also choosing between three of her favourite Peppa Pig dvds and she chooses what she wants for pudding out of strawberries, bananas or yogurt.
We are really pleased she is able to communicate with us even though she cant talk!
All the best for you son xx
Posted by: Tracy | December 21, 2007 at 01:49 PM