| Nothing could have overjoyed a mother more than to | | | | their son proactively in whatever way they can within |
| hear that one word:"Dump! Dump!"It was one of the | | | | their financial limitations.One tool Shannon and Mark |
| boy's first. Shannon (not her real name), knew what it | | | | have employed is a Picture Exchange Communication |
| meant. Jump. As her son Aidan enthusiastically jumped | | | | System, or PECS. A PECS is an augmentative |
| on their trampoline, he had finally found a way to | | | | communication system developed to help individuals |
| verbally indicate he wanted to continue with the | | | | quickly acquire a functional means of communication |
| activity.On the surface, none of this sounds terribly | | | | (Bondy and Frost, 1994). In layman's terms, it is a series |
| remarkable, except that Aidan is nearly four years old | | | | of sturdy cards containing clear photos and illustrations |
| and still predominantly non-verbal. Like an increasing | | | | that the child can use to communicate. Eventually, the |
| number of children, he has been diagnosed with | | | | hope is that Aidan will be able to arrange pictures on a |
| autism.In spite of this milestone, Shannon and her | | | | velcro strip to communicate using pictorial "sentences". |
| husband Mark have struggled to finance their son's | | | | For now, he simply selects cards and brings them to |
| therapy. Speech therapy, evaluations, and special | | | | his parents. By selecting a picture of a |
| pre-school programs help Aidan maximize his potential | | | | peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich and handing it to |
| through early intervention, and he's been showing | | | | Shannon, for example, he is able to communicate not |
| marked progress. Their insurance company, however, | | | | only that he is hungry, but what he would like for lunch. |
| has been less than supportive, categorizing autism as | | | | This type of communication is a breath of fresh air for |
| an "incurable condition" for which therapy is not | | | | Aidan, and his parents are quite encouraged by this |
| covered. While their battle with the insurance company | | | | new ability to communicate with pictures. |
| rages on, these dedicated parents try their best to help | | | | |