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