This topic was brought up in a group...and I thought maybe this information, might be helpful for some that are just getting started or maybe hitting some of the same road blocks that I did with my child. I hope this can help and is useful.
We have done alot of things with Richie. I think the best thing we did with richie...was when he was first dxed...we had our insurance pay for additional speech therapy for him. And his Speech therapist was really special...because she raised a girl with autism, that was nonverbal, but became verbal...so she actually knew something about Autism. Also there was an LA Law episode done on her and her daughter...She had to take the School district to due process and she sued the district, because they had told her....they didnt have a place for her daughter and couldnt educate her. Ok long story short....What she did with Richie, was basically ABA....and worked on his Attending Skills and teaching him out to Point to things....Often times we dont realize how important the pointing and touching skill is...especially to a nonverbal child. She would say Richie...Touch the ball. etc.
So from there we went to Teacch and PECS....but that wasnt working very well, because he wasnt making the connection and mom was trying to do too much, instead of KEEPING IT SIMPLE. Also, at that time, I was still in the greiving process and well the thought of my son using pictures was a hard concept to grasp, because that meant me admitting that my son had a problem and that he might never ever Talk...and well at the time, that was a very hard thing to accept, I'm sure you all can understand this...so I think that was another reason it didnt work at that time.......so then we moved onto sign language....and well the only 2 signs he would do or understood was please and More. The rest didnt click, because it had no purpose also he had fine motor skill problems that hindered his ability to make the signs....So we went back to TEACCH and PECS....However, this time, I had his OT come over...and show me how to simplify things so he could make the connection. The first thing I had to do was Lock him out of my Kitchen Cabinets and the Refridgerator, because mr. independant wouldnt ask for things...he would just go help himself....One quality I love about him...lol.....after that, instead of taking pictures or using board maker....we started cutting out labels of foods that he would eat and already knew what they were....example, Cheetos, Cereal box tops, fruit snacks and Pop Tarts....his four favorite food groups.
I laminated them to card board to make them more durable, and I started out with six of his favorite food items and velcro'd them to the Fridge. IT WORKED....because he knew the actual Labels and the first label he brought to me was Cookie Crisp Cereal.
From there I built other Choice boards...but it was getting him to make that initial Connection...for him to understand the picture concept of communication.
From there We built him a Visual Schedule...first and Then (or Next)
with a finished pocket. Once he understood the pictures had a meaning, it didnt take him long to understand the visual schedule...which I have to say, helped him with transitions and cut down on alot of his meltdowns...because he could see if he had to do something he didnt like, if he got it over with he could move on to an activity he did like.
From there, we moved back to the states...and it was mentioned to me about augmentative communication...which is just a more advanced form of PECS.
He was given a Communication Board...and I was again able to get him to use it by introducing Pictures that he already Knew...The one that got his attention most was Burger King....He was in love with ICIES...so he pushed the BK button...it said, I want to go to Burger King...and away we went.
It wasnt long after that...that the words started coming for him...and he started becoming more echolalic...and with the help of a really awesome teacher and speech teacher...he is starting to make more connections with his words.
Our biggest problem is getting him to accept NO...because he knows what it means...but doesnt understand Why he cant have what he wants when he wants it.
I still consider him to be non verbal at this point....but we are really getting closer. He can pretty much repeat anything I have him say...but we are working on the spontaneous and working to get him to where we can have a conversation with him.
We have truly come along way....also we are starting to introduce Social Stories with him.
Sorry for writting a book...but I hope this helps someone that may be hitting some of those same road blocks I did.
Lisa