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Creating Your Own

Communication Book and Pictures at Home

Using everyday items to create Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) materials for you child

Rev. 1/15/21CW

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The packaging of your child’s favorite foods and toys create easy pictures.

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Grocery and retail stores’ weekly flyers are filled with pictures.

Fast food restaurants’ weekly flyers are also filled with pictures.

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Secure“flimsy” pictures to cardboard, index cards, milk cartons, or junk mail. This will help your child pick up the pictures easier.

Egg cartons can be used in two ways.

  • Upside down with the picture attached.
  • Right side up with the picture “sitting” in the cup.

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Yogurt Lids:

Repurposed and used as picture holders

Hot beverage

lids

Plastic Lids from milk, gatorade, water, etc.

Lids from glass jars

Starbucks lids

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Printing pictures using Google Slides

Using a blank/new document, insert a 5 x 6 table or 4 x 3 table for larger pictures.

Google search your image. Copy and paste the image into one of the blank squares in your table.

If a label is needed, insert a text box and a label.

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Portable picture boards or choice boards

Any board can be turned into a communication board to hold PECS pictures.

Examples:

  • Piece of cardboard
  • Cookie sheet
  • Plastic cutting board

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Create a picture-rich environment in your home

Using Velcro or cellophane, masking, two-sided,duct, or magnetic tape,attach pictures to cupboards,refrigerators, doors, etc. for easy access.

Choice Board for refrigerator items

Choice Board for pantry items.

Bedroom and bathroom choice board

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Creating Your Own PECS Book

You can create a PECS book by using a school binder, notebook, or photo album.

PECS book

Photo album

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Use the binder size that works best for your child.

Place soft Velcro strips along the page dividers about two inches apart and scratchy velcro on the back of the pictures.

If needed, add a strap so your child can carry it over their shoulder.

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Resources