Free! (Well, Almost Free) Picture Cards for Autistic Children

If your loved one has autism or any other disability that affects their capacity to communicate, more than likely you are a consumer of Picture Exchange Communication cards (PECS).

Most picture communication cards are priced between $12.50 - $133.00 dollars a set. In a set, there could be 58 color, laminated cards up to192 laminated photo cards.

Software that will allow you to print your own pictures may cost between $40.00 dollars and $299.00 dollars. On one CD there will be 1300-5000 images and that's an wonderful thing, but why pay when you can get these handy little cards for little or nothing.

You may be asking yourself, why should I devote a whole day to printing my own picture cards when the mailman can just drop a set off on my doorstep, end of story?

Well, to begin with, you'll save money; that's great news for special education teachers who purchase their own materials and for those living on a budget.

Usually, when I buy picture cards, I ultimately wind up having to get a totally different set soon after because particular cards I considered necessary weren't included.

What's more, if you enjoy using real photos for picture recognition, opposed to color drawings, printing them out will undoubtedly be the least expensive way to go.

Secondly, you may need personalized pictures and you won't find them in any set you purchase. For example: pictures of relatives aren't readily available, neither are pictures of your local grocery store. Sure, made to order stock photos are available for about $100.00 dollars, but again, printing them yourself makes more sense; not only is it economical, but it's fun!

The last and best reason to print your own picture cards is because PECS are not indestructible. After I purchase a set, my son promptly begins to entertain himself by peeling the picture away from the backing or submerging a few in water. Not cool.

So where do you start?