PECS (or Picture Exchange Communication System) is a communication program created in the United States by Dr. Andy Bondy and Lori Frost in 1985.
PECS is an alternative communication that allows people with little or no verbal communication abilities to communicate using pictures. Typically, it is started in pre-school and is continued as they get older as it is needed.
The system starts simple and progresses with the child adding more pictures and functionality as it is needed for the individual.
PECS consists of six phases, starting with exchanging a single picture for items or activities they really want. They progress unto selecting from two or more pictures to ask for their preferred item/action. The collections of photos are placed in a communication book, typically a ringed binder with velcro strips where pictures are stored and easily removed for communication.
Then they progress on to more structured communication by making simple sentences on a detachable sentence strip. It starts with an “I want” picture followed by a picture of the item being requested. The next step is to progress them so they learn to use the pictures to answer questions such as “What do you want?”
From there, you expand their communication skills by adding questions such as, “What do you see?”, “What do you hear?” and “What is it?” Then they learn to respond with sentences starting with “I see”, “I hear”, “I feel”, “It is a” and so forth.
The primary goal of the PECS system is to teach functional communication. Research has shown that some learners developed verbal speech while using PECS, while others transitioned to a speech generating device (SGD).
Advantages of Using PECS
There are many advantages to using PECS:
- The listener does not need any special training because the pictures are easy to understand and are often labeled.
- It is low cost.
- It is easy to update and expand upon.
- No reading is required.
- It continues to develop and build on communication skills.
- You can use it anywhere.
- There is a high possibility for success.
Using PECS in Practice
The photo above is the system we use with our youngest. He knows where his cards are, and he brings a card to us, or one of his siblings, to ask for things he wants. We’ve had to replace several cards over time as they get used so often, but it’s a great way to encourage him appropriately ask for something.
When he hands us a card, we repeat back what he’s asking for verbally, reinforcing the words with the card and encouraging him to speak. We will say something like “Do you want some milk?” or “I’d be happy to get you some bread.”
Often he would simple point at the card again, reinforcing what it was for. However, he got to saying “Yes” and “Please” with those requests, making it easier to transition him to speech.
For us, it has cut down on the number of tantrums he throws because he wants something and is frustrated that he cannot ask for it.
It’s easy for anyone to learn to use, so if we have a sitter over, they instantly know what to do, and finally it’s small and easy enough to travel, so we even take it on trips with us.
Now when we travel, we leave behind the cards for games/toys we’re not bringing so he doesn’t get frustrated, but we take anything that is relevant to our trip.
We used this system with our older sons and both were able to transition to verbal communication. Our youngest is just starting to transition to some limited verbal communication. We’re still working on him, knowing that each child progresses at their own pace, and some children may need a speech generating device (SGD), which we’ve also started using for more complex communication as he is using one at school.
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