Picture Exchange Communication System 

Supporting expression

What is PECS ?

• System of teaching children who have autistic spectrum disorders how to communicate

• Teaches children to be ACTIVE partners in communication exchange- to spontaneously initiate requests!

• Child is taught to take a symbol to an adult to ask for something they want

• Behavioural approach with set instructions over 6 Phases of learning (of increasing complexity)

PECS also…

• Encourages communication between peers

• Supports development of turn taking

• Gives the child a communication system to use- helps child feel less frustrated and more in control of environment- so calmer and happier

• And…studies have found using PECS also had the unexpected outcome of helping children speak

Who with?

PECS Communication Stages for Pupils with ASD

To use PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) effectively, the child must show interest in at least 8 different objects or activities. This method suits children who may have a few words but do not use them consistently or communicatively. It is one of many strategies to support communication in non-verbal or minimally verbal students.

How to Communicate

• Students learn to exchange a single picture to request a desired item or activity.

Distance and Persistence

• Still using single pictures, students learn to:

  • Use this skill in different locations, with different people, and across varied distances.

  • Become more persistent communicators.

Picture Discrimination

• Students are taught to:

  • Choose between two or more pictures to request preferred items.

  • Store and organize pictures in a communication book (a ring binder with Velcro strips for easy access).

Sentence Structure

• Students build simple sentences using a detachable sentence strip.

• Example: “I want” + [desired item].

Attributes and Language Expansion

• Students expand their sentences by adding:

  • Adjectives (e.g., big, red)

  • Verbs (e.g., jump, play)

  • Prepositions (e.g., on, under)

Answering Questions

• Students learn to answer questions such as:

  • “What do you want?” using their PECS cards.

Commenting

• Students learn to comment in response to various questions:

  • “What do you see?”

  • “What do you hear?”

  • “What is it?”

• They construct sentences like:

  • “I see…”

  • “I hear…”

  • “I feel…”

  • “It is a…”