{"id":3947,"date":"2016-03-25T16:46:41","date_gmt":"2016-03-25T16:46:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/autismtrainingcenter.net\/?page_id=3947"},"modified":"2025-05-31T05:17:27","modified_gmt":"2025-05-31T05:17:27","slug":"pecs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/autismtrainingcenter.net\/?page_id=3947","title":{"rendered":"PECS"},"content":{"rendered":"

Picture Exchange Communication System\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

Supporting expression<\/b><\/h2>\n

<\/h3>\n

What is PECS ?<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/b><\/b><\/h3>\n
    \n
  • \n

    System of teaching children who have autistic spectrum disorders how to communicate<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
  • \n

    Teaches children to be ACTIVE partners in communication exchange- to spontaneously initiate requests!<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
  • \n

    Child is taught to take a symbol to an adult to ask for something they want<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
  • \n

    Behavioural approach with set instructions over 6 Phases of learning (of increasing complexity)<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

     <\/p>\n

    PECS also\u2026<\/b>
    \n<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
      \n
    • \n

      Encourages communication between peers<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
    • \n

      Supports development of turn taking<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
    • \n

      Gives the child a communication system to use- helps child feel less frustrated and more in control of environment- so calmer and happier<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
    • \n

      And\u2026studies have found using PECS also had the unexpected outcome of helping children speak<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Who with?<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

      PECS Communication Stages for Pupils with ASD<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

      To use PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) effectively, the child must show interest in at least 8 different objects or activities<\/strong>. This method suits children who may have a few words but do not use them consistently or communicatively. It is one of many strategies<\/strong> to support communication in non-verbal or minimally verbal students.<\/span><\/h4>\n

      How to Communicate<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
        \n
      • \n

        Students learn to exchange a single picture<\/strong> to request a desired item or activity.<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Distance and Persistence<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
          \n
        • \n

          Still using single pictures, students learn to:<\/span><\/h4>\n
            \n
          • \n

            Use this skill in different locations<\/strong>, with different people<\/strong>, and across varied distances<\/strong>.<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
          • \n

            Become more persistent communicators<\/strong>.<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Picture Discrimination<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
              \n
            • \n

              Students are taught to:<\/span><\/h4>\n
                \n
              • \n

                Choose between two or more pictures<\/strong> to request preferred items.<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
              • \n

                Store and organize pictures in a communication book<\/strong> (a ring binder with Velcro strips for easy access).<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                Sentence Structure<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
                  \n
                • \n

                  Students build simple sentences<\/strong> using a detachable sentence strip.<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
                • \n

                  Example: \u201cI want<\/strong>\u201d + [desired item].<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  Attributes and Language Expansion<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
                    \n
                  • \n

                    Students expand their sentences by adding:<\/span><\/h4>\n
                      \n
                    • \n

                      Adjectives<\/strong> (e.g., big, red)<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
                    • \n

                      Verbs<\/strong> (e.g., jump, play)<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
                    • \n

                      Prepositions<\/strong> (e.g., on, under)<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                      Answering Questions<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
                        \n
                      • \n

                        Students learn to answer questions such as:<\/span><\/h4>\n
                          \n
                        • \n

                          \u201cWhat do you want?<\/strong>\u201d using their PECS cards.<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                          Commenting<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
                            \n
                          • \n

                            Students learn to comment in response to various questions:<\/span><\/h4>\n
                              \n
                            • \n

                              \u201cWhat do you see?<\/strong>\u201d<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
                            • \n

                              \u201cWhat do you hear?<\/strong>\u201d<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
                            • \n

                              \u201cWhat is it?<\/strong>\u201d<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                            • \n

                              They construct sentences like:<\/span><\/h4>\n
                                \n
                              • \n

                                \u201cI see\u2026<\/strong>\u201d<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
                              • \n

                                \u201cI hear\u2026<\/strong>\u201d<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
                              • \n

                                \u201cI feel\u2026<\/strong>\u201d<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n
                              • \n

                                \u201cIt is a\u2026<\/strong>\u201d<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                Picture Exchange Communication System\u00a0 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":3917,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3947","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/autismtrainingcenter.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3947","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/autismtrainingcenter.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/autismtrainingcenter.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/autismtrainingcenter.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/autismtrainingcenter.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3947"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/autismtrainingcenter.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3947\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5394,"href":"https:\/\/autismtrainingcenter.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3947\/revisions\/5394"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/autismtrainingcenter.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3917"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/autismtrainingcenter.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3947"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}