PECS - Picture Exchange Communication System

Definition

PECS is a form of augmentative and alternative communication that uses pictures to help individuals, particularly those with communication difficulties, express their needs and desires. By teaching users to exchange pictures for desired items or actions, PECS encourages spontaneous communication and promotes social interaction, making it a valuable tool in special education and speech therapy.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. PECS was developed in the 1980s by Andrew Bondy and Lori Frost as a way to help children with autism and other communication challenges communicate more effectively.
2. The system is implemented in phases, starting with simple exchanges of pictures for immediate rewards and advancing to more complex communication skills over time.
3. Research has shown that PECS can significantly improve communicative competence in users, leading to enhanced social skills and independence.
4. PECS not only aids in communication but also promotes language development by teaching users how to construct sentences using picture symbols.
5. Training for caregivers and educators is essential for effective PECS implementation, as they must learn how to prompt exchanges and encourage the use of pictures.

Review Questions

• How does the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) support individuals with communication challenges in expressing their needs?
  • PECS supports individuals with communication challenges by allowing them to use pictures to express their desires and needs. The system begins with simple exchanges where users hand over a picture of a desired item in return for that item. This not only helps facilitate immediate communication but also encourages users to engage socially and build confidence in expressing themselves verbally or through other means as they progress through the phases of the system.
• Discuss the importance of training caregivers and educators in the implementation of PECS for it to be effective.
  • Training caregivers and educators in PECS implementation is crucial because they play a vital role in the user's learning process. Proper training equips them with strategies to prompt the use of picture exchanges, reinforce successful communications, and encourage the development of more complex language skills. Without informed support from caregivers and educators, users may struggle to make meaningful progress or fully benefit from the potential advantages of the PECS system.
• Evaluate the impact of PECS on social interactions among users and its potential long-term benefits.
  • PECS has a profound impact on social interactions among users by providing them with a means to communicate their needs effectively. This fosters engagement with peers and adults, which is essential for developing social skills. Long-term benefits include increased confidence in communicating, greater independence in expressing desires, and improved relationships as users become more capable of engaging with their environment. Ultimately, the ability to communicate effectively opens up more opportunities for socialization and personal growth.

Related terms

AAC - Augmentative and Alternative Communication: AAC refers to all forms of communication that enhance or replace speech for individuals with communication disorders, including low-tech options like PECS and high-tech devices.

Visual Supports:

Visual supports are tools like pictures, symbols, and written words used to aid comprehension and communication, often employed alongside PECS to enhance understanding.

Social Interaction: Social interaction refers to the ways in which people communicate and engage with one another, which PECS aims to facilitate by enabling individuals to express their wants and needs.