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Partners In Communication

Using the PECS System

The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is an evidence-based teaching tool, developed in the USA in 1985 with the aim of helping pre-school students with autism. Now, it is a well-known, effective tool, Implemented worldwide for learners of all ages.

Adenydd is proud to be able to support you in developing your child's communication through PECS.

What is PECS?

Origin of PECS

An evidence-based teaching tool

PECS was developed in the USA in 1985 with the initial aim of helping pre-school students with Autism to communicate. Nowadays, it is a well-known and effective tool, supporting learners of all ages with a wide range of cognitive, physical and communication challenges.

How Does it Work?

A simple, effective system

PECS uses pictures to help individuals communicate. It allows scope for simple communication to evolve into sentences, advanced phrases, and questions throughout it's six phases.

Our Services

How Adenydd can use PECS to help you

At-Home Support

Adenydd offers home visits to implement the use of PECS in your home. Our fully trained professionals can work with you and your child to make milestone communication improvements when other methods haven't been working.

Supporting You Through PECS Training

Want to complete a course in PECS yourself? Committed to making a huge impact on your child's development? Adenydd can support and guide you through this undertaking.

School Visits

Something not connected with the children in your classroom? Now may be the time to consider implementing PECS. Years of research and positive case studies point towards PECS being one of the best tools for communication development.

If any of this sounds useful to you, don't hesitate to get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you.

The 6 Phases of PECS

Phase One - "How" to Communicate

The learner is taught to pick up, reach and release a picture of a highly preferred item into the hand of a communication partner. Two people participate in this phase

Phase Two - Distance and Persistence

The learner is taught to travel to the communication book, get the picture of a highly preferred item and travel to the communication partner to request the item.

They are also taught to carry the communication book and to get the attention of the communication partner.

Phase Three - Picture Discrimination

Part A - The learner is taught to differentiate between a picture of a highly preferred item and a non-preferred item.

Part B - The learner is taught to differentiate among multiple pictures of things they want and need.

They are also taught to go inside the book and flip through the pages of pictures organised by category.

Phase Four - Sentence Structure

The learner is taught to construct a simple sentence by using an "I want" sentence starter placed on a sentence strip, followed by a preferred or needed item. They are also taught to tap out the pictures on the Sentence Strip. Speech is encouraged during this phase, but never demanded.

At this stage, the learner may be taught additional vocabulary to expand their simple sentence to include adjectives, prepositions, verbs and any other part of speech.

Phase Five - Responding to a Requesting Question

At this stage - for the first time in these phases - the communication partner will ask a question about what the learner wants or needs .

Questions may include: "What do you want?"; "What else do you want?"

Phase Six - Commenting

The learner is initially taught to respond to a commenting question such as: "What do you see?"; "What do you hear?"; "What is it?" - by using various sentence starters such as: "I see"; "I hear"; "It is".

The ultimate goal is for the learners to spontaneously comment about the world around them.

Testimonials

Why we love PECS

PECS has also been found to reduce undesirable behaviours and increase social interaction. PECS can also increase an individual's confidence and self-esteem when communicating and in turn improve their quality of life.

- SLT UK

Augmentative and Alternative Communication arguably brings it's own kind of magic to the boundaries of communication. It allows us to express ourselves more freely, flexibly and break limitations.

- National Autistic Society

PECS increases independence by strengthening their ability to communicate by building skills and providing tools to help express preferences, desires and feelings.

- Autism Spea

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