PECS

• Bondy and Frost


  a communication method for people with developmental disorders

  • helps improve functional communication
  • learnt in early years but can be challenging for some
• picture exchange communication system
• Used pictures instead of words
• uses reinforcement to help them initiate conversations
• Pre-programme preparation


  find what the child really likes and finds exciting

  These items are used as rewards
• Stage 1 Physical exchange

  • 3 people;learner,teacher and facilitator
  • teacher shows the leaner the reinforcer
  • facilitator encourages the learner to pick up the picture of the reward and helps them hand it over to the teacher
  • the teacher then responds with 'You want the 'reward'' and gives it to the learner
  • the exchange is rewarding and encourages the learner to do it again
  • Repeated 80 times a day with different objects,adults
• Stage 2 Increasing independence

  • more challenging
  • increase the distance between the teacher and the learner
  • it becomes more organised with a book that can be carried
  • teacher moves the pictures around to keep child engaged
• Stage 3 learning to discriminate

  • add more pictures
  • learner picks the right picture from a range of similar ones
  • helps them make clearer choices
• Stage 4 Sentence structure

  • 'sentence strips'
  • adding the picture to a phrase like 'I want'
  • helps make more complex sentences and express desires more effectively
• Stage 5 Answering direct questions

  • should be using phrases automatically
  • ask the learner questions 'What do you want?'
  • they then create a sentence strip in response
  • express their needs in a more effective and independent way
• Stage 6 Commenting


  broaden the range of questions