Foundation of PECS
Children are taught functional communication using a picture-based augmentative and alternative communication system.
Children move
... [Show More] from using pictures to more elaborate communications through the use of modeling and decreasing prompts.
PECS has primarily been used with children with _______
Autism spectrum disorders as well as other severe communication deficits
00:17
01:18
Pictorial system is used, as well as basic behavioral principles to teach children ______ using pictures
functional communication
Literature on autism has suggested children who have acquired speech by the age of __ have a better prognosis than children who have not
5
Window of opportunity in teaching children with autism
Occurs before 5 years of age - this time may reflect neuroplasticity of the brain and the ability to learn or make up for what was not learned at developmentally typical ages
Some studies show increases in ____ speech related to the use of PECS
spontaneous
Prerequisites to PECS training
Child should be able to attend to a two-dimensional stimulus.
Child should have the physical ability to hand it to a communicative partner.
Principles underlying the system
Communication system needed to be concrete and representative of the real world.
Designed to teach functional communication by teaching mands before tacts: Makes communication motivating, meaningful, and functional.
Focus on spontaneity in the early phases.
Does not require eye contact or imitation.
PECS is also ___ rather than auditory and ____ rather than transient
visual ; constant
3 major modalities of communication training
Auditory-transient - speech is a primary example: words are spoken then gone
Visual-transient - Information is presented visually, but the representations do not persist through time (E.G Sign language)
Visual-constant: Communication representations are presented visually and persist through time (E.G. PECS and some other AAC)
Anecdotal reports have indicated that the use of PECS may result in a decrease in ____ behavior
maladaptive
PECS Materials
Three ring binder used as a communication board
Several strips of velcro
"I want" card, "I see" card, or "yes" and "no" cards
Black and white pictures of preferred items
Initially picture cards are 2x2 then can be reduced to 1x1. (Bigger cards are good for visual impairments and physical limitations) [Show Less]