PECS Stage 1

PECS Picture Exchange Communication System

What is PECS? • A technique that allows a child who cannot talk clearly to request things they want.

• It teaches children to give a picture of an object to an adult who immediately gives them the item on the picture.

• The system goes on to teach a child to tell the difference (discriminate) between pictures and then how to make a simple sentence.

Getting ready for PECS • Identify powerful reinforcers – Items your child exerts effort to gain access to.

– Items your child really likes.

(May not necessarily be a tangible item, may be an activity, action or event) • Making sure that you have the correct pictures for things that your child likes.

Setting the Stage for PECS • Do not pre-empt communication – Do not anticipate and meet needs – Do not speak for your child.

• Create and capture 40 – 50 times opportunities a day for communication.

• Expect communication all day!

Phase 1 • Sit so that your child has one adult in front and another behind.

• The adult in front hold out an object the child wants so they can see it. A picture of the object should be on the table in front or within easy reach of your child.

• As your child reaches for the object the adult behind moves your child’s hand and help’s them pick up the picture and hand it to the adult with the object.

• As soon as the picture touches the adult’s hand they name the object out loud.

• Whilst the student is eating or playing with the object the adult replaces the picture in front of the child again, ready to repeat.

Backward Chaining • The physical prompter should fade prompts as soon as possible via backward chaining so that the child performs the behaviour independently.

• This strategy teaches a chain or sequence of events by reinforcing the last step then the next to last step and so on.

• The trainer prompts the child through the initial steps of the chain and assistance to complete the chain is faded first at the ‘back end’ of the chain.

• The student initially masters the last step (releasing the picture), then the final 2 steps and so on.

Remember • The adult does not hold their hand out for the picture until the child reaches for the picture.

• No talking from the adult behind.

• No talking from the Communicative partner (adult in front) until the student initiates.

• The adult says what the object is when receiving the picture but No praise is given to the child.

What could go wrong • Loses interest in the object (change it) • Gets annoyed (start session again another time but don’t give up.)

• Needs Physical prompts for the whole session (that’s fine practise makes perfect!!)

Progression in Phase 1 before moving onto phase 2.....

Remember!!!!

• Never undermine a child’s use of PECS – it is their voice.

• Never take the book or symbols away!!