AIMEE WEISS SPE 545 ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

O P icture O E xchange O C ommunication O S ystem

What is PECS and Why I chose it as my Technology Review? O A unique augmentative/alternative communication intervention package for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and related developmental disabilities. O PECS is not complex or require expensive materials. You can find many tools starting at $10.00 through $50.00 O It was created for families, and educators O It is readily used in a range of settings.

How is PECS used? O PECS begins by teaching an individual to give a picture of a desired item to a “communicative partner", who immediately honors the exchange as a request and gives positive reinforcement. O The system goes on to teach discrimination of pictures and how to put them together in sentences. O In the more advanced phases, individuals are taught to answer questions and to comment.

Who Benefits? O PECS has been successful with individuals of all ages demonstrating a variety of communicative, cognitive and physical difficulties. O Some learners using PECS also develop speech. Others may transition to a voice output system. O Among the many tools commercially developed for children with communication deficits is the Picture Exchange O Communication System (PECS) (Frost & Bondy 1994). PECS is simple to use and relatively inexpensive, and it helps children with autism develop a way to communicate with others (Charlop- Christy et al. 2002). Because of communication and behavior issues, many children with ASD do not initiate interactions with others. What makes the PECS system unique is that, unlike other systems of communication, it requires that the child initiate interaction by using a representative picture (Bondy 2001). In general, when used consistently, PECS helps children with autism have more meaningful communication interactions. Communication with others is an important social skill that helps any child make friends. Beyond the Journal Young Children on the Web January 2009 ( f)

Potential Barriers O It is a system that is very cumbersome and cannot be used with a child who has other physical disabilities. O What other barriers do you see with this program? O How could you incorporate this system into your classroom?

O The PECS Phase III App, designed to look just like a PECS communication book is an invaluable tool for teaching picture discrimination. O This app is not intended to replace the learner's PECS communication book, but rather to serve as an aid. O Touching the correct icon will result in immediate visual and auditory feedback from the device in a manner far quicker than a teacher could react. O The App cost $9.99 which makes it a low cost AT addition to the already reasonably priced system. Now there is an App!