Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)

Understanding PECS: A New Approach to Communication

The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is a widely recognized, evidence-based method designed to teach functional communication skills through visual symbols. Developed in 1985 by Lori Frost and Andy Bondy at the Delaware Autism Program, PECS has revolutionized how individuals with communication challenges—particularly those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)—learn to initiate social interactions and express their needs. Its success has led to widespread adoption across various settings worldwide, supported by extensive research confirming its efficacy.

Development, Background, and Theoretical Foundations of PECS

Origins of PECS in the USA

The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) was developed in 1985 at the Delaware Autism Program in the United States. It was created to provide a functional communication method for young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), who often have challenges with spoken language and social interaction. The goal from the outset was to bring a simple, visual approach that could facilitate early communication and social engagement.

Founders Andy Bondy and Lori Frost

PECS was developed by Lori Frost, MS, CCC-SLP, and Dr. Andy Bondy, PhD, both of whom were dedicated professionals in the field of autism and communication disorders. Lori Frost and Andy Bondy collaborated to create a system that could be easily implemented by educators, therapists, and families alike. Their combined expertise in speech-language pathology, behavior analysis, and education shaped the structure and principles of PECS.

Theoretical basis in applied behavior analysis (ABA) and Skinner’s Verbal Behavior

PECS is firmly grounded in applied behavior analysis (ABA), a scientific approach to understanding and influencing human behavior. Its theoretical foundation is closely aligned with B.F. Skinner’s book, "Verbal Behavior," which classifies different types of communicative behaviors and emphasizes the importance of functional, socially motivated communication. PECS employs behavioral principles such as shaping, differential reinforcement, and stimulus control transfer to teach symbolic exchange and build communication skills.

Through systematic prompting, reinforcement, and fading strategies, PECS encourages learners to initiate communication independently. It emphasizes that communication serves a purpose—namely, to obtain desired objects or activities—which is a core concept borrowed from Skinner’s analysis of verbal behavior.

This integrated approach not only supports the development of requesting and commenting skills but also lays a foundation for future speech development. The structured step-by-step progression through its phases reflects ABA’s emphasis on reinforcing approximations towards more complex communication. Overall, PECS’s theoretical underpinnings in ABA and Skinner’s verbal behavior provide a scientific basis for its effectiveness, making it a respected and widely used intervention worldwide.

Implementation, Training, and Certification of Practitioners

What training and certification are available for practitioners who want to implement PECS?

Professionals, parents, and educators interested in implementing PECS can access comprehensive training workshops and certification programs to ensure effective and consistent application. Pyramid Educational Consultants offers a 13-hour interactive Level 1 training workshop that covers the foundational theory, protocol, and skills necessary for teaching spontaneous requesting, picture discrimination, and expanding language.

The training includes detailed manuals, handouts, activity packets, and certificates of attendance. Attendees can earn continuing education units (CEUs) approved by organizations such as the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), and National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).

For those seeking formal recognition, Pyramid provides the PECS Certification Program™, which offers Level 1 and Level 2 certifications. These certifications formally recognize practitioners as Certified PECS Implementers™ or Managers™. Achieving certification involves passing competency assessments—both written exams and practical demonstrations—to verify that the practitioner can implement PECS effectively.

It is important to note that certified individuals must attain Trainer & Supervisor status to deliver official PECS training to others. This level of qualification ensures that training quality remains high and that practitioners adhere to the core principles of PECS.

What are the benefits and evidence supporting the effectiveness of PECS?

Research consistently supports the positive impact of PECS on communication skills in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other communication challenges. Meta-analyses by researchers like Hart and Banda (2010) and Ganz et al. (2012) show that PECS reliably increases functional requesting behaviors, enhances social interactions, and promotes independence.

Indeed, randomized controlled trials, including studies by Schreibman and Stahmer (2014), provide strong evidence that PECS can facilitate speech development and spontaneous vocalizations. Many users demonstrate a natural progression towards verbal communication, with some experiences reporting decreased problematic behaviors such as tantrums and aggression.

Recognized as an evidence-based practice by reputable organizations, PECS’s contributions extend to cost-effective deployment, ease of use, and adaptability across various settings. Its focus on developing requesting and social commenting skills fosters greater independence and social participation for individuals with communication impairments.

Additional Aspects of PECS Implementation

Successful PECS implementation depends on proper training, fidelity of protocol, and ongoing support. Hands-on workshops, ongoing supervision, and regular practice assessments play vital roles in maintaining high standards.

Extensive research affirms that ongoing training and supervision, often incorporated into certification programs, significantly improve the quality of PECS use and outcomes. Family involvement and consistent application across environments like home, school, and community greatly enhance generalization and maintenance of skills.

In conclusion, qualified trainers, comprehensive certification programs, and evidence-based practices make PECS a reliable and efficient tool for improving communication in individuals with diverse needs. Proper training ensures the system is used correctly, maximizing its benefits for users.

Practical Strategies, Challenges, and Materials in PECS Implementation

What are some common materials and techniques used in PECS training?

PECS training employs a variety of simple, portable, and accessible materials to facilitate effective communication. Common resources include picture cards, which depict objects, actions, or attributes, and are used for exchange prompts. Communication books or boards with Velcro strips allow learners to select and exchange pictures easily.

Visual reinforcement cards and structured communication aids such as PECS Activity Boards and PECsTalk devices support the teaching process. These materials help learners associate pictures with real-world items, enabling them to initiate requests and responses.

Training techniques hinge on visual teaching strategies like modeling, prompting, and reinforcing communication attempts. Trainers use structured prompts and cues to guide learners through the six PECS phases, ensuring systematic skill development. Consistent implementation and adherence to the protocol, along with supplemental manuals and kits, are crucial for success.

Overall, the emphasis is on the use of clear visual symbols combined with reinforcement strategies to develop self-initiated and functional communication.

Are there practical considerations and common challenges when implementing PECS?

Implementing PECS effectively requires attention to practical details such as preparing appropriate materials ahead of time and creating a communication-rich environment. Consistency in training across caregivers, teachers, and professionals is vital; without fidelity to the protocol, results may diminish.

Challenges during implementation include resource limitations—such as not having enough picture cards or communication books—and time constraints that hinder regular practice. Ensuring that communication opportunities are embedded into daily routines is another significant hurdle.

Children may also experience resistance or exhibit frustration due to some of the non-natural aspects of PECS, such as physical prompts or the effort required to exchange pictures. Maintaining motivation involves using meaningful and motivating reinforcers and gradually increasing the complexity of communication tasks.

Environmental factors also influence success. Naturalistic settings like home, school, and community must be adapted to facilitate consistent use of PECS tools. This might include organizing materials for quick access or training all involved parties to support communication.

In summary, careful planning, ongoing support, and flexibility are essential to overcoming practical challenges and ensuring the intervention's fidelity and effectiveness.

How can educators and caregivers motivate learners and maintain fidelity in PECS?

Motivating learners involves using reinforcers that are meaningful to the individual, such as favorite toys, activities, or social praise. Reinforcers should be individualized and consistently used across settings to encourage repetition and learning.

To maintain fidelity, thorough training for all implementers—including parents, teachers, and support staff—is necessary. Behavioral skills training, which combines instruction, modeling, rehearsal, and feedback, can help ensure protocols are followed correctly.

Regular monitoring and assessment of implementation support consistent adherence to the stages of PECS. Using fidelity checklists and periodic observations can help identify areas needing reinforcement or retraining.

Creating a communication-rich environment where opportunities to exchange pictures are frequent and natural is also important. Embedding PECS into daily routines increases practice and promotes spontaneous use.

Offering a variety of engaging activities and gradually increasing the complexity of tasks maintains learner interest. Employing a positive, encouraging tone and celebrating successes fosters motivation.

Overall, personalized reinforcement, thorough training, ongoing supervision, and integration into daily routines are vital to sustaining learner motivation and protocol fidelity.

Extending PECS: Applications and Broader Uses

What are the broader applications of PECS beyond initial implementation in autism?

While PECS was initially developed to support children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), its principles and structure allow it to be adapted for a range of other populations and circumstances. Its use has expanded to include individuals with various developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, and acquired communication impairments.

One significant application is in supporting individuals with speech or language disorders caused by conditions such as apraxia of speech or aphasia. These users benefit from the visual and symbolic nature of PECS, which helps bypass some of the speech difficulties and fosters functional communication.

PECS also plays an essential role in helping people with traumatic brain injuries or degenerative conditions like multiple sclerosis or ALS to communicate needs and interact socially.

Moreover, PECS is widely used within educational environments to promote inclusion. For students with diverse learning and communication needs, PECS facilitates social interaction, participation in classroom activities, and improves engagement.

Healthcare and rehabilitation settings have adopted PECS as well, where it allows non-verbal or minimally verbal patients to express basic needs, pain, or preferences. Its portability and low cost make it especially valuable in these contexts.

The versatility of PECS allows practitioners and caregivers to tailor communication tools based on individual needs, cultural contexts, and environmental settings. From hospitals to community centers, PECS helps break communication barriers and supports meaningful participation.

How can PECS be adapted for different settings and individual needs?

Adapting PECS involves customizing picture symbols, choosing appropriate materials, and integrating the system into everyday routines. Caregivers and educators can use photographs, drawings, or tangible symbols that reflect the individual's preferences and cognitive level.

Training is crucial to ensure effective implementation. Professionals often undergo structured workshops, and ongoing coaching helps refine strategies. Families can be trained to support consistent use at home, facilitating generalization and maintenance.

PECS can be scaled—from simple exchanges to complex sentence structures—allowing it to evolve with the learner's progress. It can be incorporated into tablet applications or with traditional picture cards, depending on the individual's needs and resources.

In diverse environments, establishing consistent routines for model, prompt, and reinforce communication is vital. Environmental modifications—such as visual supports in key locations—further enhance accessibility.

What is the potential for facilitating verbal speech development?

Research indicates that PECS often supports speech development rather than inhibits it. Many users who start with PECS go on to develop verbal language skills. The systematic approach of requesting items, responding to questions, and commenting encourages verbal output.

Specifically, some phases of PECS, such as Phase IV (sentence building), lay the groundwork for spoken language by introducing syntax and vocabulary in context. The use of symbols paired with vocalizations can reinforce language learning.

Studies have shown that implementing PECS can increase vocal requests and social communication, ultimately contributing to speech gains. However, outcomes vary among individuals, and PECS is most effective when combined with other speech therapy interventions.

In conclusion, PECS's flexible, visual-based framework offers promising avenues for enhancing communication globally. Its adaptability makes it suitable for a diverse range of populations and settings, offering critical support for individuals with various speech, language, and communication challenges.

PECS: A Lifelong Tool for Communication Development

The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) stands out as a comprehensive, adaptable, and scientifically supported approach to teaching functional communication. From its origins in the 1980s to its current status as an evidence-based practice, PECS continues to empower individuals with communication impairments, especially those with autism spectrum disorder, to participate more fully in social, educational, and community life. Its structured phases, from simple picture exchanges to sentence construction and commenting, facilitate gradual skill development. Certification programs ensure that practitioners maintain high standards of fidelity, optimizing outcomes for learners. As research validates its benefits—ranging from increased social interactions to potential speech development—PECS remains an invaluable tool for educators, therapists, and families committed to improving quality of life and fostering independence through communication.

References

• PECS®: An Evidence-Based Practice
• The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
• Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
• The picture exchange communication system - PubMed
• Picture Exchange Communication System - Wikipedia
• Using the picture exchange communication system (PECS) with ...
• Get PECS® Certified - Pyramid Educational Consultants