Saying it with Pictures: The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)

Authors

  • Sue Baker

Keywords:

PECS, Picture Exchange Communication System, Communication Skills, Early Years, Picture-Based Systems, Autism, ASD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Functional Communication Difficulties

Abstract

The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) offers an exciting new approach for developing early communication skills using pictures in a fundamentally different way from other picture-based systems. Originally developed by Andrew Bondy and Lori Frost in the USA for pre-school children with autism, PECS is now being successfully extended to a wider range of children with functional communication difficulties and also to older pupils and adults. Following its introduction into the UK by Sue Baker in 1996, PECS is rapidly becoming established as a significant new initiative in the field of autism, with interest spreading from the UK into Europe and internationally. The first part of this article describes the background to the development of PECS, summarises the six phases of the programme and the current status of PECS in the UK. The second part describes the progress made by Avalon School, Somerset, when theory was put into practice and PECS was introduced into a class of 4-5 year old children with autism.

References

Baker S. (1997). PPP: The Portage PECS Project. Helping pre-school children with autism communicate using the Picture Exchange Communication System. In Living & Learning with Autism, Autism Research Unit Conference Proceedings, Autism Research Unit, Sunderland.

Baker S. (2000). Developing spontaneous communication using PECS: The Picture Exchange Communication System comes to the UK. Paper for Communication Matters, CM 2000 National Symposium Proceedings, Communication Matters, Oxford.

Bondy A., & Frost L. (1994). The Picture Exchange Communication System. Focus on Autistic Behaviour, 9 (3).

Bondy A., & Frost L. (1994). PECS Training Manual. Pyramid Educational Consultants, Inc. (Available from Pyramid Ed. Consultants UK Ltd.).

Carr E., (1982). Sign language. In R. Koegal, A. Rincover & A. Efel (Eds.), Educating and understanding children with autism. San Diego: College Hill.

Webb, T. (1999). Look who's talking! Special Children, April/May 1999.

Webb, T. (2000). The Picture Exchange Communication System - The talking goes on! Special Children, June/July 2000.

Published

2021-02-19

How to Cite

Baker, S. (2021). Saying it with Pictures: The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). REACH: Journal of Inclusive Education in Ireland, 14(2), 84–91. Retrieved from https://reachjournal.ie/index.php/reach/article/view/188

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 2 (2001)

Section

Articles

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