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Imagine a world where a simple picture helps a child express their needs, wants, and feelings. For many families navigating autism spectrum disorder, this is made possible through the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). So, what is PECS? It’s a proven communication method that empowers non-verbal individuals to connect with others using pictures in a structured, step-by-step process.
More than just picture cards, PECS opens a pathway to meaningful interaction. By teaching individuals how to initiate communication, it builds confidence, reduces frustration, and strengthens bonds with caregivers, teachers, and peers.
Key Takeaways
- PECS is a structured and evidence-based communication system that helps nonverbal individuals, especially those with autism, express their needs and build meaningful connections using picture exchanges.
- The six-phase PECS method teaches progressively complex skills from basic requests to full sentence construction and social commenting, without requiring verbal prompts or advanced cognitive abilities.
- Research shows PECS not only reduces frustration but also supports speech development, making it a powerful tool for improving communication at home, in schools, and throughout the community.
Understanding PECS: The Foundation
What is the Picture Exchange Communication System?
The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is a widely used augmentative and alternative communication method designed to support individuals with speech and language challenges. Instead of focusing on verbal output, PECS begins by encouraging simple actions like reaching or pointing. This approach is part of a functional communication system that allows users to exchange pictures for desired items or actions, creating a foundation for meaningful interaction.
Rooted in verbal behavior principles and applied behavior analysis, PECS is especially effective for individuals with an autism diagnosis. It does not require advanced cognitive skills or speech, making it accessible across a wide range of developmental levels. By using PECS to teach children how to initiate communication, families often see a reduction in frustration and an increase in expressive communication skills that help strengthen bonds with caregivers, teachers, and peers.
The History and Development of PECS
PECS was developed in 1985 by speech-language pathologist Lori Frost and psychologist Dr. Andrew Bondy at the Delaware Autism Program. Created to help autistic children build functional communication skills, it offered a more effective alternative to traditional methods and quickly showed promising results in real-world settings.
Since then, PECS has gained recognition as an evidence-based practice by leading institutions like the National Autism Center. Today, Pyramid Educational Consultants continues to refine the system and train professionals around the world in this practical, picture-based communication approach.
The Six Phases of PECS
Phase I: How to Communicate
The journey begins with learning the basic exchange. Individuals learn to exchange single pictures for desired items with help from a physical prompter and communicative partner. The physical prompter guides the person’s hand to complete the exchange, while the communicative partner receives the picture and provides the requested item.
This phase focuses on immediate initiation without requiring any speech. Success is measured when someone can independently reach for a picture, approach a person, and place the picture in their hand.
Phase II: Distance and Persistence
Phase II distance teaches individuals to become more persistent communicators. The distance between the person and their communication book gradually increases, and they learn to seek out communicative partners actively.
This phase ensures that individuals won’t give up when communication opportunities aren’t immediately available. They learn to travel farther for their pictures and persist in finding someone to communicate with.
Phase III: Picture Discrimination
Picture discrimination: individuals learn to choose from two or more pictures based on what they actually want. This introduces the PECS communication book—a ring binder with Velcro strips where pictures are stored and easily accessed.
The discrimination process begins with clearly different choices and gradually becomes more subtle. This phase marks true language development, as individuals must think about what they want rather than just following a routine.
Phase IV: Sentence Structure
Individuals learn to construct simple sentences using a detachable sentence strip. They combine an “I want” picture with a picture of their desired item, creating their first structured sentences. This phase introduces basic grammar concepts and expands communication beyond single-word requests. The sentence strip becomes a tool for building more complex communication.
Phase V: Answering Questions
Phase V teaches individuals to respond to simple questions like “What do you want?” This moves communication from purely spontaneous requests to responsive requesting, expanding their communication skills significantly.
Phase VI: Commenting
In Phase VI, commenting individuals learn to make observations about their environment. They develop sentences starting with “I see,” “I hear,” or “I feel,” moving beyond requests to share experiences and observations. This advanced phase develops social skills and spontaneous communication, helping individuals connect more meaningfully with others around them.
Who Can Benefit from PECS?
Primary Candidates
PECS works exceptionally well for:
- Autistic children and adults
- Individuals with developmental disabilities
- People with limited or no verbal language
- Those with communication challenges across the autism spectrum
The system is particularly effective because it doesn’t require existing speech abilities and builds on natural gestures most people already use.
Age and Development Considerations
PECS can be successfully implemented with:
- Early childhood (2-5 years): Often the ideal time to start
- School-age children (6-12 years): Excellent for educational settings
- Adolescents and adults: Never too late to begin
The key is matching the approach to individual needs rather than focusing solely on age.
Benefits of PECS
Communication Improvements
PECS provides immediate benefits, including:
- Reduced frustration: A Clear way to express needs
- Increased independence: Self-initiated communication
- Better social connections: Enhanced interaction with family members and peers
- Improved behavior: Fewer challenging behaviors related to communication difficulties
Educational and Social Benefits
Students using PECS often show:
- Better classroom participation
- Improved following of instructions
- Enhanced peer interactions
- Stronger overall language skills development
Does PECS Help Speech Development?
Contrary to early concerns, research consistently shows that PECS supports rather than hinders speech development. Many individuals develop verbal language alongside their picture communication abilities. The system provides a foundation for understanding communication that often leads to spoken language emergence.
Implementation and Training
Who Can Use PECS?
While anyone can learn basic PECS concepts, effective implementation typically requires:
- Professional training: PECS training workshops provide essential skills
- Consistent application: All team members use the same approach
- Ongoing support: Regular supervision and troubleshooting
Getting Started
Successful PECS implementation involves:
- Assessment: Determining readiness and motivation
- Material preparation: Creating appropriate pictures and communication books
- Team training: Ensuring all caregivers understand the approach
- Systematic implementation: Following the PECS protocol carefully
- Progress monitoring: Tracking advancement through phases
Avoiding Common Pitfalls
Key considerations include:
- Avoiding prompt dependency: Fading physical assistance appropriately
- Maintaining motivation: Using truly desired items and activities
- Ensuring consistency: Using PECS across different settings
- Supporting generalization: Practicing in various environments
PECS in Different Settings
Home Implementation
Families can effectively use PECS at home by integrating communication into daily routines, training all family members to use consistent strategies, creating portable systems for community use, and maintaining regular practice with positive reinforcement.
School-Based Programs
Educational teams implement PECS by developing and tracking IEP goals, integrating communication strategies across classroom subjects, facilitating peer interactions, and fostering collaboration between special education and general education teachers.
Community Applications
PECS users gain valuable experience by practicing in real-world settings like stores and restaurants, developing social skills in community environments, and building confidence through independent communication with a variety of people.
Conclusion
PECS has transformed the way nonverbal individuals communicate, offering a structured yet flexible system that meets children where they are. By building on natural gestures and gradually introducing sentence structure and social interaction, PECS fosters independence, reduces frustration, and opens doors to meaningful communication across home, school, and community settings. With the right support, it can be a life-changing tool for families and educators alike.
At Nurturing Nests Therapy Center, we specialize in helping families implement communication strategies like PECS with compassion and expertise. If you’re looking to support your child’s language development in a personalized, evidence-based way, our team is here to guide you every step of the way. Contact us today to learn how PECS can fit into your child’s care plan and unlock new opportunities for connection.
FAQs
What does PECS stand for?
PECS stands for Picture Exchange Communication System, a structured communication method that uses pictures to help individuals express their needs and wants. This evidence-based approach was developed specifically for people with autism and other communication challenges who struggle with traditional verbal communication methods.
What is PECS autism?
PECS autism refers to the use of the Picture Exchange Communication System specifically for individuals with autism spectrum disorder who have limited or no verbal communication abilities. It’s one of the most widely used and research-supported communication interventions for autistic children and adults.
What is the PECS method of teaching?
The PECS method teaches communication through six progressive phases, starting with simple picture exchanges for desired items and advancing to complex sentence construction and commenting. It uses applied behavior analysis principles and requires no verbal prompts, making it accessible for individuals with various developmental levels.
What is an example of PECS?
A simple PECS example would be a child giving a picture of a cookie to their parent in exchange for receiving an actual cookie. In more advanced phases, they might use a sentence strip with “I want” + “cookie” pictures to construct a complete request.
