My lil' PECS sweetie pie ;) talk to me!

I'm SO excited! So is Ayrissen ;) This is her 3rd time ever being exposed to this idea & she is already grasping the concept, even initiating it on her own! What a smart girl! She wants to tell us things & I think we've begun the best way to help her do so.....

PECS, or Picture Exchange Communication System, is exactly what the name suggests. The exchange of a picture to communicate. This system was developed to help people with autism and developmental disabilities who are nonverbal or have limited verbal communication. PECS may also be used in conjunction with a voice output communication device.

There are six phases when teaching a child to use the picture exchange system. (In my personal experience, not all children will be able to comprehend the full program. My son uses picture exchange but has never been able to follow this "program" or go though the steps listed. He just points to what he wants.)

Phase I

The first phase is to spontaneously request items or activities. Identify what the child wants. Find the things that they will "ask" for. ie- a favorite toy. This phase usually requires two teachers. (a parent, teacher, therapist, brother, or sister.) The first teacher shows the child something that they really like. The second teacher stays behind the child and waits for her to reach for the item. Then helps the child to pick up the picture of that item and hand it to the first teacher. When the first teacher has the picture, they immediately give the child the item requested. Verbal confirmation is given by the first adult. (e.g. "Oh, you want a cookie"). The second teacher should slowly back off, working towards the child independently reaching for the picture and handing it to the first teacher. The teacher should not ask what the child wants or tell them which picture to choose. The goal in this phase is for the child to spontaneously initiate communication.

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• Ayrissen

[mommahoops]

I have taught PECS in an institution for adults, and its so exciting to see them develop independence and be able to communicate..I had a very autistic man who was finally able to make a sentence and order a coffee at a coffee shop...very rewarding..

[ayrissenriane]

PECS has changed our world & though were still just at the beginning it has completely opened hers! Amazing how it has made connections for so many people who couldn't find any other way to connect. Thank you for your time and efforts helping to facilitate learning PECS!

[Serge165]

PECS brings back so many memories -- I'm Autistic, used them in School, and years later, despite my inner anger at Special ed, I Helped design some new ones. PECS was one of the things that opened the door to communication for me. Believe me, the thoughts were there, but the words just wouldn't come...That's where PECS assissted me most.

[ayrissenriane]

Thank you so much for your encouraging message! It brought tears to my eyes to read...Ayrissen is both far from and on the brink of finding her communication. I await the day she finds the voice within her to express to me ALL that is within her!

Kelly

[ayrissenriane]

Her mom gives this 5 stars!

[ebaymamaqueen]

adorable child :) i am excited for you!!!!! our daughter has gone from about 15 words to over 300 in the last months. just labeling now, but we are getting there! the pictures have helped. her brain seems to have just turned on.....sending much luck your way:)

[Serge165]

There is only one way then, dear friend, that I can reply to this -- *bangs on his tincan and sings about another world, like earth...* outside of that, I could just say, I'm glad I seemed to have made your day.

[Serge165]

Sometimes It'll j ust post twice like that, like when you get multiple e-mails about mass video sends...They still need to work on their server schema :)

[mommahoops]

sorry i posted twice...didnt think the first one went thru.

[mommahoops]

Pecs are so exciting to watch...I taught PECS at an institution for adults for many years...It was so rewarding...I had an autistic man that was able to form sentences and order coffee at a coffee shop while i sat back and watched...its great to give them a way to communicate