PICTURE EXCHANGE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

Question 1

DEFINITION

Answer 1

• aka as pecs created by Andy brondi and Lori frost
• aims to improve functional communication in ASD children
• PECS replaces spoken words with pictures speech is considered secondary to picture use
• based on applicant behaviour analysis which uses behaviourist principals such as reinforcement shaping and modelling to improve social behaviour
• PECS designed to help Learners make their first move in communication spontaneously rather than responding

Question 2

PRE-PROGRAMME PREPARATION

Answer 2

• first step is to find out what objects the child finds interesting and motivates them
• these objects are used to reinforce the child’s communication behaviour
• picture cards are then made of each one

Question 3

STAGE 1: PHYSICAL EXCHANGE

Answer 3

• three people involved learner teacher and facilitator
• teacher shows child one of the motivating objects child will reach for the object and facilitator will encourage them to oic up photo instead
• facilitator helps child to physically hand over photo to other adult
• because child must initiate exchange teacher must not say anything until picture is received
• teacher then responds saying You want the object and gives object to child
• the object is rewarding and positively reinforces behaviour making it more likely to occur again
• procedure repeated many times in different locations with adults swapping roles

Question 4

STAGE 2: INCREASING INDEPENDENCE

Answer 4

• physical distance between teacher and child is increased at this point requiring more effort from the child to exchange
• child learns value of persistence eg getting reward eventually rather than immediately
• PECS becomes more structured as well
• pictures arrange in portable display book
• teacher encourages persistence by moving the pictures around in the book

Question 5

STAGE 3: LEARNING TO DISCRIMINATE

Answer 5

• range of pictures in child’s book is increased
• they have to learn to choose between similar pictures to get object they really want
• eg loads of sweets child has to select one they want

Question 6

STAGE 4: SENTENCE STRUCTURE

Answer 6

• child starts to build sentences by creating sentence strips
• eg picture of ball may be added to sentence of I want producing sentence of I want the ball

Question 7

STAGE 5: ANSWERING DIRECT QUESTIONS

Answer 7

• child’s use of phrases should become automatic by now so next step is to ask them then question what do you want
• child learns to construct and exchange sentence strip beginning I want

Question 8

STAGE 6: COMMENTING

Answer 8

• range of questions expanded to give child opportunity to to comment on their experiences such as what do you have and what do you hear
• child’s response will go beyond just making requests and into more complex sentences eg I have the small blue ball