The Picture Exchange Communication System

Layperson Summary:

This article describes the training phases for the picture-exchange communication system (PECS) and some of the positive effects of using PECS to help children with autism.

When detailing the phases of PECS training (outlined in the PECS fact sheet), the authors make several important points. In Phase 1, when the child is taught to exchange single pictures for desired foods, they suggest that it is very important not to ask the child what he wants. This kind of prompting can result in the child always needing the question to be asked before the picture is exchanged. In phase 2, in which the adult moves slightly away from the child to help the child be more assertive in making the picture exchange, it is important for the child to try to meet the adult’s gaze before the exchange can be made. The authors suggest one way of training eye contact: one adult looks away as the child approaches, while another prompts the child to get the adult’s attention using a gentle touch on the arm. The authors note that Phase 3, in which more than one picture is made available, usually takes the longest amount of time for the child to master. The authors also describe how, in Phases 4-6, in which the child learns different sentence structures, it is important to continue to provide social reinforcement for each exchange ("Yes! I hear the rain too!"). Finally, the authors report that many (59%) children in the Delaware Autistic Program learned to speak after one year of using PECS, and had substantial improvements in behavior.