Parent Support University: Week 13

Jun 24, 2020

By

AnswersNow

.png)

Parent testimonial

Parent Support University: Week 13

Picture Exchange Communication System - Parent Support University with AnswersNow - YouTube

Tap to unmute

Picture Exchange Communication System - Parent Support University with AnswersNow AnswersNow

AnswersNow44 subscribers

Transcript Summary

Speaker 1 (Adam Dreyfus):
Hello AnswersNow, friends and family. I am Adam Dreyfus, chief science officer, and co-founder of AnswersNow. During the pandemic, we aim to demystify clinical terms and IEP meetings, reducing the stress and isolation parents of autism-diagnosed children often face. While we may not know what causes autism, we have over 30-40 years of effective research on educating individuals with autism and the evidence-based practices that work.

We find that 25 evidence-based practices have been established, which I will discuss over the coming weeks. Today marks our 16th session.

These practices are compiled from the National Professional Development Center, available at afirm.fpg.unc.edu, and they are crucial for parents to understand. I encourage parents to consult with experienced individuals while exploring these resources.

As we dive into today’s topic, I want to discuss the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), developed by Laurie Frost and Andy Bondy. Visit PECSusa.com for extensive free resources on visual communication.

Understanding PECS

• What is PECS?
  PECS is not just a picture system; it is a communication system designed to enhance the interaction abilities of nonverbal children. It consists of six phases:
  1. Phase 1: Students learn to exchange a picture of an item they want for that item.
  2. Phase 2: Generalization of request-making in various environments.
  3. Phase 3: Discrimination between multiple pictures.
  4. Phase 4: Sentence structure is introduced (e.g., ‘I want X’).
  5. Phase 5: Responding to questions.
  6. Phase 6: Commenting on the environment.

The ultimate goal of PECS is to facilitate verbal communication. Many nonverbal children can begin to talk with the right support, using communication strategies that promote understanding.

Remember, if you or your child is using PECS, engaging with someone trained in its implementation is critically important. The phases should be structured carefully to build on each other effectively.

Conclusion

For more resources and information, please visit getanswersnow.com. Our mobile app enables families to connect directly with clinicians for support and resources tailored to your needs.

Thank you for listening, and I hope your family is doing well during these challenging times. Check us out at getanswersnow.com and have a great day!