title: The Picture Exchange Communication System.
abstract: The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is an alternative/augmentative communication system that was developed to teach functional communication to children with limited speech. The approach is unique in that it teaches children to initiate communicative interactions within a social framework. This article describes the advantages to implementing PECS over traditional approaches. The PECS training protocol is described wherein children are taught to exchange a single picture for a desired item and eventually to construct picture-based sentences and use a variety of attributes in their requests. The relationship of PECS's implementation to the development of speech in previously nonvocal students is reviewed.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bondy
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frost
mesh_terms: D001296:Audiovisual Aids; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007804:Language Development; D009633:Nonverbal Communication; D012919:Social Behavior; D013060:Speech