PECS Communication System

Summary

The video introduces the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), used by a four-year-old nonverbal client at a clinic. The system includes tabs for toys, activities, foods, and descriptive words, allowing the client to create sentences using pictures. Initially nonverbal, the client now communicates using PECS, selecting 'I want' with the desired item. The system has evolved from simple to complex sentences over six months, with the client learning to mimic speech. The client independently navigates PECS, effectively communicating his needs.

Takeaways

• 📚 The script introduces a Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) used for nonverbal communication.
• 👦 It is tailored for a four-year-old client who started using it six months ago.
• 🔖 The PECS system consists of a front part with new pictures and pages for creating sentences.
• 🚗 The first page is labeled 'toys' with preferred toys, indicating the client's interests.
• 🏊 The next tab includes different activities like 'bathroom', 'bike', 'outside', and 'twirl'.
• 🍕 Subsequent tabs are dedicated to preferred foods, with more options on the backside.
• 🎨 The client is also learning to describe items using colors and size descriptors like 'little', 'big', 'long', 'square', and 'short'.
• 🗣️ The last tab contains miscellaneous pictures, focusing on 'I want' sentences.
• 👀 The client communicates by selecting 'I want' and the desired item, then handing it to a therapist for reinforcement.
• 🔠 Initially nonverbal, the client is now mimicking and attempting to verbally communicate with guidance.
• 📈 The system has been effective, with the client progressing from simple to more complex sentences over six months.

Q & A

What is the PECS system?

The PECS system, or Picture Exchange Communication System, is a communication system that uses pictures to help individuals with communication difficulties express their needs and wants.

Who is the PECS system designed for?

The PECS system is designed for individuals with communication challenges, such as those on the autism spectrum or with speech delays.

How long has the four-year-old client been using the PECS system?

The four-year-old client has been using the PECS system for about six months.

What are the different sections in the client's PECS system?

The client's PECS system includes sections for toys, activities, foods, descriptions (like colors, sizes, and shapes), and miscellaneous pictures.

How does the client create sentences with the PECS system?

The client creates sentences by combining pictures from different sections of the PECS book. For example, to express 'I want a bike ride,' the client would pick 'I want' and the picture of a bike.

What is the purpose of the blue strip in the PECS system?

The blue strip is where the client places the pictures to create a sentence. Once the sentence is complete, the client removes the strip and hands it to a communication partner.

How does the client receive reinforcement after using the PECS system?

After the client hands the completed sentence strip to a therapist or communication partner, they receive the item or activity they requested as reinforcement.

What is the client's current focus in using the PECS system?

The client is currently focusing on creating 'I want' sentences and is also learning to use descriptive words to enhance his communication.

How has the client's communication improved since starting the PECS system?

The client, who was initially nonverbal, has started to mimic words and attempt to say them after the therapist, indicating an improvement in his communication skills.

What is the long-term goal for the client using the PECS system?

The long-term goal is for the client to be able to create more complex sentences and describe items more effectively, eventually leading to improved communication and independence.

How is the client's progress in the PECS system being measured?

The client's progress is measured by his ability to independently navigate the PECS book, create sentences, and use descriptive words, as well as his engagement in mimicking speech.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to PECS Communication System

The video script introduces a communication system known as PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System). It showcases an example of a PECS system used by a four-year-old client at a clinic. The system is designed with a front part for new pictures and pages for creating sentences. The first page is labeled 'toys' with preferred toys, and there are more toys on the back. Subsequent pages cover different activities like 'bathroom', 'bike', 'outside', 'twirl', and more activities like 'play zone', 'running', 'walking'. There's also a page for preferred foods and another for describing items using words like 'color', 'little', 'big', 'long', 'square', 'short', 'container'. The last tab contains miscellaneous pictures and focuses on 'I want' sentences. The client uses the system by pointing to pictures to communicate his needs, such as 'I want blue book'. The script explains how the client has progressed from being nonverbal to using the PECS system effectively, building up to more complex sentences over six months.

Keywords

💡PECs

PECs stands for Picture Exchange Communication System, which is a form of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) used primarily with individuals who have difficulty with verbal communication. In the context of the video, PECs is a communication system being demonstrated, highlighting its use with a four-year-old client who has been nonverbal but is now able to communicate using pictures to express wants and needs.

💡Front part

The 'front part' of the PEC system refers to the section of the communication book that contains pictures the client is currently learning and using most frequently. It is the first section the client interacts with when they want to communicate, making it a critical component of the PEC system as described in the video.

💡Pages

Pages within the PEC system are used to organize different categories of pictures that the client can use to construct sentences. Each page is dedicated to a specific theme, such as toys, activities, or foods, allowing the client to select and combine pictures to convey more complex messages.

💡Sentences

In the context of the video, constructing sentences with the PEC system involves the client selecting and arranging pictures to communicate specific requests or statements. The client starts with a basic 'I want' sentence and gradually learns to add descriptive words to create more detailed sentences, which is a key aspect of their communication development.

💡Descriptions

Descriptions in the PEC system involve the client learning to use descriptive words to provide more information about the items they want. The video mentions that the client is working on describing items using words like 'blue', 'big', 'little', and shapes like 'square' and 'long', which helps in creating more precise and detailed requests.

💡I want

The phrase 'I want' is a fundamental part of the PEC system used by the client to express desires or needs. The video illustrates how the client uses the 'I want' picture along with other pictures to form sentences that communicate specific requests, such as 'I want blue book'.

💡Reinforcement

Reinforcement in the PEC system is the act of providing a reward or response to the client after they have successfully communicated their message using the system. In the video, the client receives reinforcement in the form of the item or activity they requested, which motivates them to continue using the PEC system effectively.

💡Nonverbal

Being 'nonverbal' refers to the client's initial communication state before using the PEC system, where they were unable to express themselves using spoken language. The video highlights the transformation in the client's communication abilities, moving from nonverbal to using a visual system to express their needs.

💡Mimicking

Mimicking, as mentioned in the video, is the process where the client begins to imitate the speech of the therapist after they have used the PEC system to communicate. This is an important step in the client's development towards verbal communication, as it involves not just using pictures but also attempting to produce spoken words.

💡Complex sentences

Complex sentences in the context of the PEC system are those that go beyond basic requests to include more detailed information. The video describes how the client is learning to create sentences that incorporate descriptive words, enhancing their ability to communicate specific and nuanced requests.

💡Independently

Independence in using the PEC system is showcased in the video as the client's ability to navigate through the pages and select pictures without assistance. This demonstrates the client's growing autonomy and proficiency in using the system to communicate their needs and desires.

Highlights

Introduction to the PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System).

Example of a PECS system used by a four-year-old client.

Client started using the system six months ago.

Front part of the system for new pictures being learned.

Inside pages for creating sentences with different pictures.

Labeled pages for preferred toys.

Additional toys and activities on the backside of the pages.

Tabs for different activities such as bathroom, bike, outside, twirl.

Food preferences with more options on the backside.

Working on describing items with colors and size descriptors.

Miscellaneous pictures for various communication needs.

Client uses 'I want' sentences to communicate desires.

Use of the blue strip to create and disseminate sentences.

Handing the completed sentence to the therapist for reinforcement.

Working on more descriptive sentences involving color and objects.

Therapist's role in reinforcing communication with the client.

Client's progress from nonverbal to mimicking and attempting to verbalize.

Gradual building of the system with pictures to create more complex sentences.

Client's ability to independently navigate the PECS system.

Overall effectiveness of the PECS system for the client.

Transcripts

today I'll be showing you a

communication system that's called pecs

and then here is an example of a PEC

system that a client uses at the clinic

that I'm working at for this particular

PEC system it's for a four year old

client and he just started using it

about six months ago and for his system

he has a front part that he's been using

with new pictures that he is learning at

the time and then inside he has pages

with different pictures to create

sentences at the bottom for this first

page for example it's labeled with toys

and there are preferred toys on the page

that he can use and labeled with

pictures there on the back side there's

more toys up here as well and then the

next tab that he has is different

activities and for example there's the

bathroom bike outside

twirl so these are different activities

that you can do and there's more

activities at the top here for the play

zone running walking and then the next

tab is for different foods that he

prefers and then there's more foods on

the back side of it and then the next

tab that he has he's also been working

on describing different items so he has

different colors here and also he's

working on the description of little and

big for describing items and then also

he has more description words with long

square and short and then container and

then his last tab are just miscellaneous

pictures at this time and he has been

working on especially I want sentences

so he has a picture with I want and he

has currently been learning I see and he

also recently added the word and then

other pictures on this page are a hug

book bags shoes cloud tree and sacks so

these are other items that he could use

and so as the client goes through and

uses this text system for communication

especially at this point that he's on

the stage that he is working on he is

using the eye

so if you want something you would take

I want and the blue strip down here is

where he creates and disses so he would

say I want and for example if he wants a

reinforcement of riding the bike he

would go back here to the activity page

and pick the picture of fights and put

it at the bottom here so when he has his

sentence complete he takes off the blue

strip and hands it to whoever he wants

the item from such as the therapist that

he is working with and then when he

gives us to the therapist then he gets

his reinforcement and then other

examples that he has been working on is

still using a full sentence that I want

but then after he has been working on

more descriptive sentences so I want and

then say the item is blue so putting

blue and then there's a picture of a bus

he has a blue book that he reads so I

want blue book and he would hand it to

the therapist and also they are working

on that one he hands it to them they go

through and speed it that they say I

want blue book and when he first heard

the system he was nonverbal but as they

go through it and they repeat the words

and go through it they are starting to

also work on him just mimicking and

trying to say it the best they can after

the therapist says it so he has I want

blue book and he puts it back so this is

a way that he communicates by treating

such as is down here he is reinforced by

giving to the therapist and then getting

what he wants by using the pictures to

communicate with others and that this

time he's been working on it for six

months and then when they first started

they just did pictures and they build

upon it gradually so he can create more

complex sentences and describe items

more so this is a example of the pec

system and it has been working really

well for the client and he has been

picking up well on how the system works

in using the pictures and he can flip

through the pages and find the pictures

on his own independently and he's doing

well with it

so this is the Peck system