Increasing Speech Using PECS Interventions
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Gabriela Ortiz
College:
College of Education
Major:
Special Education
Faculty Research Advisor(s):
Daphna El Roy
Abstract:
The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is a form of communication that encourages verbal language of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and other developmental disabilities. A literature review of intervention packages including PECS was conducted and a survey was developed to determine the extent of their use and effectiveness. Professionals employed by an organization providing ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) services in school, clinic and home settings to individuals with autism took an anonymous survey on Google Forms. Four were RBTs (Registered Behavior Technicians)/BTs (Behavior Technicians), and one was a BCaBA, BCBA, or BCBA-D. All participants had experience working with children with ASD or other developmental disabilities in various settings and age groups. All reported having used two of the intervention packages: a) prompting and reinforcement strategies, including PECS, to teach a child with ASD to initiate and respond to peer requests; and b) using communication temptations (e.g. placing a desired toy out of reach) to occasion vocal requests through the use of PECS and utilizing PECS to teach children with ASD discrimination among pictures (e.g. presenting visuals of items and asking them to identify which picture represents an item). Participants rated both as effective or very effective.