There is a huge variety of AAC available, some involve gestures or signing, whilst others use symbols – like PECS or AAC devices like an iPad. So how do you even begin to make a choice?

So, what does AAC stand for and why is it important?

We all use multiple forms of communication daily, depending on who we’re communicating with and in what context. Maybe you speak Arabic at home and English at work, Zoom your parents and email your colleagues or sign to your children and text your friends. For some people with conditions like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Down Syndrome, communicating with others in their day-to-day life can be challenging. AAC (Alternative Augmentative Communication), is a range of tools and techniques that can help support, or sometimes replace, spoken communication.

What is PECS?

Founded in 1992 by Andy Bondy and Lori Frost, PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) is an AAC that uses symbols, communication books, specific prompting and reinforcement to teach functional communication skills to individuals who may be non-verbal or find verbal communication challenging.

Given the huge variety in AAC and all of the complicated jargon you’ll find when researching them, it can get confusing – especially when you may not know what features to look out for! Here are five reasons why PECS should be your AAC of choice…

1. PECS is an evidence-based practice

An evidence-based practice is a procedure that independent researchers/experts have found to produce positive outcomes when used and have strong evidence to back up their efficacy. In 2014, The National Professional Development Centre on ASD adopted PECS as one of its 27 evidence-based practices, due to over 150 published articles and peer-reviewed research papers providing evidence for the positive outcomes and effectiveness of PECS when implemented correctly. They aren’t the only organisation who officially recognise the effectiveness and success of PECS in aiding communication. Research Autism, an organisation who examine different types of therapies and strategies for helping those with ASD, describe PECS as a “straightforward and positive approach, cost-effective and not overly time-consuming to implement”.

2. PECS teaches students to initiate communication, which is important in supporting independence

PECS is based on a framework of highly effective teaching strategies known as The Pyramid Approach to Education. Unlike some other picture-board focused AACs, PECS requires an exchange of symbols, instead of an individual just pointing to a picture. Whilst this may not sound like a big difference, it’s crucial to the development of functional communication skills, as a PECS user has to initiate the communication themselves instead of simply relying on prompts from a communicative partner. Functional communication skills are vital to growing and supporting an individual’s independence and are an important foundation for the development of further social skills.

PECS isn’t just for a user to communicate their needs, it’s a framework for supporting all communication in their daily lives. PECS does not hinder speech development, it has actually been found to result in the development of verbal communication in some users.

3. PECS is suitable for all age groups across a wide range of disorders and needs

PECS isn’t just for individuals with ASD – in fact, it’s been successfully implemented as an AAC across a huge range of disorders and syndromes that can make communication difficult, such as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Microcephaly and Cerebral Palsy.  Many people are under the impression that PECS is for young children only, this is absolutely not the case, it is also used by teenagers and adults. It’s never too late to introduce PECS, it has frequently been implemented with people who have suffered a stroke or had a traumatic brain injury.

Some AACs, like Makaton, require individuals who use them learn a complex new language, which often isn’t suitable for neurodivergent individuals who are struggling with communication. In comparison, PECS can be implemented between a person and their communicative partner within a matter of days. This can be especially important for an individual who is about to attend school or who is displaying challenging behaviours due to their frustration of not being able to communicate.

4. PECS is easily understood in the community and by peers

Learning an AAC like sign language is like learning French or Mandarin- it’s a complex language with different grammatical structures and vocabulary. And like any language, it typically takes between five to seven years of learning and practising to become fluent. Whilst the communicative partner of a user does need training in order to implement the protocol correctly, the simplicity of PECS means that it is widely understood by peers and those in the community who haven’t had any training. This increases a user’s independence in real-world settings.

5. PECS is affordable

Technology is pretty pricey if you are looking at an AAC device, especially when you factor in the cost of software and how easily tablets can be damaged. With PECS, training is the main cost, with teachers and carers paying the ‘full’ price, students paying a slightly reduced price and parents of children who use or are about to use PECS paying half price. The reasoning behind these price differences based on the role in a PECS user’s life, is Pyramid’s belief that users should be supported in all of their day-to-day environments, particularly at home, which is why they strongly encourage parents to sit a PECS Level 1 workshop at a heavily subsidised cost. Additionally, through the Pyramid Trust and other organisations and charities, financial help is available for parents who otherwise may not be able to afford training but have a PECS user at home.

We hold all of our training workshops online, through live, interactive group Zoom sessions with experienced consultants. We also hold the PECS L1 workshop face to face at selected cities throughout the UK. In both workshop types all participants receive a PECS manual, full colour handout and a delegate practise bag. The online training workshops are run at various times and days of the week – mornings, evenings and some over the weekends, so anyone who wants to can attend a workshop, regardless of how busy their schedule may be.

PECS is evidence-based, affordable, easily understood and supports independence!

If you’re interested in booking a workshop or finding out more about Pyramid Educational Consultants and PECS, there are several resources on the website you can use to learn more.

By Lucy Hotchkiss

© Pyramid Educational Consultants