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PECS is a picture communication
system in which children exchange
a picture to indicate their
wants/needs (and eventually
make comments). It is primarily
used with children who are largely
nonverbal, and for whom sign
language remains difficult (e.g.,
due to motor planning difficulties
or poor fine motor dexterity).
At SpeechKids, we prefer
to expose nonverbal children
to speech, sign, and picture
communication simultaneously.
We encourage the use of speech
or sign as preferred modes
of communication whenever
possible. However, it is often
helpful to augment communication
with a picture system or other
assistive technology device.
It is relatively easy to
begin a PECS book and to train
early requests. Please refer
to the Articles Section for
the phases of PECS. However,
as a child becomes a more
sophisticated communicator,
the PECS book (or augmentative
communication device) often
needs additional pictures
and re-organization. Parents
are often expected to manage
the system on their own; sometimes
school therapists manage the
system on their own. We have
found this to be ineffective.
The purpose of the PECS clinic
is to invite the caretakers,
private and school speech
therapists (and any other
significant communicators),
to meet collaboratively and
identify the pictures and
concepts to be placed in the
PECS book along with its organization.
This is the most efficient
and effective way to upgrade,
revise, and design a PECS
book or augmentative communication
device.
PECS clinics are available
by appointment only, and a
multidisciplinary team will
be assembled as needed.
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