Language and Communication Difficulties with verbal and non verbal communication Social Interaction Difficulties with the ‘rules’ of interaction Flexible thinking and behaviour E.g. Difficulty imagining what others are thinking, imagining and coping with change. Holding special (sometimes obsessive) interests The Triad of Impairments
PECS gives children a choice and a voice 99% success rate with children Its based on motivating children using a selection of desirable reinforcers The politics
PECS was developed in 1985 Based on principles of ABA- Applied Behaviour Analysis Teaches functional communication that is immediately useful Can be used across all ages and disabilities Appropriate for anyone who has difficulty with speech
Implementing PECS does not mean we are disregarding speech By implementing PECS we are addressing the development of speech PECS can be used with learners who have a small amount of speech or unclear speech PECS teaches functional communication it helps organise and expand language Communication develops before speech For some young people PECS is the first clear way they can communicate and let their choices be known DVD time…
Stage 1-Intiation ; pick up, reach, release I’m fun, I have fun things, play with me- What motivates the child? Communication partner and silent prompter 40 exchanges a day Stage 2-distance and persistence ; Persist against obstacles, each student has communication book
Stage 3-discrimination Desired item v’s undesirable item Caterpillar v’s pencil The new behaviour is to choose The technical stuff PECS levi.wlmp PECS levi.wlmp Stage 4-sentence starters I want If they do it better than before reinforce more Attributes-size, colour, shape
Stage 5-commenting and answering questions I see, I hear Stage 6-Answering higher level questions I think, I taste, I smell, I feel Moving to other communication systems PECS helps to organise and expand language Research Andy Bondy and Lori frost 1994
Other ideas; Snack time Art PE