The Picture Exchange Communication System

The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is a commonly implemented procedure to teach individuals with autism spectrum disorder how to communicate with other individuals in their environment. The procedure consists of having the learner use pictures/icons to express their needs and to communicate with others. There is over 30 years of empirical research on PECS showing its effectiveness for teaching learners to communicate. This chapter will describe how PECS meets the definition of evidence-based practice, describe key areas of the research conducted to date, provide suggestions for future research, and outline clinical recommendations.

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Authors and Affiliations

1. Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA Rocío Rosales & Yaimarili Marin-Avelino

1. Rocío Rosales