A Clear Picture: The Use and Benefits of PECS
Andy Bondy, Ph.D., Pyramid Educational
Consultants, Inc.
The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) was developed
over 20 years ago by Andy Bondy and Lori Frost. PECS was founded on
the principles of applied behavior analysis, especially the
analysis provided by BF Skinner's work on Verbal Behavior. Early
descriptive reports indicated that PECS was highly effective with
young children with autism and related disabilities in rapidly
establishing functional communication. Ongoing work with PECS has
demonstrated its effectiveness with children and adults with a wide
array of communication deficits. Research from around the world
continues to document the success of this program in terms of the
speed of acquisition, and its positive impact upon behavior
management issues, social skills, and the development and expansion
of speech. Reports from recent reviews and international conference
presentations indicate that PECS is extremely popular and has very
high social validity ratings from parents and professionals. This
talk will outline the key elements of the PECS protocol, how it can
best be implemented at school, home and in the community, and
common mistakes that may undermine the utility of the system.
Andy Bondy, Ph.D., has over 35 years of experience working with
children and adults with autism and related developmental
disabilities. He served as the Director of the Statewide Delaware
Autistic Program for more than a dozen years. He and his wife, Lori
Frost, pioneered the development of the Picture Exchange
Communication System (PECS). This system is utilized around the
world with remarkable success, as suggested by over 35 data-based
publications and 11 descriptive publications regarding PECS and its
impact. He has designed the Pyramid Approach to Education (with
Beth Sulzer-Azaroff) as a comprehensive combination of
broad-spectrum behavior analysis and effective communication
strategies. The Pyramid Approach focuses on the development of
functional activities and communication skills with an emphasis
upon the systematic use of powerful reinforcement strategies. This
approach has been cited as a model program for preschool and
school-aged children within public and private school settings. He
is the co-founder of Pyramid Educational Consultants, Inc., an
internationally based team of specialists (with offices in 7
countries) from diverse fields providing guidance and services
throughout the world. He has taught numerous college-level courses,
has published extensively and has presented frequently at national
and international conferences.
BACB/APA CE credits offered for this
event