Teacher Professional Development: I need training on using the Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS) for my students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. <profdevpilot>
Being able to communicate your wants and needs is something that every person has the right to have.
I work with 20 fabulous non-verbal students in Communication/Behavior Classrooms.
These classrooms are for students who have Autism Spectrum Disorder. My students need to have communication systems that are easy to access in a variety of settings and able to help them communicate their wants and needs. The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is just that system for most of my students. My students are challenged by their lack of communication, difficulty with academics and following routines within the school. However, my students are also extremely hard working and have other special talents. The school is in a large urban city and is classified as a low socio-economic school with over 70% minority.
My Project
My students need an alternative to oral communication where they are able to communicate their wants and needs. The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is just the type of system my students need. The PECS system is a unique augmentative/alternative communication intervention for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. It is identified as an effective based therapy that is built on applied behavior analysis (aba). My students will be taught how to use a small notebooks with pictures to request items, make comments, and ask questions. There are six phases of the program. The first starting with the exchange of single pictures for items or activities that the students really want. They then move through the other phases building on using longer and more complex sentence structures to communicate their ideas.
Having completed this 3 day training in the PECS will allow me to better serve my students who are non-verbal.
I will be able to initiate the development and carry through of their own individual communication system. My students will be able to use their PECS notebooks to communicate with peers and adults in their school and home environment. This will be so powerful for my students to have a "Voice".
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