The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which PECS would generalise from the training setting to other familiar settings as a function of properties of the settings. It was predicted that PECS would generalise better to the setting where PECS use facilitated was by having the same communicative partners and items available. Three preschool children all with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) were trained to use the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) to a minimum proficiency level of Phase 3. The experiment employed an ABA single case design with multiple target measures, replicated across participants, acknowledging that observations in the first baseline would be zero. Transfer of PECS across settings varied for each participant. One participant generalised PECS to the facilitated environment more than the non-facilitated environment as predicted. Another participant transferred PECS better to the non-facilitated environment compared to the facilitated environment contrary to the research prediction. The final participant did not generalise PECS to either environment, switching to functional verbal communication instead.

The picture exchange communication system (PECS) is a functional communication system frequently used with individuals diagnosed with autism (Frost & Bondy, 2002). Few empirical investigations have evaluated staff training procedures to train staff how to teach consumers to use PECS, and none have been published to date on training staff to promote the use of PECS outside of the training environment. Using a multiple probe design the current investigation evaluated staff training procedures for teaching Phases 1-3 of PECS to adults with autism spectrum disorders, with direct care staff. Typical staff training procedures resulted in little improvement from baseline performances for each participant. Performance following behavioral skills training improved significantly, approaching mastery criterion levels.

The iPad with the Proloquo2Go application has taken the world of autism by storm, and given individuals that do not have a voice, a voice. This study looks at the effectiveness of the iPad with the Proloquo2Go application to enhance the manding repertoire for children with autism. Participants included three children (2 girls and 1 boy) diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, or exhibiting characteristics of an autism spectrum disorder, between the ages of 3 and 5. A multiple probe design across participants was used to assess the effectiveness of the iPad. Methods included completing The Reinforcer Assessment for Individuals with Severe Disabilities (RAISD) with the parents and/or teachers of each participant and running a six stimuli preference assessment before implementing each Phase. Pretest probes were conducted before implementing Phases 1 through 4. These phases were comparable to Phases 1 through 4 of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) (Bondy & Frost, 1994). Results of this study support that children with autism can acquire the skills needed to mand using the iPad with the Proloquo2Go application with training comparable to that of the Picture Exchange Communication System (Bondy & Frost, 1994). In addition, vocal requesting increased for the participants during the training phases in comparison to pretest probes.

Communication deficits are often evident in students with moderate-to-severe developmental disabilities. For these students, basic communication needs, like asking to use the restroom, requesting food or expressing discomfort are a challenge. Frustration caused by communication deficits can lead the student to express interfering behaviors, which may interrupt student learning. This paper identifies and describes evidence-based practices (EBPs) used to increase functional communication skills for students with moderate-to-severe developmental disabilities. This review focuses on functional communication training (FCT) and the picture exchange communication system (PECS) and their use to increase functional communication skills. The study also explains how to implement FCT and PECS and the results and challenges that may take place during the implementation process. This is an informative paper intended for special education teachers who work with students with moderate-to-severe disabilities.

No description available.

No description available.

The Center for Disease Control estimates that one in 88 births result in a diagnosis of autism (CDC, 2012). Of those individuals diagnosed with autism approximately 25-61% fail to develop vocal output capabilities (Weitxz, Dexter, & Moore, 1997). The use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems, such as Picture Exchange (PE) and Voice Output Communication Aids (VOCA) has been demonstrated as effective for those individuals to acquire a mand repertoire (Mirenda, 2003). The focus of the current study was to compare mand acquisition using PE and the iPad as a VOCA, in terms of acquisition rate and participant device preference, and with regard to collateral effects on vocalizations and disruptive behaviors. Additionally, the study evaluated the effectiveness of a teaching strategy using constant time delay with full-physical prompts (Sigafoos, Doss, & Reichel, 1989) in the acquisition of a mand repertoire using PE and the iPad as a VOCA, in five preschool aged children with autism. Finally, the devices were assessed in terms of their social validity. Three participants acquired the ability to communicate using the iPad as a VOCA more readily and two participants acquired the ability to communicate more quickly using PE, while the overall rate of independent manding was higher for four participants using the VOCA. The results of the study also indicate that the use of a constant time delay procedure with full-physical prompts was effective in the acquisition of both PE and the VOCA device. Regarding preference, four participants demonstrated a clear preference for the VOCA device and one for PE, when presented with the option to respond with either device. With respect to collateral effects, the data were largely inconclusive. For one participant there was an overall increase in vocalizations, for one participant there was an overall decrease in vocalizations, for the remaining three there was no systematic change in their rate of vocalizations during or following communication training. Regarding disruptive behaviors, an overall decrease in the occurrence was seen for two participants, for the remaining three the rates of occurrence did not change systematically following communication training. Finally, in terms of social validity, both the VOCA device and PE were found to be acceptable communication tools, with educators reporting that they would not only include such training within their classroom routines, but would also recommend its use in the future. / Educational Psychology

Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka hur en för situationen anpassad kommunikationskarta, en pratkarta, kan möjliggöra samtal mellan en 11-årig pojke med autism och utvecklingsstörning och hans mamma när de samtalar om en händelse som inte händer nu. Erik har inget fungerande tal och är beroende av Alternativ och Kompletterande Kommunikation (AKK). Han har sedan förskoletiden en pärm med löstagbara bilder (PECS), som han använder för att uttrycka sina behov och intentioner. I studien undersöktes hur interaktionen mellan Erik och hans mamma Maria organiserades sekventiellt. Analysen visade att en kommunikationskarta, en pratkarta med bilder anpassade för samtalet, var en viktig gemensam resurs för både Maria och Erik för att initiera, utveckla och avsluta pratstunden. Analysen baserades på videoinspelat material i hemmet, inspelat av Maria, där deltagarna pratade om den förestående julhelgen. Samtalsanalys (Conversation Analysis) användes som analysmetod. Det visade sig att deltagarna orienterar mot tre huvudsakliga faser i det kommunikativa projektet att etablera samtal om julen:prefas, huvudfas och postfas. Pratkartan var en viktig kommunikativ resurs för både Maria och Erik, vilken de orienterade mot i alla delar av samtalet. Prefasen bestod av de handlingar som leder fram till att Erik använder PECS-bilder för att involvera sig i samtalet. I prefasen var pratkartan helt avgörande för att Erik skulle komma igång och pecsa. I huvudfasen, den fas där Erik använder PECS-bilder för att samtala om julen, utvecklade Maria och Erik gemensamt olika ämnesaspekter av samtalet. Maria upprepade och utvidgade utifrån Eriks pecsyttranden. Hon gav också värderande bidrag och föreslog nya perspektiv på det pågående ämnet. Erik upprepade, byggde ut och överlappade Marias bidrag, men han kunde också aktivt bibehålla koherens i episoden och följde inte alltid Marias utvidgning eller förslag på nya ämnesaspekter. I postfasen avslutade deltagarna pratstunden och talet om julen. Erik bidrog aktivt till avslutandet genom att plocka ihop pratkartorna. Maria bekräftade både verbalt och genom att använda SLUTA-PRATA-bilden att pratstunden är avslutad. Förslag ges på framtida praktikbaserade studier som kan bidra till evidensbaserad praktik.

Three preschoolers with limited or no verbal language were taught to request preferred objects using an adapted Picture Exchange Communication System (Bondy & Frost, 1998) and elements of peer mediated instruction and intervention (Neitzel, 2008) (PECS/PMII). These two interventions have been established as evidence based practices, but have not previously been taught and implemented by one adult and a preschool child in a preschool classroom. Same-aged peers were the communicative partners for the picture exchange. A teacher served as the facilitator of the exchanges. A multiple probe (days) across participants design was utilized to determine the effectiveness of the intervention. The percentage of successful exchanges/requests made by the target child using the adapted PECS/PMII method was evaluated to determine the effectiveness of the intervention when implemented by a same-aged peer. The target children not only made requests to the criterion level, two of the three increased their appropriate verbal responses. The same-aged peers were able to effectively implement the steps for PECS phase 1.

This applied dissertation study was designed to inform and advance knowledge regarding research in the area of the effectiveness of functional communication training (FCT) in reducing challenging behaviors among individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who were nonverbal, by using a quantitative single subject approach. The researcher specifically focused on determining which modality, Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) or manual sign language, would be the most effective as a replacement behavior to bring about a reduction in challenging behaviors. Previous researchers in the field of FCT did not address this area, thus leaving a gap in the research. The participants for the study were three children with ASD between the ages of 4 and 6. Prior to the start of the study, multiple assessments were administered to assess the function of challenging behaviors, level of functioning, imitation skills, and preferences. The intervention phases consisted of randomly alternating between a session of PECS and manual sign daily with each session consisting of 10 trials. Baseline data was collected to assess preexisting skill level to mand for items. The intervention trials continued until the participants reached mastery level in either modality. Results demonstrated that only PECS was effective for both the participants who completed the study, and for the participant who mastered both manual signing and PECS, PECS had a quicker acquisition rate. Implications from the findings suggest that FCT is an effective intervention in reducing challenging behaviors, and that PECS might be more effective for quick reductions of challenging behaviors. The study is a valuable addition to the current FCT research as it aligns with and extends findings from previous research.