72 Search Results for PECS

PECS Phase IV+ by Pyramid Education Consultants

October 6, 2015 by - Leave your thoughts

PECS Phase IV+ by Pyramidal Education Consultants

We’re back with another Teach Me Tuesday post to help us all learn more about the wide range of traditional SGDs and AAC apps. If you use the traditional paper-based PECS or the PECS III app, this may be of interest to you. You can use these resources to explore PECS Phase IV+ by Pyramid Education Consultants. PECS Phase IV+ App Product overview Video Overview Manual Getting Started Video Where to go for help Phone: 302 368-2515 Email: pyramidus@pecs.com

AACtual Therapy: From PECS to iPad with Jason Butcher

April 17, 2014 by - 2 Comments

AACtual Therapy: From PECS to iPad with Jason Butcher

We are pleased to share a guest post by SLP Jason Butcher, who serves students at Grant County Middle School. Jason has been working with middle and high school students for the past 14 years.  He earned his Master’s in Communication Disorders from the University of Kentucky in 1999.  He admits that he came to do AAC more out of necessity than interest due to serving a huge variety and degree of speech/language impairments on his caseload.  He has always enjoyed working with technology and is patient when fixing problems, qualities that he thinks have served him well when hitting the inevitable roadblocks that come with working in the area of AAC. In this post, Jason shares some candid thoughts on the transition from PECS to an iPad for a student with whom he works. It was nearing the end of September when I began to fear that Ms. Ruff, a teacher... [Read More...]

Video of the Week: Understanding PECS

February 9, 2014 by - Leave your thoughts

Video of the Week: Understanding PECS

While most SLPs know at least a little something about PECS, the Picture Exchange Communication System, there are also quite a few misconceptions. In today’s featured video, we are pleased to share this overview from the creators of this approach for beginning communicators. Direct Link to Video: http://youtu.be/-Bzli1iC_w8  

Make it PrAACtical; Create Your Own PECS-style Book

July 24, 2013 by - Leave your thoughts

Create Your Own PECS-style Book

There’s nothing that says ‘exciting’ like seeing a little person have their first successful experience with AAC. I had just that kind of experience recently and had some fun with a little guy who went from requesting by grabbing to requesting by handing me a picture symbol in about 15 minutes. His parents are interested in using the Picture Exchange Communication System® (PECS®) and that’s probably a good next step. While looking for online information to send them, I can across this wonderful tutorial on how to make your own book in the PECS® style from a 3-ring binder. Hope this excellent post from Educate Autism comes in handy.   Picture Exchange Communication System® and PECS® are registered trademarks of Pyramid Educational Consultants, Inc.    

A PrAACtical Look at PECS

September 30, 2012 by - 4 Comments

A PrAACtical Look at PECS

This week, we’re heading back to the Autism and Tertiary Behavior Supports Project of the Kansas Technical Assistance Network. They have two wonderful videos by Lori Chambers on Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). – You can view an overview of this approach here: Part 1 and Part 2 . Also, look for the handouts that accompany these videos. –

An AAC Christmas Tale

December 22, 2023 by - Leave your thoughts

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the town Not a creature was stirring, they were all safe and sound. The stockings were hung by their chimneys with care, In hopes that AAC Elves would soon visit there. The teachers were nestled all snug in their beds, With visions of lesson plans banished from their heads. The therapists with data sheets and the strategies they love best, Had just settled in for a good winter-break rest. When outside the schoolyard, there arose such a clatter I rushed toward the window to see what was the matter. Stepping on Legos (does that pain ever fade?) I ran to the window and lifted the shade. With her silvery face, the moon shone from the night sky, Illuminating the landscape from her perch way up high. And what to my sleep-deprived eyes should appear But an accessible sleigh, and 8 AT reindeer. “Now SwitchMount and Talker; On Gazer and HighTechs! Go Pixon and Charger; On CoreBoard and PowerPECS!” (Bespoke voices! Good speakers! Volume turned up to 10. Fringe and core to the rescue! Robust vocabulary for the win!) And then, in a twinkling, the Elves dashed through the snow, Toting bags stuffed with packages, their eyes all aglow. Switch-toys, and Play-Doh. The elusive Cariboo?? 3-D printers and circuits for the AT Makers, too. For the Clinic, lots of fun things for strong girls and boys: Sensory bins, craft supplies, and new wind-up toys. With squeeze balls and fidgets to calm anxious brains, Books and puzzles with Elmo and Thomas the Train. At School, they left chargers and lots of App Store gift cards; Plus ‘Buddy Benches’ and adapted swings for all recess yards. For the classroom, a Smart Board to project the skills kids are gaining. And - miracle of miracles - a designated Sub for all AAC training! For the families, they unpacked the best gift of all, An AAC-loving team, determined that barriers will fall. No resistance, no excuses, no rejection letters or delays. True collaboration?! The happiest of days!! Presuming potential for learning to make comments and retorts, And confidence in good teaching and appropriate supports The AAC Elves dashed back to the sleigh on this magical night, They signed “Happy Holidays to All” and drove out of sight. And as they departed, flying into the star-speckled sky, Voices came from everywhere, deep below and up high. “Strength for the AAC journey,” I heard those Elf voices call, “Communication is our birthright, the greatest gift of all.” May you never be too old to search the skies on Christmas Eve, AAC friends!

With Christmas Eve just around the corner, we thought we’d celebrate the season with an AAC take on this treasured tale. ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas A Visit from St. Nicholas ‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the town Not a creature was stirring, they were all safe and sound. The stockings were hung by their chimneys with care, In hopes that AAC Elves would soon visit there. The teachers were nestled all snug in their beds, With visions of lesson plans banished from their heads. The therapists with data sheets and the strategies they love best, Had just settled in for a good winter-break rest. When outside the schoolyard, there arose such a clatter I rushed toward the window to see what was the matter. Stepping on Legos (does that pain ever fade?) I ran to the window and lifted the shade. With her silvery face, the... [Read More...]

An AAC Christmas Tale

December 23, 2022 by - Leave your thoughts

An AAC Christmas Tale

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the town Not a creature was stirring, they were all safe and sound. The stockings were hung by their chimneys with care, In hopes that AAC Elves would soon visit there. The teachers were nestled all snug in their beds, With visions of lesson plans banished from their heads. The therapists with data sheets and the strategies they love best, Had just settled in for a good winter-break rest. When outside the schoolyard, there arose such a clatter I rushed toward the window to see what was the matter. Stepping on Legos (does that pain ever fade?) I ran to the window and lifted the shade. With her silvery face, the moon shone from the night sky, Illuminating the landscape from her perch way up high. And what to my sleep-deprived eyes should appear But an accessible sleigh, and 8 AT reindeer.... [Read More...]

PrAACtical Questions: “What symbols are used in AAC apps & SGDs?”

November 21, 2022 by - Leave your thoughts

PrAACtical Questions: “What symbols are used in AAC apps & SGDs?”

Welcome to the first of a 5-part series on symbols in AAC. Today, we’re starting off with a simple list of graphic symbols used in aided AAC tools. Graphic symbols are 2-dimensional images used to represent words and ideas visually. Print or traditional orthography is the one we’re using right now for this post, but most AAC apps and SGDs use some form of pictographic symbol in addition to that. Some of those symbols are free and others are available only through an additional purchase option or a subscription service.  These are the ones used most commonly in communication books/boards and AAC apps/devices by individuals with complex communication needs around the world. You’ll recognize the most commonly used symbols, but some of these may be less familiar depending on where you live, work, play, and learn. If we missed your favorite symbol set or system, please let us know so... [Read More...]

AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week # 37: September 2022

September 11, 2022 by - Leave your thoughts

AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week # 37: September 2022

Happy Sunday, AAC friends. We have some AAC reading that you might appreciate. Monday – PrAACtical Thoughts on Labor Day Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Video Models & Visual Supports for AAC Thursday – Throwback Thursday: Supporting Early Communication with AAC ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Still have time for a bit more? Here’s a sampling of past posts for you to browse. PrAACtically Reading with Karen Natoci: Apples AAC Partner Training Strategies AAC Device Mounting Fundamentals  AACtual Therapy: From PECS to iPad with Jason Butcher 5 Things We’ve Learned from Our AAC Families Understanding and Supporting Families of AAC Learners

An AAC Christmas Tradition

December 23, 2021 by - 2 Comments

An AAC Christmas Tradition

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the town Not a creature was stirring, they were all safe and sound. The stockings were hung by their chimneys with care, In hopes that AAC Elves would soon visit there. The teachers were nestled all snug in their beds, With visions of lesson plans banished from their heads. The therapists with data sheets and the strategies they love best, Had just settled in for a good winter-break rest. When outside the schoolyard, there arose such a clatter I rushed toward the window to see what was the matter. Stepping on Legos (does that pain ever fade?) I ran to the window and lifted the shade. With her silvery face, the moon shone from the night sky, Illuminating the landscape from her perch way up high. And what to my sleep-deprived eyes should appear But an accessible sleigh, and 8 AT reindeer.... [Read More...]