Analysis of an Alternative Communicative Training for Teaching Request to Autistic

Abstract

The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is an alternative communication system teaching to exchange figures for the items represented in cards. Many studies attempt to assess PECS effectiveness in special education, in promoting autistic communication for autistic people. The aim of this study was to define the contextual conditions under which the teaching protocol is effective, analyzing some variables to conduct its first three phases, teaching order behavior (expressing orders). Four autistic children aged between 6 and 12 years received systematic training of PECS first three phases, and the possible control variables for order acquisition were measured. The results showed that the application of PECS was effective, but there is need for description of the specific training to be used in special education. The paper discusses the need for greater identification and control variables in PECS teaching to attest its effectiveness, corroborating the need identified in the literature for further studies to evaluate the effectiveness of the Protocol.