The PECS teaching protocol is evidence based practice. Research Autism rates PECS as having “strong positive evidence”. Their website states “There is a significant amount of research evidence to suggest that PECS is generally positive, with considerable anecdotal evidence from parents and professionals regarding the effectiveness of PECS. It is a straightforward and positive approach, cost effective and not overly time consuming to implement. There is, however, much confusion regarding the correct use of PECS and it should only be implemented by appropriately trained individuals.
PECS consists of six phases. It begins by teaching an individual to give a single picture of a desired item to a “communicative partner”, who immediately honours the exchange as a request. The system goes on to teach discrimination of pictures and how to put them together in sentences. In the more advanced phases, individuals are taught to use modifiers, answer questions and comment.
They are based in Brighton, however they serve the whole of the UK and Ireland. They run approximately 95 PECS workshops per year, plus they also offer training in behaviour management, sexual and social safety for those with additional needs plus the highly acclaimed ‘Language of Emotions’ and more.