This intensive 13-hour interactive workshop is designed to teach educational and caregiver teams the theory and protocol for the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), an evidence-based practice based on Applied Behavior Analysis, typical language development, and B.F. Skinner’s Verbal Behavior. The workshop begins with an introduction to creating the most effective learning environment for implementing PECS via The Pyramid Approach to Education. Included is a discussion of the limitations of teaching other communication modalities (speech, sign, SGD) as an initial communication strategy. Using
presenter demonstrations, role-play opportunities, and video examples participants will gain a thorough understanding and hands-on experience of each of the six phases of PECS.

Participants will leave the training with the skills necessary to teach spontaneous requesting, picture discrimination, sentence structure, attributes for expanding language, extended vocabulary, responding to questions, and commenting.