Picture Exchange Communication System and Autism Ranking:

Cost and Time

Cost

In theory, PECS can be undertaken for free by anyone who has learnt how to use it.  In practice, there may be costs for any training that is undertaken (which may include travel and accommodation) and any equipment and materials used (which may include the creation or purchase of the picture cards).

According to the Pyramid Educational Consultants UK Ltd website, accessed on 20 June 2017,

• The costs of a PECS Level 1 (Basic) 2 Day Workshop are: Professional £330 Student £ 297 Parent £185.
• The PECS manual training manual costs £47.70 and picture sets cost between £23.50 and £69.60.

Time

The amount of time it takes to use the Picture Exchange Communication System will depend on a number of factors including the length of time it takes to progress through the 6 stages of the protocol and the amount of time spent using PECS each day.

Bondy and Frost (1994) have noted that most children take several months to progress from stage 1 to stage 5 of the protocol.

“Children typically progress through Phases 1 and 2 within a matter of days (Phase 1 has been mastered by many children in as few as six trials). Phase 3 training ordinarily lasts the longest for all students, but it progresses more rapidly for those students who, prior to PECS training, showed some interest in pictures. Actual time spent in Phase 3 training is extremely variable, ranging from several days to several months. Issues generally related to the acquisition of complex visual discrimination are involved with the rapid acquisition of this phase of training. Phases 4 and 5 usually are mastered within a few weeks. “

Bondy and Frost have recommended that a minimum of 30 training trials should take place throughout the day, rather than being grouped into one big trial period. They suggest that the training trials can easily be integrated into normal daily routines, such as mealtimes, trips to the park etc.

Updated

17 Jun 2022

Last Review

01 Sep 2017

Next Review

01 Dec 2023