Using the Picture Exchange Communication System With Students With Visual Impairment. (July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ivy, Sarah E.; Hatton, Deborah D.; Hooper, Jonathan D.
• Is Part Of: Exceptional children. Volume 80:Number 4(2014)
• Page Start: 474
• Page End: 488
• Publication Date: 2014-07
• Subjects: Special education -- Periodicals; Children with disabilities -- Education -- Periodicals; 371.9
• DOI: 10.1177/0014402914527239
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0014-4029

Abstract

Students with visual impairment (VI) were taught to request using the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) and tangible symbols. Participants were four males with additional disabilities, 5 to 11 years old, who had little to no functional vision. A functional relation between PECS Phase 1 and requesting was established using a multiple baseline single subject design. All students learned to request independently within 7 to 14 sessions in Phase 1. Students maintained requesting above criterion for 1 to 5 months. All students generalized requesting to a new communication partner (CP); however, only two students reached criterion during generalization sessions. Two students learned to seek out a CP 5 feet away to request; however, no functional relation was established for Phase 2. More research is needed to establish PECS as an evidence-based practice for children with VI.