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Effectiveness of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Picture Exchange Communicati<strong>on</strong> System<br />
as a Functi<strong>on</strong>al Communicati<strong>on</strong> Interventi<strong>on</strong> for Individuals<br />
with <strong>Autism</strong> Spectrum Disorders: A Practice-Based Research<br />
Syn<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>sis<br />
Kai-Chien Tien<br />
University of Kansas<br />
Abstract: This research syn<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>sis verifies <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> effectiveness of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Picture Exchange Communicati<strong>on</strong> System<br />
(PECS) for improving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> functi<strong>on</strong>al communicati<strong>on</strong> skills of individuals with autism spectrum disorders<br />
(ASD). The research syn<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>sis was focused <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> degree to which variati<strong>on</strong>s in PECS training are associated<br />
with variati<strong>on</strong>s in functi<strong>on</strong>al communicati<strong>on</strong> outcomes (Dunst, Trivette & Cutspec, 2002). The communicati<strong>on</strong><br />
c<strong>on</strong>sequences of PECS were examined in 13 studies, which included 125 participants with ASD who had<br />
been identified as having limited or no functi<strong>on</strong>al communicati<strong>on</strong> skills. Claims that PECS is an effective<br />
interventi<strong>on</strong> for improving functi<strong>on</strong>al communicati<strong>on</strong> skills appeared to be supported by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> available research<br />
evidence.<br />
The purpose of this practice-based research<br />
syn<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>sis was to verify <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> effectiveness of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Picture Exchange Communicati<strong>on</strong> System<br />
(PECS) for improving <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> functi<strong>on</strong>al communicati<strong>on</strong><br />
skills of individuals with autism spectrum<br />
disorders (ASD). The syn<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>sis focused<br />
<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> degree to which variati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> PECS<br />
training are associated with variati<strong>on</strong>s in functi<strong>on</strong>al<br />
communicati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>sequences. In general<br />
terms, a practice-based research syn<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>sis<br />
differs from more traditi<strong>on</strong>al meta-analyses by<br />
systematically examining <strong>and</strong> unpacking <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
characteristics of practices that are related to<br />
differences in outcomes or c<strong>on</strong>sequences.<br />
Specifically, this type of analysis focuses more<br />
<strong>on</strong> underst<strong>and</strong>ing how <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same or similar<br />
characteristics exert <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> same or similar observable<br />
effects <strong>and</strong> not solely <strong>on</strong> statistical or<br />
observati<strong>on</strong>-based relati<strong>on</strong>ships between or<br />
am<strong>on</strong>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se variables. The reader is referred<br />
to Dunst et al. (2002) for a detailed explanati<strong>on</strong><br />
of this framework.<br />
Individuals diagnosed with ASD share significant<br />
deficits in communicati<strong>on</strong> (American<br />
Corresp<strong>on</strong>dence c<strong>on</strong>cerning this article should<br />
be addressed to Kai-Chien Tien, University of Kansas,<br />
4227 Wimbled<strong>on</strong> Dr., Lawrence, KS 66047.<br />
Educati<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> Training in Developmental Disabilities, 2008, 43(1), 61–76<br />
© <str<strong>on</strong>g>Divisi<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> Developmental Disabilities<br />
Psychiatric Associati<strong>on</strong>, 2000). In order to address<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> communicati<strong>on</strong> challenges of children<br />
with ASD, behavior analysts, speech-language<br />
pathologists, <strong>and</strong> special educators<br />
increasingly have turned to augmentative <strong>and</strong><br />
alternative communicati<strong>on</strong> (ACC) (Frea, Arnold,<br />
& Vittimberga, 2001). The Picture Exchange<br />
Communicati<strong>on</strong> System (PECS) is <strong>on</strong>e<br />
of such augmentative communicati<strong>on</strong> system<br />
designed to increase functi<strong>on</strong>al communicati<strong>on</strong><br />
skills <strong>and</strong> potentially provide a bridge to<br />
speech acquisiti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
The Picture Exchange Communicati<strong>on</strong> System<br />
been supported by a small number of case<br />
studies <strong>and</strong> a large body of anecdotal literature<br />
(Charlop-Christy, Carpenter, Le, Le-<br />
Blanc, & Kellet, 2002; Magiati & Howlin 2003;<br />
Mirenda, 2001; Mirenda & Ericks<strong>on</strong>, 2000).<br />
Thus few published experimental studies have<br />
specifically investigated <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> effectiveness of<br />
PECS for children with ASD or o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r developmental<br />
disabilities. Fur<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rmore, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> majority<br />
of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> anecdotal literatures reviewing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> effectiveness<br />
of PECS were c<strong>on</strong>tributed by its<br />
developers, Andy B<strong>on</strong>dy <strong>and</strong> Lori Frost.<br />
B<strong>on</strong>dy <strong>and</strong> Frost’s first published article<br />
(1993) <strong>on</strong> PECS detailed its use with children<br />
<strong>and</strong> adults with developmental disabilities.<br />
Specifically, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y described <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> procedures<br />
Functi<strong>on</strong>al Communicati<strong>on</strong> Interventi<strong>on</strong> / 61