AAC: Group 3

Eron, Suzanne and Jen

 Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
PECS is a way in which pictures are
used to communicate. This can be
used for non- or minimally verbal
children, but it can also be used
to display an ongoing activity or
schedule, such as in a classroom.
PECS consists of six phases and begins by teaching an
individual to give a single picture of a desired item or
action to a “communicative partner” who immediately honors
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.
The primary goal of PECS is to teach functional
communication. Research has shown that some learners using
PECS also develop speech. Others may transition to a speech
generating device (SGD).
 ProloQuo2go
This is an app that helps people
who are unable to speak by
speaking for them. The app is
able to be personalized and uses
a picture system which the user
selects a picture for what they
are trying to communicate. The
app in the Apple store is $250,
but it has a 5 star rating with
1600 reviews.
 Dynavox/Tobii
Dynavox/Tobii is a company that
provides communication
devices for different needs. To
the right is a snapshot of their
website and how you can find
the best device for different
conditions, based on the need
or desired outcome.
Other Speech generating devices
- News-2-you
- Core Vocabulary Communication (CVC) Boards
- EYE Com
- MegaBee
 News-2-You
● monthly downloadable instructional thematic units of study
○ each of which contains up to 30 special education lesson plans with three levels of differentiated tasks to
accommodate a diversity of learners
○ plus downloadable materials supporting classroom learning activities.
● Unique Learning System Post-Test Checkpoint Scores
○ administered at the beginning and end of each month to measure students’ level of knowledge before
and after instruction
● Pictures and symbols are similar to PECs
 Core Vocab Communication (CVC) Boards
● CVCE is a way to improve FUNCTIONAL COMMUNICATION
● “Functional communication skills are forms of behavior that express needs, wants, feelings, and preferences
that others can understand. When individuals learn functional communication skills, they are able to express
themselves without resorting to challenging behavior or experiencing communication breakdown.” (American
Speech-Language Hearing Association)
● Example of low-tech AAC
● There are a total of 9 different core vocabulary foldouts which have been designed to meet the needs of a range
of communicators and fine motor abilities.
 Core Vocab Communication Boards
● Consists of:
○ Personal Core includes words that a person uses all of the time which aren’t included in the Core Word
List
○ Overlap with fringe vocabulary
○ Individual to each person
● exchange based communication system consisting of a Communication Binder, Core Vocabulary Fold-out,
Binder Inserts, and Communication Card.
Eye Comm
● The Eye-Com board is a transparent
acrylic board that is used as an eye-
pointing system.
● The user indicates what he/she wants to
say by looking at pictures or letters
mounted on the board. Person on the
other side of the board can understand
the message by following eye
movements.
 Mega Bee
● MegaBee is a tablet that uses eye movement
and blinking as the method to select letters or
phrases, which are then displayed on its screen. MegaBee in action

● is easy-to-use, and allows for quick, convenient

communication for the user.
● MegaBee does not require calibration and
accommodates changes in head position or
movement of the tablet.
● For students who are non-readers or have
difficulty spelling, MegaBee can be used in
 Other Tablet/Smart Phone Apps
The Apple store is a great place to find other communication assistance applications.
These are just a few:
iCommunicate - lets you design visual schedules, storyboards and other customizable ways to communicate
iComm- Picture and voice communication aid for kids - but not super popular; only has 3 stars
MyTalk Tools Mobile- Another app that uses pictures for communication - $99 in the app store, 4+ star rating
Voice4U - picture based communication app - $60, 4+ star rating
 Works Cited
● https://pecsusa.com/pecs/
● https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/pages/What-is-the-Picture-
Exchange-Communication-System-or-PECS
● http://www.pecs.com
● https://www.n2y.com
● https://aaclanguagelab.com/resources/news-2-you
● http://www.megabee.net/
● http://www.acciinc.com/eye-com-board/
● https://www.speechpathologygraduateprograms.org/2017/11/top
-10-aac-augmentative-and-alternative-communication-devices/
● https://www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/2011/02/07/7-
assistive-communication-apps-in-the-ipad-app-store/