PECSPhase I

General Guidelines

Training must occur across a range of activities

Training must occur with a variety of trainers
Training must occur with a variety of reinforcers

Communicative Partner Guidelines

Physical Prompter
physically (hand-overhand) assists learner to
place picture in open
hand of communication
partner
Physical Prompter

Communication Partner
entices learner with
reinforcer; holds hand
open.

Learner reaches for

desired item

Physical Prompter
interupts learners reach
and physically (handover-hand) redirects
learner to pick up picture

Learner has picture

symbol in hand

Step
2

Communication Partner
entices learner with
reinforcer; holds hand
open.

Learner reaches for

desired item

Step
3

Communication Partner
entices learner with
reinforcer; holds hand
open.

Learner reaches for

desired item

Physical Prompter
interupts learners reach
and physically (handover-hand) redirects
learner to pick up picture
Physical Prompter nudges
learners hand to pick up
picture

Step
4

Communication Partner
entices learner with
reinforcer; holds hand
open.

Learner independently
picks up picture symbol

Communication Partner
entices learner with
reinforcer

Learner independently
picks up picture symbol

Learner has picture

symbol in hand and
independently places it in
open hand of
communication partner
Learner has picture
symbol in hand and
independently places it in
open hand of
communication partner
Learner has picture
symbol in hand and
independently places it in
open hand of
communication partner
Learner has picture
symbol in hand and
independently reaches it
towards communication
partner

Step
1

Step
5

Physical Prompter Guidelines

Arrange environment effectively

o pictures available 1 at a time
o trainers positioned appropriately
o control reinforcers
NO VERBAL PROMPTING
Entices appropriately
Uses open-hand prompt effectively (appropriate
timing)
Reinforces with second and provides social praise
NO INSISTENCE ON SPEECH
Returns picture (while student consumes/plays with
reinforcer)

Physical Prompter
NONE
Physical Prompter
NONE

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Waits for student to initiate (reach for reinforcer)

NO VERBAL PROMPTING
Physically guides to pick up, reach, and release
picture symbol
Fades prompts effectively
Interrupts/prevents students interfering behaviors
NO SOCIAL INTERACTION WITH STUDENT

NONE
Physical Prompter
NONE
Physical Prompter
NONE
Physical Prompter
NONE

Communication Partner
takes picture symbol,
hands item to learner, and
names item. Praises
learner.
Communication Partner
takes picture symbol,
hands item to learner, and
names item. Praises
learner.
Communication Partner
takes picture symbol,
hands item to learner, and
names item. Praises
learner.
Communication Partner
takes picture symbol,
hands item to learner, and
names item. Praises
learner.
Communication Partner
takes picture symbol,
hands item to learner, and
names item. Praises
learner.