Picture Exchange Made Easy

It is so easy to feel LOST when it comes to picture exchange – you may question where to start or even what your first words should be. It may be difficult to get families and team members to buy-in to picture exchange… or just to implement it correctly and understand its purpose. This packet explains the process and provides support for therapists, educators, and caregivers to all stay on the same page throughout.

↠ This resource is covers all you need to know to get started with picture exchange, but it is not a PECS resource. PECS is an extremely specific and lengthier program for picture exchange. They provide trainings and manuals you can purchase on their website. That being said, if you are PECS trained, you will still find the handouts included in this resource useful for your families.

↠ Due to the nature of this resource, it is acceptable for you to share some pages with professionals that you work with, though it is mostly intended for families. Please just be respectful of the months of hard work I put into this resource. If a colleague is interested in using multiple pages from this resource, please direct them to my store so they may purchase it as well. If you have any questions, you can always direct message me on instagram (@speechythings) or email me at lindsey@speechythings.com . I always appreciate when people ask!

⇨ WHAT’S INCLUDED ⇦

○ AAC Handouts

• Communication Bill of Rights
• What is AAC? (overview)
• Busting AAC Myths
• AAC is Their VOICE
• Pictures or Speech Generating Device

○ Picture Exchange Handouts

• What is Picture Exchange?
• What Does Teaching Picture Exchange Look Like?
• How to Choose the First Reinforcer for Picture Exchange
• Key Points to Remember
• Why We Don’t Cue
• How to Build a Communication Book

○ Teaching Picture Exchange to Emergent Communicators

• First : Pictures Equal Request
• Second : Request Anywhere, Anyhow
• Third : Pictures Correlate to Specific Objects
• Fourth : Lots of Things Can be Requested

○ Sensory Handouts

• Types of Sensory Info
• Examples of Sensory Seeking vs Avoidance
• Sensory Seeking Toys and Activities
• Sensory Interest Form

○ Picture Symbols Part One (organized by sensory preference)

• One blank 2×2 symbol page
• Tactile Reinforcers (9 symbols)
• Visual Reinforcers (12 symbols)
• Vestibular Reinforcers (9 symbols)
• Proprioceptive Reinforcers (5 symbols)
• Auditory Reinforcers (10 symbols)
• Other Toys (9 symbols)
• Snacks (12 symbols)
• Distractors (6 symbols)

○ Using Pictures to Support Language in Young Communicators

• What Does Using Pictures to Support Language Look Like?
• Activity Ideas for Using Pictures to Support Language

○ Picture Symbols Part Two (organized by category)

• Animals (24 symbols)
• Body Parts (12 symbols)
• Clothing (11 symbols)
• Food (12 fruit, 12 vegetables, 24 other foods)
• Colors (11 symbols)
• Numbers (0-10)
• Shapes (6 symbols)
• Other (more, toilet, iPad, phone, stop, youtube)

⇨ HOW TO PREP ⇦

○ The handouts are NO PREP- just print (or pull up on your screen) and go!

○ You may laminate and cut the picture symbols as needed for your particular students