1. Training Environment
a. Two staff participate in trial
b. One staff, the Communicative Partner, sits in front of individual.
Note: The trainer in the front is in charge of conducting the entire
assessment. This trainer needs to be in charge of keeping the flow and providing reinforcement.
c. One staff, the Physical Partner, sits behind the individual.
Note: The trainer sitting behind the individual should remain neutral
throughout the assessment and only help if the individual is having difficulty picking up "preferred items," or placing "preferred items" into trainer’s hand. This trainer is to refrain from talking, commenting, or any other behaviors that could be distracting.
d. Place “highly preferred” item in front of individual, but slightly out of reach.
e. Place picture of item on table between the individual and the desired item, say “pick one.”.
2. Step 1: Fully Assisted Exchange
a. As individual reaches for item, the physical partner physically assists individual to pick up the picture, reach to communicative partner, and release picture in communicative partner’s open hand.
b. As soon as picture touches open hand of the communicative partner, communicative partner says, “Oh, you want the ball!!!” (or whatever item was requested) AND hands individual the item.
c. At the same time, the physical partner assists individual to release the picture.
d. Reinforce for five (5) trials. Use a different “preferred item” every five or fewer trials.
e. Troubleshooting:
i. If individual does not reach for item after five trials, reassess to confirm that it is “Highly Preferred.”
ii. If the individual is not attending, the communicative partner can use “attentional cues” (e.g., calling the individual’s name, identifying available item “I have pretzels!”).
iii. Caution: Remember, do not use direct prompts such as “Give me
the picture” or “What do you want?” 3. Step 2: Fade Physical Assistance
a. Same procedures as Fully Assisted Exchange, except the physical prompts are faded.
b. Physical Fade 1:
i. Communicative partner waits to say, “Oh, you want the ball!!!” until the individual releases the picture into the open hand. Communicative partner simultaneously gives requested item to individual.
ii. Continue Fade 1 until individual releases picture in open hand during 80% or more of trials.
iii. Remember: Continue assisting individual to pick up picture and
reach to communicative partner. c. Physical Fade 2:
i. Physical partner prompts pick up picture and fades prompt to reach toward Communicative partner. Communicative partner shows individual open hand as soon as individual reaches for the item or the picture.
ii. Continue Fade 2 until individual reaches to communicative partner and releases picture in open hand during 80% or more of trials. d. Physical Fade 3:
i. Physical partner fades physical prompt (e.g., from full physical to partial physical to no prompt) to pick up picture.
ii. Continue Fade 3 until individual, upon seeing communicative partner’s open hand, picks up picture, reaches toward
communicative partner, and releases picture in communicative partner’s hand. Communicative partner says, “Oh, you want the ball!!!” and simultaneously gives ball to individual.
4. Step 3: Fade the “Open Hand” Cue
a. Increase the amount of time between placing the item and picture on table and showing the individual an open hand.
b. Communicative partner shows the individual an open hand as individual reaches toward the communicative partner.
c. As soon as individual releases picture in communicative partner’s hand, communicative partner says, “Oh, you want the ball!!!” and
simultaneously gives ball to individual.
d. Continue until individual picks up picture, reaches towards
communicative partner, and releases picture in communicative partner’s hand with communicative partner showing an open hand when individual reaches towards partner successfully during 80% of trials.
Appendix B
Appendix B: PECS Preference Assessment Data Collection
(adapted from Rosales, Stone, & Rehfeldt, 2009)
Client Name:
Primary Staff: Secondary Staff:
Session: Session Date:
Data Collector: IOA:
Data Collection Key
Y = completed step correctly N = completed step incorrectly 0 = step did not apply
PREFERENCE ASSESSMENT—PRIMARY STAFF
PRE-SESSION Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5 1. Has training materials ready (i.e., preferred items)
2. Has data sheet and writing utensil ready
3. Ensures preferred items are out of participant’s reach SESSION
4. Presents 5-8 small edibles or toys/items 5. Using SD voice, says, “pick one”
6. Waits 5 seconds for the participant to respond 7. Blocks attempts to take more than one item, waits 5
seconds, represents items in same order
8. Provides access to preferred item for approximately 15- 20 sec. OR until participant has consumed item in its entirety.
9. Items selected (write the item)
10.Correctly scores responses on data sheet immediately after each trial is complete.
11.Removes other items while the participant plays with or consumes item.
12.Rearranges order of items when presenting the next trial
TRIAL TOTALS SESSION PERCENT CORRECT
Appendix C
Appendix C: PECS Phase I Primary Staff Data Collection
(adapted from Rosales, Stone, & Rehfeldt, 2009)
Client Name:
Primary Staff: Secondary Staff:
Session: Session Date:
Data Collector: IOA:
Data Collection Key
Y = completed step correctly N = completed step incorrectly 0 = step did not apply
PHASE I—PRIMARY STAFF
PRE-SESSION Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5 1. Has training materials ready (binder, pictures of
preferred items, preferred items)
2. Has data sheet and writing utensil ready
3. Ensures preferred items are out of participant’s reach 4. Selects items from training that have been previously
identified as preferred in a stimulus preference assessment
5. Ensures items are preferred by giving free access to training item before the 1st trial with that item SESSION
6. Places ONE picture that corresponds to ONE preferred item in hand on the table directly in front of the
participant
7. Presents item to the participant, but out of his or her reach
8. Using SD voice, says, “pick one” and presents open hand
9. Uses dime-sized pieces if edibles are used.
10.Once the participant has the picture in hand, waits for him/her to reach out
11.Waits for the person to release the pictures (as opposed to taking the picture from the participant).
12.Only provides the first verbal prompt (as opposed to providing additional prompts during session). 13.When a correct response is emitted, provides
appropriate reinforcement (i.e., praise and access to item).
14.Correctly scores responses on data sheet immediately after each trial is complete.
TRIAL TOTALS SESSION PERCENT CORRECT
Appendix D
Appendix D: PECS Phase I Secondary Staff Data Collection
Client Name:
Primary Staff: Secondary Staff:
Session: Session Date:
Data Collector: IOA:
Data Collection Key
Y = completed step correctly N = completed step incorrectly 0 = step did not apply PRE-SESSION Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5 1. Positioned behind or behind and to the side of the
participant’s dominate hand (i.e., the hand they’re choosing from)
2. No materials are near staff member SESSION
3. When item is presented to client, waits 1-2 s for the participant to respond.
4. If the participant does not reach for the picture, uses physical prompt (i.e., hand over hand) prompt. 5. Once the participant has the picture in hand, waits for
him/her to reach out, if client doesn’t, then uses physical prompt to reach out to other staff. 6. Does not provide verbal prompts at any time. 7. Does not provide verbal feedback to client at any
time.
8. Does not provide verbal or nonverbal feedback to other staff member at any time.
TOTALS SESSION PERCENT CORRECT
Appendix E
Appendix E: PECS Phase I Client Data Collection PECS Phase I©
Person: Staff
Initials
Date Activity Item Pick-Up Reach Release Open Hand
FP PP G + FP PP G + FP PP G + YES No FP PP G + FP PP G + FP PP G + YES No FP PP G + FP PP G + FP PP G + YES No FP PP G + FP PP G + FP PP G + YES No FP PP G + FP PP G + FP PP G + YES No FP PP G + FP PP G + FP PP G + YES No FP PP G + FP PP G + FP PP G + YES No FP PP G + FP PP G + FP PP G + YES No FP PP G + FP PP G + FP PP G + YES No FP PP G + FP PP G + FP PP G + YES No FP PP G + FP PP G + FP PP G + YES No FP PP G + FP PP G + FP PP G + YES No FP PP G + FP PP G + FP PP G + YES No FP PP G + FP PP G + FP PP G + YES No FP PP G + FP PP G + FP PP G + YES No FP PP G + FP PP G + FP PP G + YES No
FP= Full Physical Prompt PP = Partial Physical Prompt G = Gestural + = Independent
YES = The open hand is still visible NO = The open hand has been faded
©
Copyright, 2005, by Pyramid Educational Products, Inc. Developed by Anne Hoffman, M.Ed. May be reproduced.
Appendix F
Appendix F: PECS Phase I Ava’s Target Data Collection
Client Name:
Primary Staff: Secondary Staff:
Session: Session Date:
Data Collector: IOA: