Digital Exchange Communication System for Children and Youths with Autism

Abstract

The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is a method used to improve and develop the exchange and communication of children with autism. In order to help these children to learn to communicate and express their desire and needs, the classical PECS method uses paper picture cards. Each picture card represents an emotion, an action, or an object. With these picture cards the children with autism build a sentence. The traditional PECS method has two major disadvantages: the first is the space needed to stock the picture cards and the second is the deterioration of paper cards after several uses. To resolve these inconveniences, we have developed free computer software that allows children with autism to learn to communicate, plan their activities and understand situations of social-life. The main distinguishing feature of our computer software is its ability to adapt to the level of the child by proposing four levels to learn communication and exchange.