Teaching Caregivers to Implement the Picture Exchange Communication System: An Evaluation of Video Modeling

Individuals diagnosed with developmental disabilities may not develop a fully functional vocal repertoire. For these individuals, the use of an alternative augmentative communication (AAC) system may be required. Training caregivers to use an AAC system with their children can increase communication in the home. The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is a type of AAC commonly used with individuals that have little to no vocal speech. Video modeling is a training procedure that has been shown to be effective when training individuals to implement behavioral analytic procedures. To date, there is no published research on the use of video modeling to teach caregivers to implement the PECS procedures. The purpose of this study was to extend present research by using video modeling to teach caregivers to implement the first three phases of PECS with their children. Additionally, this study evaluated if training caregivers to implement PECS with their children would increase mands emitted by their child. Results showed that, following implementation of video modeling, all caregivers reached mastery criteria in each phase of PECS targeted for this study and that skills of the three caregivers maintained over time. The results also showed an increase in independent mands across all three children after the caregivers were trained to implement PECS procedures.

The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-025-01106-4.