Picture Communication Symbols (PCS)

Everyone uses symbols in every day life, from instructions on how to use a new appliance, to signs in the airport. Among those who most benefit from symbols are individuals with communication, learning, or English Language Learning (ELL) needs.

PCS are appropriate for all ages and ability levels. They can be used in a variety of environments including: classrooms/educational facilities, clinical settings and at home.

Many individuals benefit from symbols for both expressive and receptive communication ⁶. Expressively, individuals may point to symbols to communicate a message using an augmentative communication system. Receptively, individuals who struggle to comprehend speech alone may benefit from augmented input supported by symbols⁶.

The pairing of speech and auditory input with a symbol serves two primary goals. First, it provides a model for the individual on how a symbol can be used for expressive language. Secondly, it supports succesful language mapping ⁶.

Symbols can be used to support the communication of individuals of all ages and various abilities. For example, Reichle, McComas, Dahl, Solberg, Pierce and Smith (2005) demonstrated the use of symbol-based communication for an adult to conditionally request help. Additionally, Nelson, Evans and Palazolo (2003) successfully utilized symbol supports to promote peer interaction in preschool children.

Symbols can effectively supplement spoken directions and information to improve comprehension. A variety of strategies use symbols to support successful understanding of spoken language including: Aided Language Stimulation ¹, Systems for Augmenting Language ¹⁶, Natural Aided Language ⁴, Aided Language Modeling ⁷.

Symbols can support participation in reading instruction by students with complex communication disabilities ¹⁴. Most literary materials require learners to say words or letter sounds out loud ¹⁴. To promote successful participation, symbols can support a student pointing to practice and demonstrate reading skills, rather than saying the words or letter sounds. Find more information on adapted literacy instruction.

Additionally, symbols, photographs and illustrations can benefit struggling students’ reading comprehension skills by providing additional visual reference for the key words and concepts presented in the text. Symbols can be used to help build background knowledge and make connections between previous and new learning.

A variety of levels of symbol support can be considered to assist writing. Examples of symbol-supported writing tools range from writing grids that offer a high degree of assistance for students to combine sentence starters and enders, to word banks for students to combine single words to create novel sentences, to key word only supports designed to supplement the written expression of students using a keyboard. Symbols can be used to aid writers of all ages in making connections with new vocabulary and stimulating the creative writing process.

Critical to teaching and learning is measurement of success. For students with a variety of learning challenges, traditional testing methodology is often not appropriate. PCS can provide effective alternative means for demonstrating understanding on important academic topics. A number of research-based organizations involved in the design and development of alternate assessments throughout the United States have chosen to use PCS in their alternate assessment materials. Such organizations include the American Institutes for Research (AIR) and Pearson Education.

Best practices for supporting English Language Learners (ELL) include the pairing of oral instruction and descriptions with visuals ⁸. Additionally, students’ expressive language attempts should be supported with visuals as needed. A number of research-based reading interventions for ELL students apply the use of pictures and symbols ⁸.

There are many barriers to typical social skill development for ELL students ⁸, some of which may be addressed using PCS. Research has supported that students who are provided with formal instruction in critical social skill areas have increased confidence, ask more questions, are better listeners, work more cooperatively, have fewer behavior problems and spend more time focused on the assigned tasks ⁸.

Effective use of visual supports and PCS to promote social skill development has been supported by research to increase understanding and reinforce learning of written classroom rules, as well as the unwritten rules of social exchanges with peers and school professionals that are critical to success ⁹. Additionally, symbols can be used to support students’ orientation with the school and classroom environment by labeling important places and tools with visual supports.

Symbols can be used on written schedules to support understanding of the expectations in certain situations and to teach the appropriate behavior ⁹. Symbol-based schedules have demonstrated success in promoting on-task behavior for individuals with autism. One of the unique aspects of symbol schedules is the use across the wide spectrum of individuals with autism, including those with co-occurring intellectual disabilities and those without. In 2000, Bryan & Gast demonstrated that the use of a picture book was successful in promoting on-task behavior with high-functioning school-aged students with autism. Macduff, in 1993, used a visual schedule to increase on-task behavior for individuals with autism who were perceived to have limited skills.

PCS are available through the Boardmaker Software Family, DynaVox augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices, and a wide range of other educational software and AAC devices. The PCS library is defined by the following categories and associated products:

• PCS Core: 4,500 symbols that offer multiple symbol representations for most high frequency words and phrases for communication, and an initial library of symbols designed to support general participation in the classroom. The PCS core is included with Boardmaker Software Family products and on all DynaVox devices.
• PCS 2000-2008 Addendum Libraries: Released every 2 years, the addendum libraries include all new symbols that have been added since the previous release. Complete bundle adds 5,900 symbols to the core.
• PCS Sign Language Libraries: 2,200 Sign Language symbols (combination of American Sign Language (ASL) and Signed Exact English (SEE)).
• PCS Animations, Volumes I & II: Animations representing more than 1,300 verbs and propositions.
• PCS Sign Language Animations: 500 animated sign language symbols (combination of ASL and SEE)
• PCS Sexuality: 400 Picture Communication Symbols (and 48 communication boards), focusing on the issues of sexuality and the safeguarding from sexual abuse and victimization.

For more information, visit PCS Usage & Licensing.