PECS & Autism: Powerful Tool or Outdated Approach? - With SLPs Paulina Elias and Amanda Blackwell

Today, we’re diving into a hot topic in the world of autism and communication: the Picture Exchange Communication System, or PECS. Over the years, PECS has been widely used as a way for autistic children to communicate, but as new research and insights have emerged, there’s been a lot of conversation—some of it controversial—around its effectiveness and limitations. In this episode, I’m thrilled to be joined by two speech-language pathologists, Paulina Elias, and Amanda Blackwell, from Natural Communication, who share their invaluable expertise on PECS and the bigger picture of AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) for autistic children. We explore how PECS started, what it offers, and why more and more professionals are moving toward more flexible, child-led communication methods that honor autonomy and individuality. You’ll hear us discuss everything from the importance of giving kids the freedom to say ‘no’ to strategies that empower communication beyond requests. Plus, we talk about the pitfalls of hand-over-hand prompting and the emerging preference for tools that grow with a child’s communication needs. If you’re an educator, parent, or anyone working with autistic children, this episode will give you new perspectives on PECS, AAC, and the role of true connection in supporting autistic communication. Get ready for a thought-provoking discussion that might change the way you think about communication support! Connect With Paulina & Amanda: Our English website (for free resources, our parent and professional courses, professional development events, and individual consultations info): www.naturalcommunication.com Our Spanish website (for free resources, our parent and professional courses, professional development events, and individual consultations info): www.comunicacion-natural.com Our socials: @natural.communication (English) and @comunicacionnatural (Spanish) Instagram:   / natural.communication   and   / comunicacionnatural   Resources Mentioned: ASHA Journal Article: https://pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/202... Playground AAC board:https://www.prc-saltillo.com/articles... PRC Saltillo core: https://saltillo.com/chatcorner/conte... GRID core board: https://thinksmartbox.com/news/low-te... Avaz core board: https://avazapp.com/avaz-aac-coreboards/ Assistiveware core boards in different languages: https://www.assistiveware.com/learn-a... Project Core boards: https://www.project-core.com/communic... Smarty Symbols Core: https://smartysymbols.com/free-core-b... You may also be interested in these supports: Visual Support Starter Set Visual Supports Facebook Group Autism Little Learners on Instagram Autism Little Learners on Facebook Submit a question for the Q&A episodes. Ask me anything and tune in to see if your question is featured on the show!