This training will provide you with practical information for helping learners successfully transition from The Picture Exchange Communication System® (PECS®) to Speech Generating Devices (SGDs). After mastering vital communication skills such as initiation, persistence in relaying messages, picture discrimination and basic sentence structure, learners often have large repertoires of pictures stored in their communication book. To accommodate larger vocabularies and allow for continued language development, the team may next explore a transition to a dedicated Speech Generating Device (SGD) or tablet with communication app. During this training, we will show your team how to assess current PECS skills and analyze the features of available apps and SGDs in order to make the selection best suited to your learner's needs, ensuring a rapid transfer of existing communication skills. Once we’ve considered relevant options for device or app selection, we will guide you in the detailed lesson planning necessary to teach use of the new device as a functional communication system to ensure SGD users maintain effective communication skills!

Whether you are just getting started or you want to enhance your approach to teaching with an SGD already in place, this workshop will give you evidence-based teaching strategies and insights to maximize your learner's transition to and use of an SGD.

*Please bring a Speech Generating Device (SGD) or a tablet with an AAC app to the training to use during a variety of activities.
The PECSTalk™ Lite app can be downloaded for free on Android smart tablets in the Google Play Store or on Apple iPads in the Apple App Store.