PECS picture communication for autism in Ontario
A structured, low-tech communication system for minimally verbal autistic children. Ontario schools may use it, and OAP funding may cover it through SLP services.
Direct answer
PECS teaches a child to hand over a picture to ask for something. The Picture Exchange Communication System was developed by Andy Bondy and Lori Frost. It moves through 6 defined phases, from a single exchange to commenting. Ontario schools may use PECS. Ask AccessOAP whether SLP-led PECS fits your funded plan.
- Phases
- 6 sequential
The numbers behind the answer
- Phases
- 6 sequential
- Pyramid Educational Consultants: Bondy & Frost - PECS developers; certified implementer listing at pecs-canada.com · Verified 2026-04-29
- OAP
- Ask about SLP services
- Pyramid Educational Consultants: Bondy & Frost - PECS developers; certified implementer listing at pecs-canada.com · Verified 2026-04-29
Why Timing Matters
The wait outlasts the window.
Clinical research (American Academy of Pediatrics; Hyman et al., Pediatrics 2020) identifies birth to age six as the peak neuroplasticity window for autism intervention. Ontario's reported minimum wait is 5+ years for families registered in August 2021 (community-reported, Ontario Autism Coalition, July 2026).
Example: an illustrative child's journey through the Ontario Autism Program
Registered at age 3. Services begin at age 8, after 5+ years for families registered in August 2021 (community-reported, Ontario Autism Coalition, July 2026), most of it inside the intervention window.
| Measure | Age range |
|---|---|
| Early-intervention window (AAP) | Birth to age 6 |
| Example wait using the OAC-reported minimum (registered age 3) | Age 3 to age 8 (5 years) |
| Age when services begin in this example | Past age 6 |
✓ Intervention before 6
Research shows 2× greater gains in cognitive and adaptive functioning. Some children lose their diagnosis entirely. The brain's plasticity makes early therapy dramatically more effective.
◌ Intervention after 6
Reduced neuroplasticity means slower progress, higher lifetime costs, and poorer outcomes. Every year of delay narrows the range of achievable milestones. Ontario's waitlist guarantees this for most families.
Of the 71,263 children on the unfunded backlog, the majority were registered between ages 2 and 4. At the current pace, most will age past 6 before receiving any core funding , missing the window that the American Academy of Pediatrics and every major autism research body identifies as critical.
SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics (Hyman et al., Pediatrics 2020) · Ontario MCCSS OAP data via FOI · Wait: 5+ years for families registered in August 2021 (community-reported, Ontario Autism Coalition, July 2026).
About This Article
Published:
How PECS works and the 6 phases
PECS teaches communication through physical picture exchanges. The physical exchange is intentional - children learn that communication is a two-way social act with real outcomes.
Each phase must be mastered before moving to the next. Skipping phases undermines the system.
- Phase 1
Phase 1 - The physical exchange. Child picks up a single picture and gives it to a partner to receive a desired item. Physical prompt fades over trials.
- Phase 2
Phase 2 - Distance and persistence. Child learns to seek out a partner across distance, travel to them, and complete the exchange.
- Phase 3
Phase 3 - Picture discrimination. Child selects from multiple pictures to request the specific desired item.
- Phase 4
Phase 4 - Sentence structure. Child builds a sentence strip: "I want ___". Introduces carrier phrases.
- Phase 5
Phase 5 - Responsive requesting. Child responds to "What do you want?" with an appropriate picture sentence.
- Phase 6
Phase 6 - Commenting. Child learns to comment ("I see ___", "I hear ___") - expanding to social communication.
Accessing PECS through school or OAP in Ontario
| Access route | Existing guidance | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School implementation | Ontario schools may use picture-based systems such as PECS. To request: (1) ask the IEP team to include PECS as a communication support, (2) request a referral to the school board SLP for assessment and implementation planning, (3) ask that all staff working with your child receive PECS training, (4) request a home communication binder so PECS generalizes outside school. | Pyramid Educational Consultants: Bondy & Frost - PECS developers; certified implementer listing at pecs-canada.com |
| OAP-funded services | For OAP-funded services: ask AccessOAP whether SLP-facilitated PECS fits your child's funded Core Clinical Services plan. With 71,263 children waiting, PECS through school can be a route to try while families wait for funded OAP services. | OAP Guidelines: Ontario Autism Program - Core Clinical Services (SLP eligible) |
| Training and materials | PECS Certified Implementers (PCIs) in Ontario can be found through Pyramid Educational Consultants of Canada at pecs-canada.com. Check current prices for starter kits and parent workshops there. | Pyramid Educational Consultants: Bondy & Frost - PECS developers; certified implementer listing at pecs-canada.com |
Sources behind this answer
| Source | Record detail |
|---|---|
| Pyramid Educational Consultants | Bondy & Frost - PECS developers; certified implementer listing at pecs-canada.com |
| OAP Guidelines | Ontario Autism Program - Core Clinical Services (SLP eligible) |
Frequently asked questions
PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) is a structured communication training protocol developed in 1985 by Dr. Andy Bondy and Lori Frost and first used at the Delaware Autism Program. Children learn to communicate by physically exchanging picture cards with a communication partner. The key feature is the physical exchange - the child initiates by handing a picture to a person, learning that communication is a social act with purpose and consequence.
Phase 1: basic exchange. Phase 2: persistence and distance. Phase 3: picture discrimination. Phase 4: sentence structure using sentence strips ("I want ___"). Phase 5: responsive requesting. Phase 6: commenting and social communication. Each phase builds on the last - do not skip phases.
Ontario schools may use PECS. To request it: (1) Ask your child's IEP team to include PECS as a communication support. (2) Request that the school SLP or an EA with PECS training implement the protocol. (3) Ask for consistent implementation across all staff. (4) Request a home communication binder so PECS generalizes.
OAP Core Clinical Services can fund speech-language pathology. Ask your AccessOAP care coordinator whether SLP-led PECS can be included in your child's treatment plan.
Any age. PECS is used with learners of all ages who have limited functional communication. There is no upper age limit. Some learners using PECS also develop speech, and others later move to a speech-generating device such as a tablet app. PECS is itself a form of AAC.
Sources
Pyramid Educational Consultants
Bondy & Frost - PECS developers; certified implementer listing at pecs-canada.com
OAP Guidelines
Ontario Autism Program - Core Clinical Services (SLP eligible)
Communication tools while you wait for OAP
PECS through school is available now. OAP Foundational Family Services include communication support with no waitlist.
Related questions
AAC devices for autism - OAP funding in Ontario
OAP can fund AAC assessment and SLP services. The Ontario ADP pays 75% of the approved price of covered communication aids. Many school boards provide AAC through special education. Here is how each route works.
Speech Therapy Options for Autistic Children in Ontario
Overview of SLP approaches for autism: traditional articulation, AAC, social pragmatic, and PROMPT. Learn OAP coverage, costs, and how to choose.
PECS vs AAC Devices: Choosing a Communication System
PECS vs AAC devices for autism: how picture cards and speech-generating devices compare, when each helps, and what OAP funding covers.
Evidence for this answer
Watchdog Reports
- [2024]Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services: Spending Plan ReviewFinancial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) • Watchdog report • 2024-06-05
FOI Records
- [2026]Ontario Autism Program figures as of May 13, 2026 (MCCSS, released under Freedom of Information to the Ontario Autism Coalition; published in the OAC "OAP At A Glance" update, July 2026)Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (Ontario), obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition • FOI record • 2026-05-13
Commitment to Accuracy: Our data is verified against official government reports (FAO, MCCSS), peer-reviewed scientific literature, and accessible public records. Last updated: April 29, 2026.
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