Functional Communication Systems

Functional communication systems are also vital to an effective program. Functional communication systems serve to give the child an effective and appropriate means to understand what is happening in his environment as well as a way for him to communicate with others. It is of the utmost importance that children have a functional means to communicate. Functional communication systems can include speech, sign language, and other augmentative forms of communications such as the Pictures Exchange Communication System (PECS)¹¹ or a voice output system.

The use of a functional communication system often decreases challenging behaviors. Many times, challenging behaviors are a means of communication for a child who does not have an appropriate way to communicate. Giving the child an appropriate and effective way to say the same thing may help to eliminate the undesired behavior. For example, if a child cries and pulls at his/her father's arm to get help to reach a toy, giving the child another, more appropriate way to get help, such as asking for help or exchanging a picture symbol of help, will decrease the child's need to cry and pull at his father's arm.

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Pyramid Educational Consultants, Inc. Developers of Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) Sundberg, M. L., Partington, J.W. (1998). Teaching Language to Children with Autism or Other Developmental Disabilities. Pleasant Hill, CA: Behavior Analysts, Inc.