The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) allows children who have little or no communication abilities a means of communicating non-verbally. Children using PECS are taught to approach another person and give them a picture of the desired item in exchange for that item. After intensive therapy, children can use PECS to communicate a request, a thought, or anything that can reasonably be displayed or symbolized on picture cards. PECS teaches functional communication that is immediately useful with the long-term goal of spontaneous verbal communication.