PECS at the Park
PECS at the Park was the first major initiative of The KASE Project.
Across the nation, parks and playgrounds are adding picture communication boards to their properties to enable non-speaking visitors a way to communicate with their peers. The team at The KASE Project saw a need for these communication boards in the Central Illinois community and began fundraising.
The first PECS at the Park communication board was installed in May of 2022 at Southwind Park in Springfield, Illinois in partnership with the Springfield Park District and Ace Sign Co. We have since installed playground communication boards at several elementary schools, including all three elementary schools in the Ball-Chatham school district.
Want to bring PECS at the Park to a playground near you?
Note: Picture Exchange Communication (PECS) is a widely used and researched communication system that enables users with little to no verbal communication to express their needs and desires. PECS is a form of Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC). According to the The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, AAC means all of the ways that someone communicates besides talking. People of all ages can use AAC if they have trouble with speech or language skills. Augmentative means to add to someone’s speech. Alternative means to be used instead of speech. Some people use AAC throughout their life. Others may use AAC only for a short time, like when they have surgery and can’t talk.
While PECS does not reflect the proper name for the playground communication board AAC, it provides a memorable name for the program, thus assisting The KASE Project Team in bringing more awareness to the need in the community.