About Autism & Communication

1. What is PECS?

 

PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) is a picture-based communication method developed to help autistic children and individuals with limited verbal ability express their needs and thoughts.

By exchanging simple picture cards, they can communicate basic requests, emotions, and ideas without relying on spoken words.

For many families like mine, PECS has been a powerful tool to bridge the gap between silence and understanding.

 

2. Autistic Communication Styles

 

How do autistic children communicate?

Autistic children have unique ways of perceiving and interacting with the world.

Some are highly verbal, while others—like my brother—struggle with spoken language.

For them, visual communication can often be more natural and less overwhelming than words.

Images, symbols, and visual cues provide clarity and reduce the anxiety that comes from complex language.

Communication, for these children, is not only about words—it’s about finding the channel that feels safe and clear.

 

3. Limitations of Existing PECS Apps

 

What’s missing in the current tools?

Although many PECS apps exist, I found several challenges when trying to use them with my brother:

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Unnecessary personal data and logins: Some apps require users to create accounts and input unnecessary personal information just to access basic features, which can be inconvenient and concerning for families

 

Too complex: Many apps contain hundreds of icons, which can overwhelm children with severe autism.

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Text-heavy: Some apps require reading prompts or double-clicking instructions, which my brother cannot follow.

 

Visually overstimulating: Bright, cluttered designs can be distressing for children sensitive to sensory input.

 

Expensive: Many families cannot afford the high costs of subscription-based apps.

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Visually overstimulating: Bright, cluttered interfaces can distress children sensitive to sensory input.

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No usage tracking: Existing apps do not allow families or educators to see which words a child uses most frequently, making it difficult to monitor language development.

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4. Why I Created Speak With Pictures

 

Children like my brother could not fully benefit from existing tools due to their limitations.

 

To address this, I designed a reward screen: each time a child interacts with the app, a simple animation shows a fish tank where the number of fish grows, encouraging consistent use and a sense of accomplishment.

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For children with sensory sensitivities, the app includes options to lower color saturation and adjust volume, allowing families to tailor visual and auditory stimuli to the child’s comfort.

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A statistics screen tracks how often a child uses PECS cards and displays the most frequently used words, while an automatically generated “Most Used” category helps children quickly access their favorite or essential cards.

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Currently, these features exist only in the app’s UI/UX prototype.

The version on the App Store does not yet include these functions,

but they will be fully developed and available in future updates.