Profese online 2012, 5(1):16-19 | DOI: 10.5507/pol.2012.004

AUTISM - THE PICTURE EXCHANGE COMMUNICATION SYSTÉM

Kamila Marková, Martina Jedlinská
Faculty of Health Studies, University of Pardubice, Pardubice, Czech Republic

Aim: Czech picture exchange communication system called VOKS is a modified method of communication system PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) which was created in Chicago in the USA. The research aim was to assess user satisfaction with this method, to evaluate difficulties with acquiring the VOKS methods and to map compliance with recommended practice. A "user" is understood as somebody who uses VOKS method to communicate with clients suffering from ASD. The research section presents results of the survey which took place in selected five specialised facilities and four schools all over the Czech Republic.

Methods: The survey covered the period from September 2010 to December 2010. We designed our own questionnaire which contained 24 questions. The criterion for inclusion of respondents in the research was current professional working experience with the VOKS method. The research sample consisted of 54 respondents.

Results: The results of the analysis revealed that most respondents are satisfied with the VOKS methods. Differences are evident in the time when they adopted VOKS methods in practice. With this particular sample of respondents the time necessary to master the VOKS method could not be established. Accurate compliance with recommended procedures proved to be problematic. The main reason for poor compliance with the procedures in practice is the necessity to adapt it for an individual client, staff shortages and insufficient time for training. A major problem is the application of the method when the trained staff is on holiday.

Conclusion: The research indicates that for the time being the respondents consider the VOKS method to be a suitable method for communicating with clients with a variety of speech disorders. VOKS method can help workers in special facilities to improve nursing care and to better meet clients' needs.

Keywords: autism, autistic spectrum disorders (ASD), intervention in case of autism, communication systems, the picture exchange communication system (PECS)

Published: April 2012  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Marková, K., & Jedlinská, M. (2012). AUTISM - THE PICTURE EXCHANGE COMMUNICATION SYSTÉM. Profese Online, 5(1), 16-19. doi: 10.5507/pol.2012.004
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article
    Czech version

    References

    1. Autismus. Apla [online]. Poslední revize 1. 4. 2003 [cit. 2010-11-11]. Dostupný z WWW: http://www.praha.apla.cz/zakladni-udaje/index.php.
    2. BONDY, A., FROST, L. 2007. Vizuální komunikační strategie v autismu. 1. vyd. Praha: Grada Publishing, 2007. 144 s. ISBN 978-80-247-2053-1.
    3. KNAPCOVÁ, M. 2006. Výměnný obrázkový komunikační systém - VOKS. 1. vyd. Praha: Prospektrum, 2006. 90 s. ISBN 80-86856-14-3.
    4. KŘIVOHLAVÝ, J. 2004. Pozitivní psychologie. 1. vyd. Praha: Portál, 2004. 200 s. ISBN 80-7178-835.
    5. KUBOVÁ, L. 1996. Alternativní komunikace - cesta ke vzdělávání těžce postižených dětí. 1. vyd. Praha: Tech-Market, 1996. 45 s. ISBN 80-902134-1-3.
    6. KUŠOVÁ, T. 2011. Lidé s autismem slaví po celém světě, lidé se musí dozvědět víc. Novinky [online]. 2. 4. 2011 [cit. 2011-4-6]. Dostupný z WWW: http://www.novinky.cz/veda-skoly/historie/lide-sautismem-slavi-po-celem-svete-verejnost-se-musidovedet-vic.html.
    7. RICE, C. 2009. Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders - Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. Morbidity and mortality weekly report: Surveillance Summaries [online]. 2009, vol. 58, no. 10, p. 1-24. [cit. 2012-25-2]. Dostupný z www: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5810a1.htm
    8. ŘÍHOVÁ, A. 2010. Komunikace zdravotníků s klientem a PAS. Sestra. 2010, roč. 20, č. 6, s. 28-29. ISSN 1210-0404.
    9. SROKOVÁ, E., OLŠÁKOVÁ, P. 2004. Autismus ve školní praxi. 1. vyd. Ostrava: Montanex, 2004. 52 s. ISBN 80-7225-144-9.

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return to the content