We all benefit from having symbols in our everyday lives - whether in traffic signs, recycle reminders or operating instructions for new appliances. Individuals with language, literacy or cognitive disabilities may rely on symbols to help them understand written and spoken information and to effectively express themselves.
Picture Communication Symbols™ (PCS) are simple images that represent everything from single words to full messages. In the classroom, PCS help students understand instructional topics, communicate what they have learned, and develop greater independence.
The PCS Libraries offer collections of symbols that give you more options for representing key curriculum concepts. They give students more opportunities to build skills, and more choices when they’re communicating.
Created with You in Mind
For almost 30 years, the teachers, speech-language professionals and artists at Mayer-Johnson have collaborated with experts in the field to design and expand the PCS Library to effectively represent language for all ages. The symbols within PCS are designed to be simple and easily recognizable, and offer a range of supports for communication, reading, writing and learning.
And since there are multiple ways to communicate a single concept, idea or message, we’ve created multiple symbols for many commonly used vocabulary words.
PCS Classic
The symbols in our original PCS Classic collections are most often used with children, young students, and adults who have grown accustomed to the familiar style.
PCS ThinLine
Our growing collection of PCS ThinLine symbols use a more precise style that is often helpful for conveying academic topics.
PCS Persona
The PCS Persona collections feature hip and cool character representations designed for personal expression.
Boost Language and Creativity
Your Boardmaker Studio, Boardmaker Plus!, Boardmaker and Boardmaker with Speaking Dynamically Pro software come loaded with 4,500 color and black-and-white PCS symbols with labels in 44 languages. And new collections are being added all the time. Imagine how your students can use the thousands of additional symbols that are now available!
You can use PCS with many other products as well. (Check with your device or software provider to see if PCS are available for your product.) All PCS include both color and black-and-white representations, and most are available with labels in 44 languages.
Reinforce Comprehension with PCS Collections
The PCS Animations Volumes I & II together contain over 1,300 verbs and prepositions. Use them to help students learn the meaning of vocabulary and reinforce basic concepts like movement, chores, grooming, communication and location.