Previous research has shown that conversational language predicts vocational independence and friendship development. This study investigated the efficacy of the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) for School-Based Professionals delivered via Zoom as a pre-employment transition service on the social competence of…

Autistic people are more likely to experience mental health problems such as anxiety disorder and depression than are the general population. This study reports a qualitative analysis of interview data provided by 12 psychological therapists regarding their experiences of working with autistic people with anxiety disorders and/or depression within…

Emerging research shows that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) may improve mental health for caregivers. Parents of autistic children, adolescents, and adults (N = 54) were randomly assigned to either complete a brief group-based ACT intervention or remain on the waitlist. Participants completed surveys immediately prior to randomization,…

Self-determination is a complex process with several components, such as making choices and independence. However, limited research on self-determination has focused on individuals with moderate to severe autism spectrum disorder. This study aimed to support independent leisure engagement and choice-making of leisure activities for this population…

Play is critical in the development of cognitive and language skills in young children with autism; however, few studies have examined the impact of the intervention on the development of play skills. The current study aims to address the change in developmental skills, including play after participation in the JASPER intervention, and to examine…

Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often present with difficulties in writing performance. Despite the importance of writing to achieving positive academic, employment, and social outcomes, relatively little research has been conducted examining the effects of intervention on the writing performance of individuals with ASD. Previous…

This study approaches the issue of autism in a case study. Specifically, it investigates how three key points in the daily life of a child on the autism spectrum change in the presence of a pet: social behavior, empathy and irritability. The aim is to study how the pet affects the child's daily life in the above points. The questions that are…

This article describes the development and use of a first of its kind statewide implementation of an adapted Early Start Denver Model (ESDM). Supported by a collaborative partnership between stakeholders that included families, state agencies, and a state university, the intervention was implemented within the existing framework of a northeastern…

Peer mediated intervention (PMI) is an evidence-based approach to supporting social and communication development for children on the autism spectrum. For PMI to be integrated into everyday practice, it needs to be acceptable to stakeholders. This article engaged with autistic individuals, early childhood educators, parents, and speech and…

Purpose: Pivotal response treatment (PRT) is a well-established intervention addressing core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with parent involvement as a key component. The current study aimed to examine the effects of PRT parent training on parent fidelity and provide descriptive analyses of parent-child interactions before and after…

There is an increasing number of autistic students being educated alongside their neurotypical peers. However, placing a student in the general education setting is not sufficient for meaningful inclusion. Historically, autistic students have had fewer friendships, been less accepted, and experienced stigmatization. Interventions to increase peer…

Background and aims: This study was conducted in a clinical setting with the aim of replicating previously used procedures for teaching receptive vocabulary. Researchers increased the number of vocabulary words and maintained use of match-to-sample (MtS), prompting, and reinforcement procedures. Researchers were also interested in the efficacy of…

For children with autism or other complex communication needs (CCN), access to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems can increase opportunities to effectively participate in many aspects of daily life. The use of AAC can enhance communication, language, and learning for children with CCN (Hidecker, 2020), and allows for…

Reading comprehension is a critical academic skill that permeates all academic subjects. Students with autism spectrum disorder are more likely to struggle with reading comprehension, especially as they enter secondary education. Therefore, evidence-based interventions to support middle school students with autism in developing reading…

The authors discuss how board games offer individuals with autism (who often struggle with social settings and require structured outlets for building relationships) an affordable, naturalistic, collaborative environment that is stimulating, engaging, and educational. Board games, they assert, provide opportunities to practice social skills,…