This study investigated the ability of high-functioning verbal individuals with autism or Down syndrome (DS) to respond appropriately to conversational "social scripts" involving reactions to another person's distress. Subjects were 13 persons with autism and 13 with DS, aged 5-27, matched on verbal mental age. During a "tea party" situation, subjects were each told about an examiner's unhappy personal experience (e.g., a stolen wallet, a sick pet). If the subject did not produce an acceptable response after several probes, the other examiner modeled a sympathetic response and more probes were administered. Subjects with Down syndrome gave a significantly greater percentage of relevant suggestions and sympathetic comments, whereas subjects with autism gave a significantly greater percentage of responses relating only to the tea party. More subjects with autism than DS required modeling. Although a smaller percentage of subjects in the autism group than the DS group exhibited improvement after modeling, some subjects with autism were able to improve, suggesting that they understood some aspects of the social situation but needed help formulating an appropriate response. Includes 21 references. (Author/JDD)