Peer-Mediated Instruction and Intervention Strategies for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders

ABSTRACT Peer-mediated instruction and intervention is based on principles of behaviorism and social learning theory. In this intervention approach, developing peers are typically taught ways to interact with and help children and youth with autism spectrum disorders acquire new social skills by increasing social opportunities in natural environments. The authors outline how educational environments can be developed that are conducive to peer-mediated instruction and intervention. In addition, the authors present strategies for the careful selection and systematic instruction of typically developing peers as intervention agents. The author also present examples of empirically based methods of applying peer-mediated strategies across the age range.

[1]  P. Strain,et al.  Peer Social Initiations: Effective Intervention for Social Skills Development of Exceptional Children , 1986, Exceptional children.

[2]  P. J. Krantz Commentary: Interventions to Facilitate Socialization , 2000, Journal of autism and developmental disorders.

[3]  Combining Incidental Teaching and Peer-Mediation with Young Children with Autism , 1997 .

[4]  Christine K. Ormsbee,et al.  Integrating Preschool Children with Autism with Their Normally Developing Peers , 1993 .

[5]  J. Delquadri,et al.  Teaching social skills to students with autism to increase peer interactions in an integrated first-grade classroom. , 1992, Journal of applied behavior analysis.

[6]  R. Gaylord-Ross,et al.  The Training and Generalization of Social Interaction during Breaktime at Two Job Sites in the Natural Environment , 1985 .

[7]  E. Goldson Educating Children with Autism , 2004 .

[8]  S. Thompson Social Learning Theory , 2008 .

[9]  Matthew W. Mosconi,et al.  Peer-mediated social skills training program for young children with high-functioning autism. , 2007, Research in developmental disabilities.

[10]  C. Kennedy,et al.  Promoting Access to the General Curriculum Using Peer Support Strategies , 2006 .

[11]  S. McConnell,et al.  Interventions to Facilitate Social Interaction for Young Children with Autism: Review of Available Research and Recommendations for Educational Intervention and Future Research , 2002, Journal of autism and developmental disorders.

[12]  L. Maheady,et al.  Peer-Mediated Instruction and Interventions and Students with Mild Disabilities , 2001 .

[13]  S. Odom,et al.  Relative Effects of Interventions Supporting the Social Competence of Young Children with Disabilities , 1999 .

[14]  P. Hunt,et al.  Research on Inclusive Educational Programs, Practices, and Outcomes for Students with Severe Disabilities , 1997 .

[15]  P. Strain,et al.  Activity Engagement and Social Interaction Development in Young Children with Autism , 1995 .

[16]  S. Odom,et al.  Social Interaction Training for Preschool Children with Behavioral Disorders , 1987 .

[17]  H. Goldstein,et al.  Social stories, written text cues, and video feedback: effects on social communication of children with autism. , 2001, Journal of applied behavior analysis.

[18]  E. Walker,et al.  Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , 2013 .

[19]  Louise A. Kaczmarek,et al.  Promoting Interactions among Preschoolers with and without Disabilities: Effects of a Buddy Skills- Training Program , 1997 .

[20]  Dc Washington Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Ed. , 1994 .

[21]  Geralyn R. Timler,et al.  Strategies for Promoting Generalization of Social Communication Skills in Preschoolers and School‐aged Children , 2007 .

[22]  S. Odom,et al.  Play Time/Social Time: Organizing Your Classroom To Build Interaction Skills. , 1997 .

[23]  L. Heflin,et al.  Enhancing Social Skills of Kindergarten Children with Autism Through the Training of Multiple Peers as Tutors , 2000, Journal of autism and developmental disorders.

[24]  Rachel L. Loftin,et al.  Social Engagement With Peers and Stereotypic Behavior of Children With Autism , 2007 .

[25]  H. Goldstein,et al.  Peer‐Mediated Social Communication Intervention: When Clinical Expertise Informs Treatment Development and Evaluation , 2007 .

[26]  G. Sasso,et al.  A Comparison of the Effects of Organismic and Setting Variables on the Social Interaction Behavior of Children with Developmental Disabilities and Autism , 1998 .

[27]  James A. Mulick,et al.  Social play skill enhancement of children with autism using peers and siblings as therapists , 2007 .

[28]  Carla A. DiSalvo,et al.  Peer-Mediated Interventions to Increase the Social Interaction of Children With Autism , 2002 .

[29]  Keith Storey,et al.  Teaching Preschoolers with Autism to Self-Monitor Their Social Interactions: An Analysis of Results in Home and School Settings , 1994 .

[30]  Elinor Ochs,et al.  Inclusion as Social Practice: Views of Children with Autism , 2001 .