Social communication deficits are one of the defining features of autism spectrum disorder. In schools, social communication deficits are assumed to be due to a skill acquisition issue and remediated through social skills instruction; however, social skills instruction has been fairly criticized, particularly by those in the autistic community, as…

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience social communication difficulties which can be compounded by increased social demands and expectations of the school environment. Play offers a unique context for social communication development in educational settings. This systematic review aimed to synthesize play-based interventions for…

A social skills training has previously resulted in positive improvements in social skills among children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This pilot study developed a play-based social skills training protocol for first-grade elementary children with ASD in Taiwan and determined its efficacy. Using a single-group…

The inclusion of canines in educational practice is becoming increasingly popular in Irish schools. The primary objective of this systematic literature review was to examine the emerging phenomenon regarding the application of certified canines in educational settings to support the social communication competency of children aged 4 to 14 years.…

Parent-implemented Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs), rooted from applied behavioral and developmental sciences, focus on empowering families by training and coaching natural change agents to embed evidence-based strategies during regular events or contexts (e.g., play time). No research, however, has relied on…

As more students with an intellectual disability are attending postsecondary programs at colleges and universities, these students are presented with new opportunities for socialization (e.g., conversing with peers and faculty across campus environments, joining organizations of interest, and participating in campus events). The generalization of…

The present study utilized a multiple baseline across participants design and targeted a crucial component of social interaction, conversational skills, through implementation of the teaching interactions procedure with college students with intellectual disabilities within naturalistic settings. For each participant, the mean frequency of both…

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by challenges with social communication and the display of restrictive and repetitive behaviors. Research has also shown that children with ASD are behind their typically developing peers in motor skill competence. However, limited studies have used the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2…

Bullying is a form of aggressive behavior that has become increasingly pervasive in school settings. The consequences of bullying manifest as poor physical health, anxiety, depression, poor school performance, school avoidance, and increased risk for students. While no student is immune to bullying, research suggests that students with autism are…

Social skills are vital to everyday life; home being the first place to learn these skills. Lack of such skills is a characteristic of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) (Gray, 2004). This lack of social skills negatively impacts autistic children to excel in the school and community environment. They have a hard time maintaining social…

Navigating school can be tough, especially if you're neurodivergent. Sensory overload, confusing social situations, misdiagnoses, and the stress of masking it all can leave you feeling lost and misunderstood. But it doesn't have to be this way--this guide is here to help! Written by an autistic person who's been there, Gracie Barlow has lots of…

This study aimed to develop a school activity screening tool based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) using the modified Delphi technique (MDT). To collect information about activities needed in schools, nine occupational therapy personnel, five scholars, and six teachers and inspectors participated in…

Currently, the rate of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is growing and further research is needed to understand what evidence-based practices are effective for this population. To contribute further to the already existing literature, the three studies expand on previous reviews and studies by adding information on whom these…

Early Childhood Special Education teachers select practices to use to promote social communication development for their students with autism spectrum disorder. Understanding what evidence-based practices teachers select and why can inform the development of dissemination and implementation supports at the critical Adoption-Decision stage of…

The purpose of the study was to compare the effectiveness and efficiency of animated and non-animated mobile social story maps using the mobile learning environment that the authors developed. An application using the story map method based on social stories was developed. Mobile social story map was presented with animated and non-animated…