Approximately 30% of children and adolescents experience emotional and behavioural problems, with girls exceeding boys in all age categories (Pathak et al., 2011); and there has been a rise in the prevalence of mental illness and maladaptive behaviours in adolescence. To address these growing concerns, this study approached the task of enhancing…

Autism is a developmental disorder that impairs many individuals' social development and ability. Children and adults with autism show difficulty functioning in everyday behaviours due to the anxiety and social impairments they possess. Social skills programs are effective in helping individuals with autism to develop necessary skills to function…

Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) and other therapies for autism have been developing and changing in recent years, and have moved away from clinical settings to options that can be used in the classroom and at home. Common current therapies focus on improving social skills and increasing communication. The therapies and treatments that are…

Estimates suggest that nearly 475,000 children and youth attending schools in the US are diagnosed with emotional and behaviour disorders (EBDs) such as childhood depression, dysthymia, conduct disorders, oppositional defiant disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, selective mutism, and autism. Estimates of prevalence in Canada are…

Social skills training programs are often used as a behavioural intervention with elementary school-aged children; however, many students with high-functioning autism do not receive diagnoses until they reach adulthood. There is therefore a strong need for social skills training programs that can be provided as part of students' accommodations in…

The number of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is rapidly increasing, and there is a struggle within our educational system to meet the needs of these students. While there is a growing awareness among general classroom teachers about strategies that can be implemented to ensure positive gains for students with ASD, there is still a…