ABSTRACT
Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have difficulty connecting with others
because they often lack the communication, social interaction, and play skills necessary
for developing relationships with their peers. This article highlights the characteristics
of four peer intervention programs described in the literature that have been successful
in facilitating the social connections between children with ASD and their typical
peers. The environments established for intervention, the role of the typical peer,
and the role of the adult are described across the four programs. A fifth peer intervention
program is introduced that focuses on establishing peer connections in the home of
the child with ASD while facilitating bids and responses for behavior regulation,
social interaction, and joint attention in the child with ASD and his or her typical
peer in the context of play. Implications for practice are provided as clinicians
consider the role peer mediation has in intervention planning and implementation for
children with ASD.
KEYWORDS
Intervention - autism spectrum disorders - peer mediation - children
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Jo-Anne PrendevilleEd.D.
Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, University of Cincinnati
3202 Eden Avenue, ML 0379, Cincinnati, OH 45267
Email: Joanne.prendeville@uc.edu
