Using a Buddy Skills Package to Increase the Social Interactions Between a Preschooler With Autism and Her Peers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a buddy skills package on the social interactions between a preschooler with autism and her peers. Following baseline, the children participated in 8 sessions of training that focused on the strategies of Play, Stay, and Talk. An intervention consisting of teacher feedback, praise, and picture cards was then implemented to support peers' overtures to their classmate with autism. Teacher feedback and praise were terminated in a final maintenance phase, whereas the picture cards were still available as visual cues. A multiple baseline design indicated that the package increased peers' overtures to their playmate with autism, and these behaviors continued during the maintenance condition. The child with autism also directed more overtures to her peers, although she did not receive teacher support for this. Additional analyses indicated that children's interactions became longer and more reciprocal over the course of this study.