Using Apps to Develop Social Skills in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Social skills are critical to later success in school and adult life. Typically, children build these through interaction with caregivers and peers. However, some students, especially those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), demonstrate delays in this domain and require additional interventions. While there are a number of interventions that are effective for young children with socioemotional delays, there remains a paucity of research on the use of technology as a socioemotional intervention in early childhood. This column suggests that applications on mobile devices can allow students to learn the social and play expectations for a given dramatic play scenario, such as “Grocery Store.”