Social play skill enhancement of children with autism using peers and siblings as therapists

Peer-mediated approaches represent the largest and most empirically supported type of social intervention for children with autism. In this article, we discuss peer-initiation strategies, the peer-mediated intervention that has been most used to teach typically developing peers or siblings to improve the social play skills of children with autism. Also discussed are additional intervention strategies that have preliminary research support including: integrated play groups, peer buddy systems, and group oriented contingencies. Practical information regarding how to apply peer-initiation strategies and peer buddy systems in the school setting is also provided. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.