THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SOCIAL SKILLS TRAINING TO ENHANCE SOCIAL SKILLS OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM IN LIBYA

Autism is one of the pervasive development disorders that effects verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction, social inclusion. It often includes a restricted pattern of interest and repetitive behaviour and stereotyped movement. It also effects emotions. These difficulties negatively impinge on the educational performance and daily- living skills of autistic children [1]. Therefore, this study examined the effectiveness of social skills training to enhance social skills of children with autism in Libya. The sample comprised thirty- four autistic children, aged between ten and fifteen years of age. The children were divided into two groups of seventeen; one as the experimental group and the other as the control. The programme ran for twelve weeks and the children's social skills were assessed before, during and after it was completed.