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Impairments in empathic responding are related to decreased social interactions and fewer friendships for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Teaching adolescents to respond empathetically during conversation may promote the development of healthy social relationships. The current study examined the effectiveness of an affective empathy video feedback intervention package to teach empathic communication to four adolescents with ASD (11–14 years old) using a multiple baseline across participants design. Two out of the four participants met mastery criterion, maintained empathy skills up to 4 weeks after intervention, and generalized empathy to a different conversational partner. Effects and implications of the intervention and results are discussed as well as future directions for research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the branch of behavior science focused on solving problems of social significance. For over six decades, ABA researchers and practitioners have sought to improve the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) through application of evidence-based supports. Influenced by the disability rights movement which gained momentum in 1970s and 80 s, the field of ABA has developed an array of procedures to enhance autonomy and choice of people with IDD. These include assessing individual preferences, teaching choice making, augmentative and alternative communication, and techniques for supporting greater self-control. We present behavior analytic definitions of autonomy and choice, illustrate how each of these strategies enable greater autonomy and choice of people with IDD, and discuss unresolved issues and future directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we evaluated three lessons from a manualized social play skills intervention, Play20. Play20 is a focused intervention that is designed to improve early social skill development in children with autism spectrum disorder through naturalistic play. First, we evaluated the procedural fidelity of instructor implementation of Play20, and we also evaluated the effects of an added instructor self-monitoring checklist in further improving instructor behavior. Finally, we evaluated the effects of Play20 on child play outcomes. Instructor procedural fidelity increased in the presence of the Play20 lessons, and further improved in the presence of the instructor self-monitoring checklist. Child outcomes moderately improved as well. Implications and future directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between 30 and 50% of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) do not develop vocal language deemed functionally acceptable to meet their daily communication needs. As a result, individuals with ASD may require intervention alternatives to vocal speech, such as augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). However, very little is known about how members of the public may respond to forms of AAC. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how two commonly used AAC formats, manual sign and a selection-based speech generating device (SGD), result in access to reinforcement in the natural environment. To do this, we approached naïve adults (i.e., individuals unfamiliar with the aims of the study) and asked questions that were likely to result in reinforcement. We measured whether or not naïve adults accurately responded to each question, and we collected additional descriptive information about their reaction to that form of AAC. This study has important implications for social validity and long-term considerations of AAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]