Abstract:

This study describes mediational strategies used by two siblings of children with autism spectrum disorders during social contexts. Two playgroups, including one child with autism, one typically developing sibling, and a third friend were observed during multiple play interactions. Interactional data between the child with autism and the typically developing sibling were collected and analyzed using video analysis and participant observation within a qualitative paradigm. This report describes four mediational strategies that the typically developing siblings used with the child with autism during play, including exaggerated voices, following the lead of the child with autism, use of semantic schema, and context clarification. Despite the communicative impairments of children with autism, siblings can employ multiple strategies to successfully mediate social interactions.

Author: Kathleen J. Abendroth