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Koegel Autism Center

Gevirtz Home/Faculty/Research/Koegel Autism Center/Grad Student Research /Social Facilitators

Training Adolescents with Asperger’s Syndrome and High-Functioning
Autism to Serve as Social Facilitators in a Summer Camp Setting

Ty Vernon, M.A. & Whitney Ence, M.A.

 

As autism intervention research continues to evolve, individuals with ASD continue to make tremendous strides in terms of autonomous functioning. Of particular concern and a growing area of research is the development of effective vocational training programs for this population. While the ability to work to support oneself is an important keystone for functioning independently, arguably of equal importance is the ability to have a job which one views as satisfying and a means for contributing meaningfully to society. The purpose of this study was to examine if adolescents with Asperger’s Syndrome or High-Functioning Autism could be trained to work as social facilitators. Using a multiple baseline design, individuals with ASD were trained to lead typical children in a summer camp setting. Data were taken on the number and types of initiations the participants made towards the children and time spent on appropriate on-task behavior. The ability for individuals with social disorders to effectively serve as social facilitators of typically developing children has important implications for the social growth of all the involved parties, but also a challenge to the limited types of employment deemed appropriate for this population.

 



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