Autism Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Autism, including details on symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, causes, effects.

Social skills assessment of children with autism in free-play situations.

Anderson A, Moore DW, Godfrey R, Fletcher-Flinn CM

Research Centre for Interventions in Teaching and Learning, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019 Auckland, New Zealand. an.anderson@auckland.ac.nz

Poor social functioning and limited play are characteristic of children with autism. Increasingly, education for children with autism is provided within mainstream settings, but given their particular difficulties, the adequate provision of educational services in such settings is challenging. This study presents observational data of the play behaviour and social interaction patterns of 10 children with autism in mainstream kindergartens and primary school playgrounds. The target children differed significantly in terms of their play and social interactions from typically developing children in the same settings. The adequacy of the provision of services for children with autism in mainstream provision is discussed.

Published 23 November 2004 in Autism, 8(4): 369-85.
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