Implicit sequence learning, as measured using the sequential reaction time (SRT) task paradigm originally introduced by Nissen & Bullemer (1987), has been reported to be impaired in high-functioning individuals with autism (Mostofsky, Goldberg, Landa, & Denckla, 2000). We reasoned that increased exposure to the sequence may particularly benefit…

A 10-year-old nonverbal Greek boy, C.Z., who had been diagnosed with both bilateral sensorineural profound hearing loss and autism, was taught to use the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), with some modifications and extensions, over a 4-month intensive intervention period. C.Z.'s original communication and behavioral status as well as…

The Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) is a brief parental screening instrument used to identify children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Screening validity for the SCQ has been supported in children 4 years of age and older, but ongoing studies indicate that the SCQ may not be effective in identifying very young children with ASD. The…

This article describes the experiences of 43 families of children with autism in the People's Republic of China. Qualitative analysis of interviews and questionnaires revealed three main themes regarding caregiver and family experiences. First, parents reported many openly discriminatory beliefs and practices against individuals with disabilities…

The rise in the number of children with autism poses challenges to professionals in the field of early care and education. The restricted patterns of communicating, relating, and behaving seen often in children with autism necessitate a sophisticated approach to assessment. There is an increasing need in the field to use alternative assessment…

This article presents one of the principal theories to emerge from a larger exploratory study. The research team conducted interviews about special interests with 23 participants with Asperger syndrome (AS), ages 7 to 21, who were eligible for services under autism and enrolled in an extended school year program. The authors also obtained written…

There is currently a critical need to develop reliable and valid social skills assessment tools for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The "Autism Social Skills Profile" (ASSP) is a new assessment tool that provides a comprehensive measure of social functioning in children and adolescents with ASD. The ASSP was designed…

Adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) frequently experience social isolation and vocational failure. Although social skills groups are vital, relatively few model programs have been developed for this age group. This article reviews the model and evaluation of the Aspirations program, an 8-week social and vocational…

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the use of a personal digital assistant (PDA) would facilitate the recording of homework by an adolescent boy with Asperger syndrome (AS). A multiple-baseline-across-settings design was used in the student's history, English, and science classes to determine the accuracy with which he recorded (a)…

This article explores the current research literature on adult outcomes of individuals with Asperger syndrome (AS). Specific areas addressed are the characteristics associated with adulthood AS, including employment issues, comorbid mental and physical health conditions, neurological issues, possible problems with the legal system, mortality…

This study examined the effect of a social-behavioral learning strategy intervention (SODA) on the social interaction skills of 4 elementary school children with Asperger syndrome (AS). More specifically, the study investigated the effect of SODA training on the abilities of 4 children with AS to participate in cooperative learning activities,…

Using an AB design with generalization, this study sought to determine the effectiveness of presenting videotaped emotions and Social Stories[TM] to teach a 9-year-old child with Asperger syndrome to recognize and understand emotions in himself and to generalize them to other situations in his home. Data collected in the child's home showed an…

The "Social-Communication Assessment Tool" (S-CAT) was created as a direct observation instrument to quantify specific social and communication deficits of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) within educational settings. In this pilot study, the instrument's content validity and interrater reliability were investigated to determine the…

Social Stories[Trademark sign] have gained wide acceptance as an intervention for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), yet extant research provides little empirical evidence in support of their efficacy. This study examines the use of Social Stories to target repetitive tapping behavior displayed by a child with ASD, moderate…

This article describes the development of and directions for using a 16-item screening tool designed to assist cross-stakeholder school teams in determining the extent to which they may be over reliant on special education paraprofessionals or using them inappropriately. The content of the tool is based on contemporary, descriptive research…