THE FEASIBILITY AND EFFECTS OF A PARENT-FACILITATED SOCIAL SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAM ON SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS

Due to impairments in social interactions and communication, children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have a need for effective social skills training programs. However, many programs fail due to a lack of acquisition, maintenance, and generalization of target skills. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of a parent-facilitated social skills training program, designed to overcome the shortcomings of acquisition, generalization, and maintenance of other programs for children with ASD. Participants in the current study included 5 children with ASD and their parents, recruited from a western state. This study expands previous research by training parents in implementation of a social skills training program comprising several evidence-based practices. The results of the parent-facilitated intervention are provided, and implications for practice and future research are discussed.