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Training Soccer Skills to Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder via Peer-Mediated Behavioral Skills Training

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Abstract

Peer-mediated interventions have been identified as efficient means of promoting the acquisition of skills of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Limited research, however, has evaluated the utility of such procedures for promoting recreational skills that may allow for greater interaction with peers. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness of peer-mediated behavioral skills training on the acquisition of discrete soccer skills of 3 students with ASD. Following the implementation of the intervention, all participants demonstrated substantial improvements in the accuracy of the target soccer skills.

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Correspondence to Keith C. Radley.

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All authors of the study report no conflicts of interest.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in the current study were in accordance with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments.

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Informed consent and assent were obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Research Highlights

• Behavioral skills training (BST) is widely utilized with individuals with disabilities but rarely applied to recreational skills.

• Individuals with disabilities may have limited access to participation in recreational and sports activities.

• BST may be used to increase the accuracy of discrete sports skills.

• Peer interventionists may effectively implement BST interventions.

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Chambers, C., Radley, K.C. Training Soccer Skills to Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder via Peer-Mediated Behavioral Skills Training. Behav Analysis Practice 13, 454–461 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-019-00381-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-019-00381-2

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