ABSTRACT
Social impairment may be the most challenging and pervasive core deficit that affects children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Schools serve as important service delivery systems for all students, particularly students with ASD. This chapter briefly reviews the most common peer-mediated approaches, including peer modeling, networking, tutoring, and mentoring. Peer modeling involves pairing a socially competent peer model with a student with ASD in order to demonstrate appropriate social behaviors. The majority of research investigating social interventions for individuals with ASD has focused on preschool and elementary school–aged children. Students with ASD are often on the periphery of the social structure within their classroom. Peer-mediated interventions have been shown to improve the social network centrality. Research is needed to determine the factors that sustain the involvement of children and adolescents in peer-mediated interventions over time to assuage the possibility of burnout.
