Kelly is a kindergartener with autism and significant expressive communication deficits. She is primarily echolalic, and seldom uses her language spontaneously with classmates and teachers. Kelly is extremely fearful of social situations and often avoids social interactions. Consequently, Kelly spends the vast majority of her playground time by herself, with little peer interaction. A social skills assessment concluded that she had significant skill deficits in initiating interactions and maintaining interactions with peers. A peer-mediated intervention (PMI) was implemented that taught Kelly's peers how to initiate and respond to her initiations.
In the "Case of Kelly," it is noted that peer-mediated intervention (PMI) was implemented following a social skills assessment. Given the social skills difficulties outlined in this case:
• Do you think that PMI would be the most appropriate intervention to utilize with Kelly? Why or Why not? Please explain your reasoning.
• Please discuss at least two other interventions/strategies that would be appropriate to use with Kelly given her identified social skill difficulties. Why would you choose these interventions/strategies over some other potential strategies? Please explain your rationale.
• Please indicate if there is research to support the strategies you have chosen to discuss.