Peer interaction as a method of therapeutic intervention with children

Social Skills Following Traumatic Brain Injury

“…It is well established with other populations of individuals with communication impairment, for example infants and toddlers with communication delay and adults with developmental disability, that the communication behavior of partners significantly affects the quantity and quality of communication of the individual with a disability (Sancilio, 1987;Strain, Kerr, & Ragland, 198 1). When communication partners incorrectly interpret an individual's communication attempts, fail to provide opportunities to communicate, assume an overly "pedagogical" communication style, regularly communicate for the individual, or simply do not communicate enough, the result can easily be passivity or a manipulative indirect communication style in the individual with impaired communication, whatever the etiology.…”

Learning experiences . . . an alternative program: Peer-mediated interventions for young children with autism.

“…From Wahler's initial study, a large body of research has emerged on the power of peer reinforcement, either mediated by individuals or by groups (Furman, Rahe, & Hartup, 1979;Greenwood, Todd, Hops, & Walker, 1982;Odom, Hoyson, Jamieson, & Strain, 1985). Although the data are somewhat mixed, it is significant to note that when a direct comparison is made, peer-based group contingencies yield better outcomes than do adult-mediated approaches (Sancilio, 1987).…”