Exploring feasibility and fit: Peer-mediated interventions for high school students with autism spectrum disorders

Erik W. Carter, Jessica R. Dykstra Steinbrenner, & Laura J. Hall

Although peer-mediated interventions can provide effective pathways for enhancing the social outcomes of students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), their application within secondary schools has been fairly limited. In this exploratory study, we examined the implementation of peer support arrangements and peer networks for 102 adolescents with ASD attending 15 public high schools. Our focus was on the characteristics of students selected to receive these two interventions, the fidelity with which each was implemented, and the views of participating educators on the social validity of both. Educators involved a wide range of students with ASD in these interventions, delivered each with varied levels of fidelity, and considered both approaches to be acceptable and feasible. We highlight some of the complexities associated with delivering these social-focused interventions in high school settings and offer recommendations for future research and practice.

Citation: 

Carter, E.W., Dykstra Steinbrenner, J. R., & Hall, L. J. (2019). Exploring feasibility and fit: Peer-mediated interventions for high school students with autism spectrum disorders. School Psychology Review, 48(2), 157-169.