This exploratory study compared the social-communicative performance of six preschool children with developmental delays during free play in both mainstream and reverse integration program settings. It included an analysis of attention-getting devices as a strategy for optimizing the success of social-communicative interactions. Performance was similar across settings. Neither setting appeared to promote adequate rates of initiating and responding. The use of attention-getting devices by children and conversational partners increased the number of successful interactions and should be encouraged as an intervention strategy regardless of integration setting.
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