A Collaborative Intervention for Autistic Children and Their Siblings: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

While involvement of parents and peers as mediators or collaborators in intervention are evidence-based practices for autistic children, there is currently little research on how siblings of autistic children might be included in the intervention experience. In this exploratory study, autistic children who were verbal communicators participated with their siblings in a collaborative intervention experience that included co-construction of Comic Strip Conversations and the playing of a cooperative game. Fidelity of implementation was high across intervention sessions for the six sibling pairs. Caregivers valued the intervention as a context for supportive sibling interactions. Overall, children enjoyed the activities but would have liked a wider variety of activities and shorter sessions. Speech-language pathologists saw promise in intervention activities. The authors hope that this research will set the stage for further exploration of how clinicians might include siblings in the intervention experience of autistic children.