Targeting IEP Social Goals for Children with Autism in an Inclusive Summer Camp

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Special Education
• Autism Spectrum Disorder Interventions

Background:

• Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often face social challenges impacting participation in activities.
• These social deficits can persist or worsen without intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate if paraprofessionals could implement individualized education program (IEP) social goals during a summer camp.
• To assess the effectiveness of short-term, inclusive summer camp social interventions.

Main Methods:

• A concurrent multiple baseline design was used, collecting data across four children.
• Interventions were delivered by supervised paraprofessionals in an inclusive summer camp setting.

Main Results:

• All participants achieved significant social improvements, meeting their year-long IEP goals after a 2-week camp.
• Social gains were maintained at follow-up in the children's natural environments.
• Paraprofessionals demonstrated high fidelity in implementing the social goals.

Conclusions:

• Inclusive summer camps are a viable setting for delivering social skills interventions for children with ASD.
• Supervised paraprofessionals can effectively implement IEP social goals.
• Short-term, intensive social interventions can yield lasting benefits.