A review of social skills interventions for adults with autism and intellectual disability

This article critically reviews strategies and interventions used to develop social skills with adults with autism and ID. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature search identified five studies meeting inclusion criteria. Findings Positive outcomes were reported in promoting positive social behaviours. However, it is not possible to make conclusions regarding the efficacy of social skills interventions for this population due to the limited quantifiable data and small sample sizes. Research limitations/implications The limited number of studies in the review impacts on its conclusions. Two of the papers included only one participant with both ID and autism. Practical implications A range of people need to be involved in supporting and developing social skills (peers, care staff, professionals). More research is needed in a variety of settings. Future research should attend to consistency of outcome measurement, service user perspectives, generalisation of skills, and documenting consent procedures. Originality/value This review focused on interventions for both positive and negative social behaviours used with adults with ID (of all levels) and autism.
Source: Tizard Learning Disability Review - Category: Disability Source Type: research