Illustrating a Supports-Based Approach Toward Friendship With Autistic Students

Vidal, V., Robertson, S., & DeThorne, L. S. (2018). Illustrating a Supports-Based Approach Toward Friendship With Autistic Students. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 27(2), 592-601. https://doi.org/10.1044/2018_ajslp-17-0075

Publication date: 6 Apr 2018 Added to AutiHub: 6 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English

This publication is integrated into AutiHub through:

Authors

Publication authors
3
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 3 (33.3%)

Abstract

Purpose: The present clinical focus article describes and illustrates 3 key elements of a supports-based approach to enhancing friendship with autistic students. Method: In comparison to the predominant skills-based approach, we highlight 3 key elements of a supports-based approach to social interaction for autistic children and youth. We then offer descriptive details of the activity-based music program as an illustrative example of a program that integrated all 3 elements of a supports-based approach. Specifically, we designed an activity-based music program to enhance social interaction among a 7-year-old autistic student and 4 of his nonautistic peers. Results: We focused on 3 key elements of a supports-based approach for enhancing peer interaction: (a) focusing on participation in a shared activity, (b) encouraging flexible use of multiple communicative resources, and (c) supporting egalitarian interaction. Conclusion: A supports-based approach presents a theoretically distinct and viable alternative to a skills-based approach in the design of social supports for autistic students and their peers.

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Bibliography inclusion overview

These indicators describe the cited bibliography imported for this publication. Cited-reference metrics use the cited-reference total as denominator. Cited-author metrics state whether they use all cited-author occurrences or only occurrences linked to authors already integrated in the AutiHub database. They use cached links between cited authors and authors integrated in the AutiHub database. Last computed: 16 Aug 2026 11:31.

Cited references
78
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
5 / 78 (6.4%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
5 / 205 (2.4%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 5 / 38 (13.2%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 3 / 183 (1.6%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
38 / 205 (18.5%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 26 / 183 (14.2%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
33 / 38 (86.8%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 33 / 205 (16.1%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 23 / 26 (88.5%).
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