Evaluating a Peer-Education Intervention for Autistic Middle-School Students and Their Peers

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Fleming, J. I., VanUitert, V. J., Wilson, S. E., & Cook, B. G. (2026). Evaluating a Peer-Education Intervention for Autistic Middle-School Students and Their Peers. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, Article 10883576261493030. https://doi.org/10.1177/10883576261493030

Publication date: 21 Oct 2026 Added to AutiHub: 23 Oct 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
4
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 4 (25.0%)
  1. Jesse I. Fleming
  2. Victoria J. VanUitert *
  3. Sarah Emily Wilson
  4. Bryan G. Cook

Abstract

Peer-education interventions can be used to improve peer knowledge of autism and attitudes toward autistic students. In this study, we used an embedded experimental mixed methods design to assess the impact and social validity of Kit for Kids, a peer-education intervention for elementary and middle-school students. The sample included 64 middle-school students (6th and 7th grade) without autism, three autistic middle-school students, and three teachers. Differences in posttest scores on knowledge and attitudes between intervention and control groups were statistically different and changes persisted over a 1-week period. Social validity assessments from participants indicated generally positive feedback for the goals, procedures, and outcomes of the intervention. Qualitative survey responses and semi-structured interviews revealed participant experiences and potential adaptations for future research. We discuss the implications of our work for educators and provide recommendations for future research to support autistic students in inclusive settings.

Bibliography cited by this reference

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Cited bibliography overview

These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 27 Oct 2026 09:28.

Cited references
43
With a DOI
38
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
5
7 / 43 (16.3%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
2 / 43 (4.7%)
References with detected author names
41 / 43 (95.3%)
Without detected author names
2
Without a structured title
2
Without a stable identifier
5
References with raw author names still to review
2
References with external metadata lookup issues
0
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
117
From DOI or external metadata
117
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
2
50 / 117 (42.7%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 67 / 117 (57.3%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
11 / 117 (9.4%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 11 / 50 (22.0%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 9 / 107 (8.4%).
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