Interactions between people using alternative or augmentative communication systems and their friends or family can be videotaped. Social skills training improves the social and communicative abilities not only of students with autism , but also of typical peers as well as the abilities of at-risk, less socially aware students. Role playing is a child-friendly strategy that can be fun and provide positive practice of newly learned skills. Once the student with autism enters the class, many of the activities described as preinclusion strategies can continue to benefit all students. The inclusion of a student with autism in a classroom provides an opportunity to reflect on and improve the classroom's social climate.
All students can gain insight and acceptance of difference and diversity among students.
Communicative and social interaction skills of all students can increase. The student with autism can learn communicative and social skills as well as feeling comfortable to grow and learn within his supportive environment. Persons interested in submitting material for Current Topics in Review should contact Stephen W. Smith, Dept. of Special Education, G315 Norman Hall, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 326112053. Getting to know Abby. Legal issues concerning children with autism and pervasive developmental disabilities.