TEACHING CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SOCIAL PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS THROUGH COMPUTER-ASSISTED INSTRUCTION

Abstract

Interpersonal conflicts with peers prevent children with autism to establish normal relationships. The present study used a Social Problem Solving computer software to improve alternative thinking skills in problem solving of 3 children with autism. The children showed an increase in the number of alternative solutions generated in the trained problem situations, as well as in the non-trained situations, presented in the programme. This supports the earlier findings of a study by Bernard-Opitz, Nakhoda-Sapuan, & Sriram (in press). Contrived situations were planned to further investigate issues on generalization. Preliminary evidence showed that the children might be able to generalize to skills taught during training in similar natural settings. The influence of alternative thinking on creativity and consequential thinking was discussed. Social validity of the programme was assessed.