Table 1.

Participant information

Participant	Gender	Age	CARS	PPVT	Vineland
					Communication	Adaptive Composite
Sam	M	8	35	86	136	125
Ed	M	6	34	103	95	56
Brian	M	6	35	92	70	92

Note: CARS – all participants scored in the mild/moderate range of autism; PPVT – all participants scored in the average range; Vineland score descriptions: High – 130 and above, Moderately High – 115–129, Adequate – 86–114, Moderately Low – 71–85, and Low – 70 and belowAll participants had received a peer-mediated social skills intervention. The intervention, which involved a brief lesson about engaging in conversations with peers during play, included visual cues of possible comments and reinforcement for responding and initiating during a structured play activity. Peers were trained to interact with the participants with ASD and prompt the participants to respond and/or initiate communication. The focus of the social skills lessons was “asking and telling about” toys. Participant 1, Sam, was an 8 year old, second grade male student. His receptive language and academic skills were average to above average. During recess, he would attempt to be a part of the group, however he struggled with how to communicate to his peers and rarely initiated peer verbal interaction or responded to their comments.