An Interactive Social Tutoring System to Improve and Measure Social Goals for Students with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders

This project develops and evaluates a software program using innovative interactive technology specifically designed to provide social skills training to kindergarten through 2nd grade students with high functioning autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). The program provides teachers with a means to track and document students’ progress towards social goals and is accompanied by professional development tools for teachers. The Interactive Social Tutoring System: (1) targets social skills that are particularly affected in students with ASD, (2) may be applied at the individual student level, (3) provides self-paced learning with individualized adaptation and progression, (4) utilizes instructional software for interactive social tutoring, (5) provides performance tracking and student progress reporting, (6) provides teachers with on-going access to professional development and implementation support tools, and (7) is based on rigorous, experimental research establishing its benefits.