Participate in PIPA
The study involves autistic children, their peer partners, and members of each child's school team, all working together to support social communication and connection.
Autistic Child
- Ages 3-6 years old
- Has autism or related characteristics
- Limited or no spoken language (fewer than 20 spontaneous words)
- Currently using or a candidate for a speech-generating device
- Attends a program with neurotypical peers
- Each family will receive $100 for participating
Peer Buddy
- Ages 3-6 years old
- Neurotypical
- Attends same program as autistic child
- Each family will receive $50 for participating
School Team Members
Lead Implementer:
- Learn strategies to increase children's social communication and interactions
- This may include speech-language pathologists (SLP), special education teachers, behavior therapists, paraprofessionals, or related personnel
- Receives $325 for providing intervention
ABC Evaluator:
- Complete four behavioral questionnaires
- Receives $60 for completing questionnaires
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“So much of my career has been focused on the child that I’m working with, and here in early childhood we have access to peers that are typically developing, and we include them, of course, but never have I facilitated to this degree to support their interactions with each other in this kind of approach, so it’s been amazing to see the progress."
Ashley Maiava (SLP, Lansing Early Childhood)