Taylor, B. A., & Levin, L. (1998).
Teaching a student with autism to make verbal initiations: Effects of a tactile prompt.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
31, 651-654.
This study examined the effects of a tactile prompting device
(the Gentle Reminder) as a prompt for a student with autism to
make verbal initiations about his play activities. A multiphase
multielement design was used to assess the effects of the device
in prompting initiations toward an adult in three different play
contexts. Follow-up probes were conducted during cooperative
learning activities with typically developing peers in the
student's regular education class. The results suggest that the
device serves as an effective, unobtrusive prompt for verbal
initiations during play contexts and during cooperative learning
activities.
DESCRIPTORS: autism, social initiations, prompting, verbalizations