About: This webinar will explain how improving pretend play skills in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can “play it forward” to improve a wide array of social and communication skills. The presenters will provide practical information to aid speech-language pathologists in selecting goals and strategies that will support the expansion of pretend play in young children with ASD.
Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to explain to parents, teachers, and administrators how working on pretend play goals can contribute to improved social and communication skills in children with ASD; use a developmental play sequence to choose appropriate, individualized pretend play goals, and apply decision rules to determine when to modify play goals; and select play intervention strategies adapted to behavior and learning patterns common among young children with ASD.