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document
A play and joint attention intervention for teachers of young children with autism : a randomized controlled pilot study . The aim of this study was to pilot test a classroom-based intervention focused on facilitating play and joint attention for young children with autism in self-contained special education classrooms . Thirty-three children with autism between the ages of 3 and 6 years participated in the study with their classroom teachers ( n = 14 ) . The 14 preschool special education teachers were randomly assigned to one of three groups : ( 1 ) symbolic play then joint attention intervention , ( 2 ) joint attention then symbolic intervention , and ( 3 ) wait-list control period then further randomized to either group 1 or group 2 . In the intervention , teachers participated in eight weekly individualized 1-h sessions with a researcher that emphasized embedding strategies targeting symbolic play and joint attention into their everyday classroom routines and activities . The main child outcome variables of interest were collected through direct classroom observations . Findings indicate that teachers can implement an intervention to significantly improve joint engagement of young children with autism in their classrooms . Furthermore , multilevel analyses showed significant increases in joint attention and symbolic play skills . Thus , these pilot data emphasize the need for further research and implementation of classroom-based interventions targeting play and joint attention skills for young children with autism .
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Intervention_Educational
play and joint attention intervention
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Intervention_Educational
symbolic play then joint attention intervention
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Intervention_Educational
joint attention then symbolic intervention
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Intervention_Control
wait-list control period then further randomized to either group 1 or group 2 .
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Outcome_Physical
intervention to significantly improve joint engagement
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Outcome_Physical
significant increases in joint attention and symbolic play skills .
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Outcome_Physical
play and joint attention skills
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Participant_Condition
teachers of young children with autism :