Peers as clinicians: Examining the impact of Stay Play Talk on social communication in young preschoolers with autism

Highlights • We measured the social communication produced by young preschoolers with ASD during a peer-mediated intervention called Stay Play Talk. • Three typically developing peer buddies intervened with three children with ASD during 20-min sessions across 6–8 weeks. • Initiations varied for children with ASD, but responses increased for all three children, exceeding baseline levels. • Social interactions between children with ASD and peer buddies increased for all three dyads, exceeding baseline levels. • Findings indicate that peer-mediated interventions may be an important supplement to an early intervention regimen.