Development of Social Skills by Using Simulation Method for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Simulation has proven effective for teaching skills to children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). It involves supervised imitation of real-life activities in a controlled environment. As ASD children struggle with observational learning, simulated scenarios help them comprehend and learn appropriate behaviors. Simulation, like video modeling, where kids imitate behavior shown in videos, provides lifelike experiences for exploring and practicing skills. Research on the simulation method's impact on ASD children's social skills is limited, especially in developing countries like Pakistan. This study focused on using video modeling to enhance greeting and sharing skills in ASD students in Lahore. Employing a single-subject ABA design, three ASD students showed significant improvement in goal attainment after the intervention. The findings suggest that simulation method (video modeling) positively influences ASD children's social skills.