THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STEREOTYPIC BEHAVIOR AND PEER SOCIAL-INTERACTION FOR CHILDREN WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES

The purpose of this study was to examine the collateral relationship b etween engagement in social interaction with peers and the occurrence of stereotypic behavior for two children With severe disabilities. Pee rs without disabilities were taught to make social initiations to two children with autism and other severe disabilities who engaged in high rates of stereotypic behavior. When the peers made social initiations and the children with disabilities increased their engagement in soci al interaction, collateral decreases occurred in their stereotypic beh avior. Within an ABAB design, the functional relationship between thes e variables was demonstrated. implications of these findings for desig ning interventions for promoting social integration and their possible effects on stereotypic behavior are noted.