SENSE Theatre Intervention for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

The investigator's goal is to address the need for the development of social interventions
for youth with autism in an innovative intervention, SENSE Theatre. The intervention blends
established behavioral strategies with theatre techniques that emphasize the involvement of
peers, play and performance. The resulting synergy extends promising pilot studies in a
randomized group experiment.

Objectives: The purpose of the study is to evaluate and extend the impact of a
peer-mediated, theatre-based intervention on children with ASD with an emphasis on social
functioning. The 10-session program incorporates theatrical approaches, trained typically
developing peers and established behavioral strategies. Previous studies using pre-post
designs have reported improvement in several skills, such as face memory, theory of mind and
social cognition. A primary objective of this investigation is to utilize a true
experimental design while evaluating social ability across multiple levels of analysis
including neuropsychological, cognitive, behavioral, and functional outcomes.

Inclusion Criteria:

- children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder with IQ ≥ to 70.

Exclusion Criteria:

- IQ ≤ 70, children with current aggression toward self or others.