Autism Spectrum Disorder: Social Skills Interventions Using Peer-Mediated Strategies

1. Introduction 1.1 Background and Context 1.2 Objectives of the Study 1.3 Research Questions 1.4 Structure of the Thesis 2. Autism Spectrum Disorder Overview 2.1 Definition and Characteristics 2.2 Prevalence and Diagnosis 2.3 Impact on Social Skills 3. Social Skills Development 3.1 Importance of Social Skills 3.2 Challenges Faced by ASD Individuals 3.3 Theories of Social Skills Development 4. Peer-Mediated Strategies 4.1 Definition and Framework 4.2 Historical Development 4.3 Effectiveness in ASD Interventions 5. Implementing Peer-Mediated Interventions 5.1 Selecting Appropriate Peers 5.2 Training and Role of Peers 5.3 Structuring Social Interactions 6. Case Studies and Applications 6.1 Successful Interventions Examples 6.2 Analysis of Case Studies 6.3 Lessons Learned from Applications 7. Challenges and Limitations 7.1 Potential Barriers to Implementation 7.2 Limitations of Existing Research 7.3 Addressing Diverse Needs of ASD Individuals 8. Conclusion 8.1 Summary of Findings 8.2 Implications for Practice 8.3 Recommendations for Future Research