This SIG 10 activity examines naturalistic interventions supporting social communication. The first article by Harwood, Macaruso, Zuccolo, Tabile, Schiarizzi-Tobin, and Musella describes a social communication course for autistic students that is embedded in a postsecondary transition program aiming to enhance academic success and retention during the first year of college. The second article by Durling, Wilkinson, and Dunleavy explores how a semester-long performing arts program promotes self-expression and authentic peer relationships in students with and without developmental disabilities by supporting important social and communication goals.

Learning Outcomes
You will be able to:

• summarize the concepts of positive psychology as related to social communication intervention for autistic adults
• describe how specific performance arts activities support specific social communication outcomes

Assessment Type
Self-assessment—Think about what you learned and report on the Completion Form how you will use your new knowledge.

Articles in This Course

1. STARTing Over: Creating an Inclusive Social Communication Course for First-Year Autistic College Students by Vanessa Harwood, Lisa Macaruso, Gabriela Zuccolo, Alexa Tabile, Nina Schiarizzi-Tobin, and Katharine Musella, published in SIG 10, Published online April 4, 2025
2. The Role of Performing Arts in Promoting Valued Communication Outcomes in Individuals With and Without Developmental Disabilities by Megan Durling, Krista Wilkinson, and Michele Dunleavy, published in SIG 10, Volume 9, Issue 4, August 2024