Video Modelling to Teach Social and Play Skills to Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Christos Nikopoulos (Autism Consultancy Services, London)
Invited Paper
AUT
Biography:Dr. Christos Nikopoulos is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (Doctoral Level; BCBA-D), former member of the Board of Directors of the BACB and of the European Association of Behaviour Analysis (EABA). He has served as a clinician, a University lecturer, an educator, a consultant, a researcher, and an author in the areas of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual and other developmental disabilities, as well as neurological and behavioural interventions in special education for more than 23 years. He is currently the founder and CEO of Autism Consultancy Services in London (UK) and Riyadh (KSA).
He has obtained international experience in working with children with autism and other developmental disabilities--from 18 months old until adults--as well as their families and has published widely on the topic. Dr. Nikopoulos has co-authored two books and a few book chapters that have become key reference texts on subject of video modelling and autism and he has been chosen to deliver keynote speeches at international conferences quite frequently (more than 90 presentations at international conferences worldwide).
Dr. Nikopoulos has also obtained substantial experience in the administration of a number of assessments tools as well as employing a variety of different behavioural procedures/methods, running home- and school-based intervention programmes in many European and Middle East countries. He is also either the Course Leader or the Lecturer of five BACB Verified Course Sequences (VCS) in Europe.
Finally, due to his research activities and expertise in the area of autism, he has gained the award of Chartered Scientist from the Science Council, he is the scientific advisor for the Research Autism charity, an EU expert reviewer, as well as a reviewer for a number of international journals and governmental agencies.
Abstract: Peer relations serve many important functions in children’s development. Social reciprocity or reciprocal peer interactions occur when children engage in social interactions with one another or when their actions support each other in their relationships. In autism spectrum disorder (ASD), however, reciprocity of social exchange is missing and is manifest as a lack of both social responses and initiations to other people. Over the years, various behavioral strategies have been developed to promote social interactions between children with ASD and their peers for a successful integration in inclusion settings. Video modelling, as one of them, is not only an effective and evidence-based method for developing many social and play skills, but it can also be a practical and efficient tool that is well-suited to the school environment. In this presentation, pertinent video modeling methodologies will be explored and specific suggestions on the effective use of video modeling will be provided.