ABSTRACT
This chapter assesses the impact of a dramatherapy intervention on the early social behaviours of young children aged 5-7 with autistic spectrum conditions (ASC). It describes a study that uses a new observable assessment tool from Gillis, Callahan and Romanczykv, The Behavioural Assessment of Social Communication of Young Children, to measure and collate outcomes, along with rating scales completed by teachers and parents. The chapter demonstrates that dramatherapy is an effective intervention in ameliorating difficulties in social interaction with young children with ASC. It examines how signs of early interactive communication are delayed or seen as deficit. The chapter argues that sensory processing difficulties account for many of the problems in forming relationships. It presents vignettes, based on the therapist's observations, to demonstrate how the dramatherapy sessions impacted upon the early social behaviour of the young autistic children in the group, and to show how children with different sensory needs were able to become more responsive in their social interaction.
