ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the literature about possible therapeutic benefits that autistics may obtain from social skills groups (SSGs) and peer-mediated activities. These two strategies predominantly involve autistics socially interacting with others. This chapter begins by presenting the contents of three literature reviews in which studies about the efficacy of SSGs for autistics have been examined. It then rates the efficacy of this support for autistics, provide several recommendations about where more research could be conducted in the future, and presents a series of insights and experiences from autistics about SSGs. It then examines the same elements about peer-mediated activities for autistics. It should be noted that social skills groups are most often run by non-autistics with the goal of ‘improving’ social skills. What improvement means in this context is not always made clear by providers, and may or may not be in tune with what individual autistics and/or their families deem useful. Peer mediated activities are usually organised by and for autistics themselves with the goal of socialising or engaging in activities of mutual interest. They can also be mentoring based, in which case the peer may or may not be autistic, but the activity is usually agreed on by both people.
