The effectiveness of animated video modeling in teaching joint attention skills to children with autism

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of animated video modeling in teaching joint attention initiation and joint attention response skills to children with autism. Method: This study was conducted with six participants diagnosed with autism aged between 3.5 and 5.5 years. A multiple probe design across participants was utilized in the study. Results: The findings of the study showed that animated video modeling was ef-fective in teaching participants to initiate joint attention and to respond to joint attention skills. Additionally, participants maintained the acquired target skills 15, 30, and 60 days after the intervention was terminated. They also generalized these skills to different ob-jects, settings, and individuals. Conclusion and Suggestions: The findings of this study suggest that children with autism can acquire joint attention skills, including initiating and responding to joint attention, through animated video modeling. Based on these findings, it is recommended that practitioners working with individuals with autism utilize animated video modeling to teach joint attention skills. Keywords: Autism, Joint Attention, Video Modeling, Animated Video Modeling