Common questions from BCBAs and RBTs
Responding means the child looks at what you point to. Initiating means the child points or looks to share something with you. Both are important and may need separate teaching goals.
Yes, when taught with multiple exemplar training across different people, toys, and places. Using natural play settings like playdates builds in real-world practice.
Only if the turn-taking has a clear social purpose. Simply passing objects back and forth may not be enough. Make sure the turn-taking involves eye contact and shared focus.
Yes. Augmented reality programs like Pictogram Room have been used in school settings and can reliably improve gaze following and pointing in children with autism aged three to eight.
Research shows that children with autism may orient their gaze without grasping the shared meaning or intention behind the bid. Target joint intention explicitly — not just gaze shifts — during social play routines.