Increasing Social Communication by Teaching Texting to Autistic Children.

Four autistic children learned to text back-and-forth. The team used behavioral skills training: model, practice, feedback. They ran a multiple-baseline design across kids.

Coaches taught scripted openers, follow-ups, and closings. Kids practiced on real phones. New texting partners appeared later to test if skills traveled.

Every child reached fluent texting conversations. Skills stayed strong one month later. Kids also texted new people they had never met.

Parents said their children now texted at home too.

Ishikawa et al. (2019) got autistic kids talking face-to-face by prompting them to echo a peer’s topic word. Wilson et al. (2023) shows the same back-and-forth can live inside a phone. Same goal, new channel.

Richman et al. (2001) used video models to teach spoken conversation. Texting replaces the TV screen with a chat window and still works. The skill jumps from watching to typing.

Waugh et al. (2015) ran a group social-skills class with stories and games. Wilson et al. (2023) shows one-to-one texting lessons can also lift social communication. Pick class or phone, both move the needle.

If a child avoids eye contact or speech, texting can still give them real friends. You can start a session with a phone instead of a table-top toy. Script a short opener, let the child hit send, and build from there. No extra gear—just a device families already own.