Using Video Modeling as an Anti-bullying Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Rex et al. (2018) showed short videos to six children with autism. The clips modeled calm, clear ways to say “Stop” and walk away from bullying.

The team ran a multiple-baseline design. Each child watched the same three-minute video until they could act it out with an adult.

All six kids learned the assertive lines. Four later used the lines when a stranger in the park pretended to tease them.

The other two needed one quick live rehearsal before they showed the skill outside the clinic.

Abadir et al. (2021) copied the same video-modeling recipe to teach abduction-prevention. Both studies got fast learning and real-world use, so the method looks solid across safety topics.

Groom-Sheddler et al. (2025) pushed the idea further. They let kids star in their own videos and added short in-situ practice when needed. Their tweak gives you a back-up plan if plain video modeling stalls.

LeBlanc et al. (2003) did the groundwork. They first showed that video plus praise teaches social-cognitive skills to children with autism. Catherine’s team simply swapped the target from perspective-taking to anti-bullying.

You can build a safety library with one tablet. Record a peer saying “Stop, I don’t like that,” and show it before recess. Probe on the playground the same day. If the learner freezes, add one live walk-through and probe again. The whole cycle takes ten minutes and shields kids with autism from bullying without long talks or social stories.