Stakeholder Perceptions of the Acceptability of Peer‑Mediated Intervention for Minimally Speaking Preschoolers on the Autism Spectrum

Peer mediated intervention (PMI) is an evidence-based approach to supporting social and communication development for  children on the autism spectrum. For PMI to be integrated into everyday practice, it needs to be acceptable to stakeholders.  This article engaged with autistic individuals, early childhood educators, parents, and speech and language pathologists on  the prospective acceptability of implementing PMI with minimally speaking preschoolers in inclusive preschool settings.  Focus groups and semi-structured interviews were conducted. The transcriptions were analyzed qualitatively using refexive thematic analysis. Stakeholders described PMI as an acceptable intervention approach for this population and provided  valuable insights to inform the development and implementation of PMIs. Attention needs to be paid to how to support  preschools to adopt a PMI-friendly philosophy