Evidence for the Effectiveness of Occupation-Based Interventions to Improve Social Participation for School-Aged Autistic Children: A Rapid Systematic Review

Abstract

A rapid systematic review of the literature was conducted to review effective occupational therapy interventions for promoting social participation in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was conducted as part of the Evidence-Based Literature Review Project of the American Occupational Therapy Association. This review provides a comprehensive overview and analysis of 30 studies that addressed many of the occupation-based interventions commonly used for children with ASD. Findings reveal that the use of occupation-based activities has reasonable, yet limited evidence to support its effectiveness in increasing social participation within this population. This review supports the premise that many client factors can be positively affected through the use of several commonly used occupational therapy–related modalities and methods. Further research should be conducted assessing the implementation of these interventions by occupational therapy practitioners to ensure generalizability. The implications for occupational therapy practice, research, and education and limitations of reviewed articles are presented within this systematic review.