Design, validation, and testing of a virtual social skills training program for college students with autism

Abstract

Postsecondary or university education represents a significant challenge for young adults with autism spectrum disorder, partly due to the limited availability of support services tailored to their communication and social interaction needs. This study describes the design, content validation, and initial pilot testing of a virtual intervention program aimed at enhancing communication and social interaction skills among university students with autism. In the first phase, the program was developed based on systematic reviews and validated international programs, and subsequently assessed by 12 experts using criteria of sufficiency, clarity, coherence, and relevance, yielding favorable evaluations. The pilot phase involved four university students with autism (one male and three females) who completed two self-administered, validated social skills questionnaires for the Chilean population in a pre and post intervention format. Results indicated an overall trend toward improvement, although individual outcomes varied considerably. These findings suggest that structured virtual interventions may offer a viable approach to strengthening social skills in university students with autism, while underscoring the need for continued development and validation of culturally contextualized programs for higher education.