Peers as clinicians: Examining the impact of Stay Play Talk on social communication in young preschoolers with autism

•We measured the social communication produced by young preschoolers with ASD during a peer-mediated intervention called Stay Play Talk.•Three typically developing peer buddies intervened with three children with ASD during 20-min sessions across 6–8 weeks.•Initiations varied for children with ASD, but responses increased for all three children, exceeding baseline levels.•Social interactions between children with ASD and peer buddies increased for all three dyads, exceeding baseline levels.•Findings indicate that peer-mediated interventions may be an important supplement to an early intervention regimen.