The present study aimed to examine patterns of visuospatial processing style and social functioning across groups of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), children with Down syndrome (DS), and children with typical development. The primary hypothesis was that particular patterns of social functioning and play would coincide with a detail-focused visuospatial processing style in the children with ASDs, while contrasting patterns would be present with a globally-focused processing style in DS. The children with typical development were expected to fall between these two groups on a continuum representing two extremes of visuospatial processing style. Participants were 18 children with ASDs, 18 children with DS, and 18 typically developing children. The children with ASDs were matched on mean nonverbal and verbal mental age to the typically developing controls, and the two clinical groups were matched on mean chronological age. Overall, results confirmed the predicted patterns across the groups. The children with ASDs evidenced a detail-focused visuospatial processing style in concert with a reduced frequency of attempts to share information and attention with others, as well as play that was more object-based. In contrast, the children with DS showed a globally-focused visuospatial processing style that was present alongside relatively enhanced social functioning and increased frequency of pretend play. The data in the present study support evidence of the hypothesized contrasting profiles of visuospatial processing style, social functioning, and play in children with autism spectrum disorders and children with Down syndrome, and suggest that these strengths and weaknesses should be considered in treatment and educational planning.