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URLEND Leadership Project2010/2011

Sid DavisMegan Bell

Sarah FrancisJacquelynn Bradley

PEERS:Program for Enhancing and Establishing Relational Skills

+Initial Project Idea

Partnership with the Best Buddies program

Pairing of young adults with high functioning autism/Asperger Syndrome with neurotypical peers

Original idea involved 1 hour meetings to practice conversational skills

Target young adults or college students

+Program Need

Existing service gap for adolescents with high functioning autism

One-to-one peer group settings have been shown to improve social skills

Utah State Office of Education reported serving 2,931 students with autism in the 2007/2008 school year

Individuals with autism loose structured social opportunities after graduation

Improving social skills in high school can ease transition after graduation

+Switch to Easter Seals Program

Best Buddies Different visions and goals Limited funding opportunities Smaller organization through University of Utah Best

Buddies Buddies program

Northern Rocky Mountain Easter Seals agency Similar vision plans Opportunities for development and sustainability Janet Wade, Director of Utah Services at Easter Seals

Northern Rocky Mountain

+PEERS Program Overview

Application process

Pairing with peer mentor

Orientation Time commitment and expectations

Community service and volunteer sites

Progress Notes/Monthly Check-ins Progress reports from supervisors Email check-ins Group socials Provides data for Transitioning services

+Program Elements

PEERS Proposal – Grant Opportunities

Program Application for Participants

Logic Model Worksheet

All documents approved by Easter Seals staff and legal representatives

+Future Directions

Phase I: Creation of PEERS pilot project (2010/2011)

Phase II: Implementation of PEERS project in Paradigm High School (2011/2012)

Phase III: Project to expand to multiple schools and larger demographic area in the Salt Lake Valley (2012/2013)

Phase IV: PEERS to expand to include college and higher educational settings (2013)

+A Parent’s Perspective…