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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…
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