PEERS® Program
The Program for the Evaluation and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) is the only evidence-based social skills program for teenagers and young adults with autism developed by Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson from the University of California (UCLA). The globally-recognised PEERS® program focuses on the delivery of an intervention for adolescents with autism and other social challenges who are experiencing difficulty making and maintaining friendships. PEERS® for Young Adults also addresses dating and romantic relationships. The programs teach ecologically valid social skills that address the social challenges that individuals with autism face.
PEERS® is a positive, proactive and strengths-based approach to help motivated teenagers and young adults improve their social skills and make connections with others. Parents/carers are integral to the success of the intervention and train as social coaches to assist their young people.
Each week, a new social skill topic is covered and participants are given a small homework task to complete before the next session. In order to participate in our program, there is an intake process that helps to determine if the PEERS® program is suitable for you.
Affinity Skill Development can deliver the PEERS® program via in-person group workshops, online sessions, boot camps, in the school context, and individually. Elements of the program will vary slightly depending on the delivery method.
PEERS® can be appropriate for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Anxiety, Depression or other social and behavioural disorders.
Please contact us if you'd like to learn more about the PEERS® program and other services Affinity Skill Development has to offer.
Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson
DELIVERY
Online Telehealth Sessions
The online delivery of PEERS® social skills program for teens and young adults runs for 90 minutes each week for 14 weeks. During each session, individuals are taught important social skills and given the opportunity to practice them during socialisation activities. Group sizes range from 8-10 young people.
Parents/carers/social coaches are integral to this program and attend separate online sessions in order to support their teen or young adult.
Group Workshops
PEERS® is a social skills intervention for motivated adolescents and young adults who are interested in learning ways to make and keep friends and develop more meaningful connections.
Our in-person group workshops are 90-minute sessions that run for 14 weeks. During each session, participants are taught important social skills and given the opportunity to practice the skills they have learnt during socialisation activities.
Parents/carers are integral to this program and attend separate sessions in order to support the participants.
Boot Camps
We run two different weekend boot camps. Group size ranges from 8-10 teens.
PEERS® Conversation Boot Camp
Attendees are presented with targeted skills through didactic instruction, role-play demonstrations, and have the opportunity to practice the newly-learned skills through behavioural rehearsal exercises. During these behavioural rehearsals, attendees will practice with direct coaching from our team.
PEERS® Bully-Proofing Boot Camp
Attendees are presented with targeted skills through didactic instruction, role-play demonstrations, and have the opportunity to practice the skills through small group behavioural rehearsal exercises with direct coaching from our team.
School-Based Delivery
The PEERS® curriculum brings UCLA's highly acclaimed and widely popular PEERS® program into the school setting. This 16-week program has been shown to significantly improve social skills and peer interactions among young people with autism spectrum disorder and other social challenges. We deliver the program in 90-minute sessions each week at your educational institution.
The curriculum is broken down into lesson plans with concrete rules and steps, corresponding homework tasks and fun socialisation activities to ensure that participants practice what they've learned. We also provide handouts to inform parents/carers about what the young people are learning so the social skills can be reinforced in the home environment and other contexts.
Affinity Skill Development can work with your school to deliver the PEERS® program in a way that works for you and your students.
Individual Sessions
PEERS® is a social skills intervention for motivated adolescents and young adults who are interested in learning ways to make and keep friends and develop more meaningful connections.
Individual sessions are offered on a limited case-by-case basis.
Our individual program includes 90-minute sessions that run for 14 weeks. During each session, participants are taught important social skills and given the opportunity to practice the skills they have learnt during socialisation activities.
Parents/carers are integral to the program and attend separate sessions in order to support their young person.
ADOLESCENT PEERS® program topics
Conversational Skills
Electronic Communication
Electronic Communication
The program focuses on the trading of information, finding common interests, having reciprocal two-way conversations and how to enter and exit conversations.
Electronic Communication
Electronic Communication
Electronic Communication
Due to the rapid increase of technology use by our teens, we discuss how to communicate appropriately online and via phone.
Choosing Friends
Electronic Communication
Choosing Friends
We look at ways that teens can find sources of friends and make and maintain appropriate friendships.
Using Humour
Good Sportsmanship
Choosing Friends
Humour can be very important when building friendships, particularly for teens with autism. We look at humour feedback and help teens to use humour appropriately.
Get-Togethers
Good Sportsmanship
Good Sportsmanship
We focus on teaching teens how to organise and implement a get-together with potential friends.
Good Sportsmanship
Good Sportsmanship
Good Sportsmanship
We help teens understand how to be a good sport and interact harmoniously with peers during activities. Many teens focus on winning as the ultimate goal; we challenge these priorities for teens.
Rejection and Bullying
Handling Disagreements, Rumours and Gossip
Handling Disagreements, Rumours and Gossip
We give teens strategies to handle teasing (verbal attacks) and bullying, including physical forms of aggression.
Handling Disagreements, Rumours and Gossip
Handling Disagreements, Rumours and Gossip
Handling Disagreements, Rumours and Gossip
We teach teens skills to help them resolve misunderstandings and disagreements with peers. Sessions also give teens the necessary tools for handling situations in which they are the target of rumours or gossip.
