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2621 The F.R.I.E.N.D. Program: Fostering Relationships in Early Network Development

Friday, July 13, 2007: 3:00 PM-4:15 PM

Herberger Ballroom 2 (The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa)

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The F.R.I.E.N.D. Program creates opportunities for students with ASD to improve social communication skills in a natural setting, prompted by peers and staff. Guidelines for educators and parents for peer sensitivity training, strategies for promoting successful social interactions, tips on how to create F.R.I.E.N.D. groups and ideas for language-based activities are included. The FRIEND Program can be adapted to students of any age or skill level. An evaluation of the FRIEND Program’s effectiveness in the Scottsdale Unified School District will be presented. The movement toward the educational inclusion of children with autism spectrum disorders has been encouraged by professionals who argue that exposure to typically developing children will enhance the competence of children with special needs. However, it is not enough to merely place a child with autism in the same classroom with typical peers. Without the implementation of a comprehensive social-skills program, students with autism are vulnerable and often neglected and rejected by their typical classmates. This rejection not only compromises their academic and social gains but can have detrimental long-term effects.

The FRIEND program provides an opportunity for students with ASD to improve social communication skills in a natural setting, prompted by their peers and staff. This program is designed to assist educators, parents and others that impact the student's daily educational experience by providing guidelines for peer sensitivity training for classmates, strategies for promoting successful social interactions, tips on how to create a FRIEND group and ideas for language based activities. The program can be adapted to students of any age or skill level.

Major Points:

Easy-to-use, comprehensive social skills program for students with ASD and their peers

Understand learning characteristics and social communication differences and challenges for individuals with ASD

Peer sensitivity training for neurotypical peers in the school setting

Evaluation of a shool based program

Participant Outcomes:

After completing this presentation, participants will be able to:

1. Understand the abilities and challenges of social communication skills for individuals with ASD

2. Develop opportunities for appropriate peer interactions, social communication skill development and lasting friendships through strategic programming

3. Facilitate social groups for students with ASD and their peers

4. Facilitate appropriate activities and interactions for students in a group setting with a range of skill levels and interests

5. Promote inclusion through understanding, tolerance and acceptance of individuals with ASD at their school community

Learning Objectives:

Understand the abilities and challenges of social communication skills in the educational setting.
Develop opportunities for appropriate peer interactions, social communication skill development and lasting friendships through strategic programming.
Facilitate social groups for students with ASD and their peers.
Facilitate appropriate activities and interactions for students ina group setting with a range of skill levels and interests.
Promote inclusion through understanding, tolerance and acceptance of individuals with ASD, by their peers and school community.

Content Area: Social Skills

Presenters:

Sharman Ober-Reynolds, MSN, RN, C-FNP
SARRC Research Coordinator
Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center

Sharman Ober-Reynolds, M.S.N., R.N., C-FNP, Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center: As Research Coordinator for SARRC, Ms. Ober-Reynolds coordinates collaborative research designed to determine the genetic vulnerability of autism through family linkage, proteomics and gene expression studies as well as research evaluating behavioral interventions and novel psychopharmacological agents for ASD. Ms. Ober-Reynolds received her MSN at UCLA, where she also worked as an adjunct professor in Community Health Nursing and Nursing Research. She co-wrote the F.R.I.E.N.D. Manual, a social inclusion/peer sensitivity training program designed to support individuals with ASD. Sharman has three terrific sons, the oldest of which has autism.

Sheri S. Dollin, M.Ed.
Director of Education and Training Programs
Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center

Sheri Dollin, M.Ed., The Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center: As Director of Education and Training at SARRC, Ms. Dollin uses 30 years of experience to train and support schools and families. She has written on a variety of topics on ASD and co-wrote the FRIEND Manual, a social inclusion/peer sensitivity training. Sheri provides paraprofessional training with Diane Twachtman-Cullen, has served as an adjunct professor, mediator, taught in early childhood programs and is currently on the Arizona Education Autism Steering Committee. Ms. Dollin attended the U of A and received a Masters in Early Childhood Education from Wheelock College, Boston.

Doreen Muir, BA, Ed.
Autism Awareness/Peer Sensitivity Training/Parent Outreach
Scottsdale Unified School District

Doreen Muir , BA Ed., Scottsdale Unified School District as Autism Awareness/Peer Sensitivity Training/Parent Outreach- - Ms. Muir conducts autism training and sensitivity presentations for students, faculty, and parents. She has been teaching for 14 years and has experience in both bilingual education and working with students with dyslexia using the Lindamood-Bell Phonemic Sequencing (LiPS) program. She received her degree from the University of Arizona. She is the mother of two boys diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum.

Linda Kraynak, M.SpEd
Autism Awareness/Peer Sensitivity Training/Parent Outreach
Scottsdale Unified School District

Linda Kraynak, M.SpEd, Scottsdale Unified School District, Autism Awareness/Peer Sensitivity Training/Parent Outreach - Ms Kraynak conducts autism training and sensitivity presentations for students, faculty, and parents. She has taught Special Education students at elementary, middle, and high school. Ms Kraynak attended San Diego State University and University of Maryland. She received her Masters degree in Special Education from Touro College, New York. Ms. Kraynak is the mother of one boy with autism.

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