research on social skills with teens in inclusive settings presented by: christina whalen, phd,...
TRANSCRIPT
Research on Social Skills with Teens in Inclusive Settings
Presented by:Christina Whalen, PhD, BCBA-D
• Community-based pre-employment, social development, and independence building program
• Serves teens with ASD and neuro-typical peer mentors with a 1:1 ratio
• Participants adhere to social rules and procedures similar to those found in the workplace or the community setting
• Generates awareness, promotes understanding and acceptance through community venues
Autism CommunityWorks®
Program Goals
• To increase ASD awareness and sensitivity of community partner staff members and neuro- typical peer mentors.
• To successfully demonstrate the employability and valued skill sets of individuals with ASDs.
• To help participants find full time jobs/careers or pursue higher education that utilizes skills developed through Autism CommunityWorks®
Impact
Since its inception, CommunityWorks® has:
• Served 356 teens with ASDs
• Created awareness and
understanding for 254 teen
mentors
• Trained 354 staff members and
volunteers at over 50 community sites
• Logged more than 37,960 community
service hours
Program Structure
Site Coordinator
Facilitator Facilitator
Program Structure
• Schedules• Goals• Timing devices• Rotations & zones• Data collection• Weekly parent contact• Report cards
Social Awareness1st half
2nd half 1st half
2nd half 1st half
2nd half 1st half
2nd half 1st half
2nd half
SA-1 Learner returns appropriate greetings with eye contact, independently for 4/4 probes.
SA-3 Learner says “Excuse me” when he or she accidentally bumps into others, independently for 4/4 probes.
Communication
BC-1 Learner follows instructions independently for 4/4 probes.
BC-6 Learner requests help, independently for 4/4 probes.
Objectives specific to the group/class (BASELINE FOR THE FIRST DAY) 1st half 2nd
half1st half 2nd
half1st half 2nd
half1st half 2nd
half1st half 2nd
half
PO 1 - Follows directives within 1 minute after these are given.
PO 2 - Stays on task and works at a steady pace.
PO 3 - Tolerates interruptions during work activities without evidence of escalation beyond pre-cursor behaviors.
PO 4 - Transitions from one activity to the next within 1 minute after asked to do so.
PO 5 - When asked to increase pace of work will do so within 1 minute after having been asked.
PO 6 - Uses relaxation techniques when pre-cursor behaviors re noted, without escalation to the next level.
PO 7 - Follows corrective feedback when provided without evidence of escalation beyond pre-cursor level.
PO 8 - Work independently without feedback during work time (i.e with monitoring only).
• LibraryWorks®
• GardenWorks®
• AZ Diamondbacks GoodDeedWorks®
• PowerWorks®
• PetWorks®
• TheatreWorks®
CommunityWorks ® Programs
• Tag books, CDs, DVDs
• Organize books, CDs, DVDs
• Reshelf books, CDs, DVDs
• Process Discards
• Special Projects
LibraryWorks®
• Planting• Fertilizing• Watering• Weeding
• Rose pruning
• Plant Care
• Special Projects
GardenWorks®
• Preparing basic food boxes• Sorting clothing donations• Removing invasive grass species
from city parks• Completing art projects for non-
profits• Assembling hygiene kits for the
homeless• Tending a community garden• Cleaning, stocking, and preparing
transitional housing
AZ Diamondbacks GoodDeedWorks®
• Sites – Homeward Bound– Hacienda Healthcare– United Food Bank– Habitat for Humanity– Phoenix Herpetological Society– Phoenix Revitalization Corporation– St. Mary’s Food Bank– Phoenix Weedwackers– Desert Botanical Gardens– Roosevelt Row Community Garden– Kids Need to Read
AZ Diamondbacks GoodDeedWorks®
2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-20140
5
10
15
20
25
30
# sitesnew sites
Good Deed Works®
41 differentlocations since Fall, 2011
Data show Fall-Summer
Video: Good Deed Works®
PowerWorks®
• Local YMCA’s and SpoFit
• Cardio• Zumba• Free weights• Swimming• Circuit training• Yoga• Team sports• Karate• Cycling• Hiking• Nutrition/Health• Social Rules and Safety• Self-Management
Video: PowerWorks®
PetWorks®
• Animal care• Dog, rescues• Phoenix Herpetological
Society• Phoenix Zoo• AZ Animal Welfare• Save the Animals Walk
Video: PetWorks®
TheatreWorks®
• Phoenix Theatre*• Summer Musical Theatre Program: Ages 12-16 years• Taught by professional directors• Nine 1-week programs with a performance on Friday
• Spotlight Youth Theatre*• Summer Musical Theatre Program: Ages 10-14 years• Taught by professional directors• Three 3-week programs with a performance at the
end of each session• Arizona Actors Academy*
• After-School Program: Ages 10-19 years• Taught by professional actors/directors• Weekly sessions for 14 weeks with a performance at
the end of each session• Childsplay Theatre
• Improv Workshops: Adults Ages 16+• Taught by professional actors & directors• 7-week program with a showcase performance for
family & friends
* With typical peers in theatres in the community
Video: TheatreWorks®
Leadership
• Peer Advisory Board
• CommunityWorks Outstanding Leader Scholarship
• Opportunities for continued involvement
Outcomes
Participants with ASD
AgeNumber of
Clients
13 7
14 9
15 12
16 14
17 14
18 12
19 8
TOTAL 76
Age range 13-19
Average Age 16.1
GenderMale 59
Female 17
EthnicityCaucasian 57
African American 5Hispanic 12
Asian 2
Vineland Scores
Site N CommunicationDaily Living
Skills Socialization Motor SkillsAdapt. Behav.
Comp
Library Works 31 69 68 63 97 65Garden Works 9 64 64 58 98 61Good Deed Works 11 74 71 65 104 68
Power Works 17 69 66 63 95 64
68
Peer Volunteers
AgeNumber of
Peers12 113 314 315 216 1317 1318 319 320 321 122 223 624 2
Total 55
Age range 12--27Average Age 17.7
GenderMale 13Female 42
EthnicityCaucasian 32
African American 2Hispanic 10
Asian 8Other 3
Problem Solving
Baselin
e 1
Baselin
e 2
Baselin
e 3Day
1Day
2Day
3Day
4Day
5Day
6Day
7 Day
8Day
9
Day 10
Day 11
POST0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Problem Solving
LibraryWorksGoodDeedWorksPowerWorksGardenWorks
Day
Perc
enta
ge C
orre
ct
n= 16Sig. p<.01
Staying on Task
Baselin
e 1
Baselin
e 2
Baselin
e 3Day
1Day
2Day
3Day
4Day
5Day
6Day
7 Day
8Day
9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
POST0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Staying on Task
LibraryWorksGoodDeedWorksPowerWorksGardenWorks
Day
Perc
enta
ge C
orre
ct
n= 23Sig. p<.01
Social Initiations
Baselin
e 1
Baselin
e 2
Baselin
e 3Day
1Day
2Day
3Day
4Day
5Day
6Day
7Day
8Day
9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
POST0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Initiating Interactions With Peers
LibraryWorksGoodDeedWorksPowerWorksGardenWorks
Day
Perc
enta
ge C
orre
ct
n= 24
Asking for Help
Baselin
e 1
Baselin
e 2
Baselin
e 3Day
1Day
2Day
3Day
4Day
5Day
6Day
7Day
8Day
9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
POST0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Asking Adults for Assistance
LibraryWorksGoodDeedWorksPowerWorksGardenWorks
Day
Perc
enta
ge C
orre
ct
n= 41Sig. p<.01
Social Responding
Baselin
e 1
Baselin
e 2
Baselin
e 3Day
1Day
2Day
3Day
4Day
5Day
6Day
7Day
8Day
9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
POST0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Responding/Maintaining Interactions With Peers
LibraryWorks GoodDeedWorksPowerWorksGardenWorks
Day
Perc
enta
ge C
orre
ct
n= 32Sig. p<.01
Greetings – Goodbye
Baselin
e 1
Baselin
e 2
Baselin
e 3Day
1Day
2Day
3Day
4Day
5Day
6Day
7Day
8Day
9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Post0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Greetings and Goodbyes
LibraryWorksGoodDeedWorksPowerWorksGardenWorks
Day
Perc
enta
ge C
orre
ct
n= 38Sig. p<.01
ResultsProblem Solving (n=16)Sig. p<.01
Staying on Task(n=23)Sig. p<.01
Social Initiations(n=24)Sig. p<.01
Asking for Help(n=41)Sig. p<.01
Social Responding(n=32)Sig. p<.01
Greetings(n=38)Sig. p<.01
Library Improved Improved Improved Improved Improved Improved
Good Deed Improved Improved Improved Improved Improved Improved
Garden No change Improved Improved Improved Improved Improved
Power Improved Improved Somewhat Improved
Improved Improved Improved
Conclusions
• Good Deed Works had the most consistent and dramatic progress across skills.
• Staying on task, social responding, and greetings improved greatly across all programs.
• Garden Works had inconsistent data for problem solving.• Power Works had less progress than other programs with
social initiations.• Overall, most participants made progress on their
individual goals.
Employment Placements
• 97 Successful Placements since 2008
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 20130
5
10
15
20
25
30
FiredLaid offQuitOther# placed# still employed
Christina Whalen, PhD, BCBA-D
602-218-8223
Contact Information
www.autismcenter.org