Lil’ LINKS Peer to Peer Support

Overview of Peer to Peer Support Why is peer to peer support important? What do we need to do to start a peer to peer support program? Recruitment, Training and Maintenance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cvGNScztjs&feature=share&list=UL2cvG NScztjs

Why peer to peer support in important. Prevalence of ASD is now 1:88 More children with disabilities are being educated in regular classrooms Research demonstrates that peer to peer support benefits both sets of peers The ultimate goal if for every person to be able to participate in their local community

Peer support vs. Aide support Aide support is provided by a paid adult Peer support is provided by other students Aide support is focused on helping the child with academic skills Peer support is focused on helping the child with ASD learn social norms Aide support costs money. Peer support is free (we can afford free!)

Teaching the Hidden Curriculum Why social skills matter

Kids will learn what is socially appropriate from other kids!

Peer to Peer Support Programs Teach general education students about autism spectrum disorders (otherwise kids will form their own conclusions about why students behave a certain way). Develop tolerance and acceptance with the general education population. Give students with autism a chance to practice social skills in all settings within the building which helps built social competence.

Types of Peer Support Peer befriending or buddy systems Peer listening Circle of friends Peer Mentoring Peer Mediation Peer Advocacy Peer Education Peer Tutoring

What Will it Look Like at Kids and Company? Present it to the children as “being a friend” or being a “special friend” to another child In addition to helping children through these social scenarios, it can also be informal experiences such as: Link helping friends with cleaning up, getting coat on, play on playground, etc Essentially an Anti-bullying program Similar to Conscious Discipline, but more intentional approach

Utilizing Peer Support at Various Grade Levels Preschool and Early Childhood Buddy system: Being a Friend Elementary Peer assisted learning. Paired for reading, writing, spelling, math…. Junior High and High School Sharing class materials Helping to participate in group activities Sharing class notes Clarifying and explaining class notes Interaction Prompts

Other great peer to peer resources Autism Internet Modules (http://www.autisminternetmodules.org/) Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence Disabilities (http://www.ocali.org/) The National Professional Development Center on ASD (http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~autismpdc/) National Standards Project (http://www.nationalautismcenter.org/affiliates/)

Parent Resources National Association for the Education of Young Children www.cec.sped.org The Council for Exceptional Children  www.familysupportamerica.org National Support America www.specialquest.org Special Quest www.ncb.org.uk National Children’s Bureau-publications

References Casey, A., McWilliam, R., & Sims, J. (2012). Contributions of Incidental Teaching, Developmental Quotient, and Peer Interactions to Child Engagement. Infants & Young Children: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Early Childhood Intervention, Volume 25 (2), 122-135. Children with Autism: Review of Available Research and Recommendations for Educational Intervention and Future Research. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Vol 32 (5). 351-372.  Goldstein, H. & Thiemann-Bourque, K. (2012) Come Stay, Play, Talk With Me. ASHA Leader, January 2012, 10-13

References cont. Goldstein, H., English, K., Shafer, K., & Kaczmarek, L. (1997). Interaction among preschoolers with and without disabilities: Effects of across- the- day peer interaction. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 40, 33-48. Grand Valley State University START (Statewide Autism Resources and Training) http://www.gvsu.edu/autismcenter/ McConnell, Scott R. (October 2002). Interventions to Facilitate Social Interaction for Young