Adapting PEERS Program for Autistic Adults Across Lifespan

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at Arizona State University's School of Life Sciences have adapted the PEERS program, an evidence-based intervention for autistic individuals, to support the needs of autistic adults across the lifespan. The adapted program, designed to promote social communication, peer interactions, and independence, was refined based on feedback from autistic participants and their study partners. The study's findings suggest that the adapted program is more effective in promoting neurodiversity-affirming practices and cultivating acceptance of neurodiversity in the interpersonal domains of autistic adults' lives.

Key Takeaways:

  • The PEERS program, developed for autistic individuals, has been adapted to support the needs of autistic adults across the lifespan.
  • The adapted program addresses the needs of middle-aged and older adults, making it more neurodiversity-affirming and effective in promoting social communication and peer interactions.
  • The study found that autistic participants reported higher satisfaction with the adapted PEERS program compared to its previous iterations.
  • The refined program was developed through a collaborative effort between researchers and autistic participants, ensuring that the needs and voices of autistic adults were prioritized.
  • The study provides a framework for implementing adapted PEERS curricula across the adult lifespan, which may serve as a model for improved clinical care and neurodiversity acceptance.
  • Authors Samantha A. Harker, Leslie C. Baxter, Stephen M. Gallegos, Melissa M. Mitchell, Lillian Zerga, Nicole L. Matthews, and B. Blair Braden contributed to the research, which was funded by the Department of Defense and Autism Science Foundation.
  • The study's findings highlight the importance of adapting programs to meet the unique needs of autistic adults across the lifespan, promoting neurodiversity-affirming practices, and cultivating acceptance.

Statistics:

  • The study evaluated two cohorts of participants who completed the adapted PEERS program, with levels of satisfaction and program acceptance increasing from Cohort 1 to Cohort 2.
  • The refined program was developed through a collaborative effort involving autistic participants and researchers.
  • The study's findings suggest that the adapted PEERS program is more effective in promoting social communication, peer interactions, and independence for autistic adults.
  • Autistic participants reported higher satisfaction with the adapted PEERS program, indicating its potential as a tool for improved clinical care and neurodiversity acceptance.

Sources:

  • Adapting the PEERS for Young Adults Program for Autistic Adults across the Lifespan. Healthcare, 2024, 12(16). (Healthcare - http://www.mdpi.com/journal/healthcare)
  • Samantha A. Harker, et al. (2024). Adapting the PEERS for Young Adults Program for Autistic Adults across the Lifespan. Healthcare, 12(16), 1586. (doi: 10.3390/healthcare12161586)
  • Arizona State University, School of Life Sciences
  • Department of Defense
  • Autism Science Foundation