What is PEERS?

The Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills, is an evidence-based social skills intervention program. The workshops support those diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder or other social disorders who have difficulty with peer interactions and relationships.  It has a strong evidence-base for use with adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder, but is also appropriate for preschoolers, adolescents, and young adults with ADHD, anxiety, depression, and other socioemotional problems. 

PEERS differs from other social skills programs in that it is: 

• Evidence-based 

• Includes parents 

• Is structured like a class and not a therapy group 

• Teaches ecologically valid social skills based on how socially successful individuals behave 

• Breaks down social skills into understandable steps taught in an effective way 

• Builds in the generalization of skills to “real life” settings and for the teen and young adult programs it teaches skills that transfer to the workplace. 

Young adults are encouraged to attend each session with a social coach (i.e., parent, family member, adult sibling, life coach, job coach, peer mentor, etc.). Social coaches are taught how to assist young adults in making and keeping friends by providing feedback during weekly socialization homework assignments.