Spring Break
Sessions to help individuals with Asperger's syndrome
First-of-its-kind program will focus on teaching communication skills, organizers say
McLean Bennett
Issue date: 1/29/07 Section: Campus News
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The Facilitating Functional Social-Communication Skills in Adolescents program is designed to enhance communication skills among people with Asperger's syndrome, a condition that "results in an impairment in interpersonal skills," said Angela Sterling-Orth, a lecturer of communication sciences and disorders at Eau Claire.
"These individuals are usually very intelligent - sometimes gifted and talented - but lack many of the social-communication skills that are required for interpersonal relationships," Sterling-Orth said.
Kristine Retherford, chair of the communication sciences and disorders department, said the condition can impair people's judgment when communicating with others, which may affect their ability to hold a job.
"They may make a comment in a particular situation that is interpreted as inappropriate," she said. "They may make a comment to an employer that may not be appropriate."
Retherford said the program will involve three groups of young adults and will focus on teaching appropriate interaction skills.
"I'm very excited about the program," graduate student Tiffany Leighton said. Leighton will be one of two graduate students responsible for leading sessions with participants.
"Each group of adolescents and young adults will develop particular skill sets that will improve their communication," she said. "Everything centers around appropriate communication."
She said the groups will consist of about four to eight participants, totalling about 18 to 20 participants.
The groups will begin meeting Feb. 12 in the Center for Communication Disorders, located in the Human Sciences and Services Building.
Sterling-Orth added that two of the groups will meet twice a week and receive "intensive and individualized instruction." Another group, made up of older participants, will meet less frequently and their meetings will be less intensive, she said.
Sessions will focus on teaching communication skills through role-playing situations, Retherford said.
Leighton said she will also take the participants into the community to practice the skills learned in the sessions.
A $60,000 Medicaid infrastructure grant from the state and the federal government funded the program, Retherford said.
Ultimately, Retherford said she hopes the people who participate in the program become more comfortable communicating with others.
"We hope that by the end of the year, all … of our kids will be involved in volunteer or employment settings and have developed new leisure activities," she said. "They will have a greater sense of confidence in their communication."
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