Peers is a social skills programme for children who have difficulties with social interaction and friendships. The programme runs for 14 weeks, once a week for 90 minutes per session. The same carer must attend with the child for at least 11 of the 14 sessions. Participation will be withdrawn if a family misses more than three sessions, or the first two sessions. It is important that the child takes part and attends voluntarily.
The target group for the course is children aged 12-18 with a diagnosis of a disorder on the autism spectrum without severe impairments in cognitive development. Selection for the group is based on specific criteria (for example, age and diagnosis), not on a first-come, first-served basis. An application can only be submitted if a guardian requests it or consents to it.
The main focus of the course is to enhance communication skills. The course covers how to choose appropriate friends, and how to deal with teasing, bullying, disagreements and more. Parents are taught how to help their child make and keep friends by acting as their coach between sessions. The children are taught specific skills which they then get the opportunity to practise. At the end of each session, they are given homework where they practise these skills further under the guidance of a parent or guardian.