Details.
A teen mentoring program for participants with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnoses. Teens mentor younger children on the autism spectrum while developing leadership, self-confidence, social awareness, independence, community connections, and mentoring skills. The program year runs from September through May and includes monthly social, recreational, and community service events. Mentors participate in training, workshops, individual goal-setting, and planning for the upcoming year. Mentors are typically high school adolescents ages 14 to 21, and mentees are typically children ages 9 to 13 with an autism diagnosis. Participants cannot require 1:1 staffing or engage in aggressive or self-injurious behavior.