Abstract

This study explored the common issues that emerged during a peer coaching intervention program for students with Asperger's Syndrome (AS). Nineteen undergraduate college students with AS (4 females, 15 males, age range: 18 - 23 years) participated in the Spectrum Support Pilot (i.e., peer coaching intervention program), and seven second year graduate students (7 females, age range: 23 – 26 years) within the School Psychology program at the same university served as peer coaches. Peer coaches wrote DAP (Description, Assessment, Plan) notes, which provided qualitative information about each meeting with their students. DAP notes were coded for common themes; the following seven themes emerged from the notes, indicating that these were areas of difficulties for students with AS: (a) organization and time management; (b) emotional control and anxiety; (c) social interaction and communication; (d) behavior; (e) adaptive and independent living; (f) self-advocacy; and (g) flexibility and adaptability. Exploring common issues that students with AS face in postsecondary education can provide postsecondary institutions with a better understanding of these students' unique difficulties so that they can better support them.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Asperger's syndrome--Patients--Education (Higher); Peer counseling of students; College dropouts--Prevention

Publication Date

10-22-2010

Document Type

Thesis

Department, Program, or Center

Department of Psychology (CLA)

Advisor

Merydith, Scott

Advisor/Committee Member

Merydith, Erin

Comments

Note: imported from RIT’s Digital Media Library running on DSpace to RIT Scholar Works. Physical copy available through RIT's The Wallace Library at: LC4815 .L58 2010

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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