My Life As An Epic Win Curriculum: $300
The Epic Win course is for older teens and young adults with high functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder designed to support them in developing skills that will be needed to transition into adulthood.
This transition to adulthood empowerment program is offered to 17 to 24-year-olds with diagnoses of high functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder or Aspergers Disorder.
The group will consist of 8 to 10 youths who are in high school or graduated and are looking for support in their transition to adulthood.
In this 12-week course, we will use group discussion, modelling, role-play practice with peers, in-class exercises, and homework assignments to teach and support youth in learning skills for successful transition to adulthood.
Cost is $300 for the 12-week program. Please ask for funding options.
Over the course, youth will learn to:
1. Create a vision for his/her future; with long and short-term goals in areas of life that matter to them (e.g., career/work, education, independence, and social relationships).
2. Create actions plans and learn to keep in action on his/her plan.
3. Identify ineffective thinking and action patterns that may be barriers to success.
4. Develop problem solving strategies to overcome barriers and challenges.
5. Build a support team through active listening and improved communication skills.
Concurrently, parents will be coached during their own weekly group on how to effectively support their youth’s transition. The parent group curriculum will mirror that of the youth, including several weeks of joint practice of skills between parents and youth.
If parents are unable to attend the Epic Win sessions, we require that a parent surrogate (i.e., adult sibling, grandparent) be involved in the course sessions. We assume that the course’s effectiveness depends on improving communication and collaboration between youth and parents/caregivers.
The course culminates in creating an Epic Life video for each participant (optional), in which each youth will be interviewed individually about his/her interests, passions, strengths, accomplishments, and goals, and about the kind of supports he/she need for successful transition to adulthood.
The effectiveness of the course will be evaluated through completion of pre-post measures, interviews, and satisfaction questionnaires. By the end of the course, it is expected that your son/daughter will be more able to actively listen, work collaboratively, set goals, create action plans, problem solve, and stay in action on his/her goals. We will also look at the impact of the course on your son/daughter’s self-esteem and anxieties associated with transition to adulthood.
Session 1: My Life As An Epic Win
Epic Win attitude; how the course works/research evaluation; self-determined behaviours; strategies for being self-determined; active listening; visioning your future in the areas of career/work, further education, relationships, independence.
Session 2: Life Challenges
Active listening practice: concerns for the future.
Negative and limiting beliefs; positive re-framing.
Self-management and buddy system.
Session 3: Building A Team
Understanding the challenges and strengths associated with ASD.
Importance of failure in building resiliency; how you are already resilient.
Learning to seek support; social skills needed to build your team.
Introduction to turning long-term goals into SMART goals.
Session 4 And 5: Career/Work
Goal setting around career/work: what are your strengths and possible challenges in the area of getting a job, work skills, keeping employment?
SMARTER goals and writing action plans.
Problem solving - role-playing solutions and discussing best solution.
Session 6 And 7: Further Education
Goals setting around further education: what are your strengths and possible challenges in the area of going to college, university or taking development courses?
SMARTER goals and action plans.
Problem solving - role-playing solutions and discussing best solution
Session 8 And 9: Independence
Goals setting around independence what are your strengths and possible challenges in achieving the level of independence you would like?
SMARTER goals and action plans.
Problem solving - role-playing solutions and discussing best solution.
Session 10: Relationships
Goals setting around relationships what are your strengths and challenges in improving existing relationships, making new friends, keeping friends, romance?
SMARTER goals and action plans.
Problem solving - role-playing solutions and discussing best solution
Session 11: Creating The Epic Life Plan Video
Creating videos to represent your Epic Life Plan.
Review: where to go next? Applying what you learned to new situations.
Session 12: Wrap Up And Celebration
Completion of post-course questionnaires. What next?
Party to celebrate completion of Epic Life Plan and to watch Epic Life Plan videos.