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The University of Southern Mississippi School Psychology Service Center will launch a new social skills development program this summer for children with autism spectrum disorder and their peers. The program begins June 2 to include sessions from 1-3 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday for eight weeks.
The program will focus on behavioral and social skills, such as joining in groups and conversations skills, and will include strategies to promote skill use in home and community settings. The program is available for children with an autism spectrum disorder (e.g., Autism, Asperger’s, Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified) and peers. Peers may be typically developing, but may also have social skills deficits.
“Social deficits are a defining characteristic of children with autism spectrum disorder, and result in long-term negative outcomes such as loneliness, isolation, poor educational performance, difficulty with maintaining employment, and mental health issues,” said Dr. Keith Radley, assistant professor in the School Psychology program at Southern Miss. “By providing intervention in social skills, we aim to promote short-term improvements in social functioning, but also prevent the aforementioned long-term negative outcomes.”
The program is open to children age 5-15. Sessions will be held at the Southern Miss School psychology Service Center/SMART Lab on Owens-McQuagge Hall on the Hattiesburg campus.
For more information, or to register, contact Brandy Lowe at 601.266.5255 or brandy.lowe@usm.edu
About The University of Southern Mississippi
Founded in 1910, The University of Southern Mississippi is a comprehensive doctoral and research-driven university with a proud history and an eye on the future. A dual-campus university, Southern Miss serves students on campuses in Hattiesburg and Long Beach, in addition to five teaching and research sites in Mississippi and through Online at Southern Miss. Since 2006, Southern Miss students have collected seven Goldwater Scholarships, three Truman Scholarships and 10 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships. Our Center for Undergraduate Research affords our students meaningful research opportunities, and as a proven leader in innovation, we conduct transformative research that translates into real-world solutions. As one of a select number of institutions in the nation accredited in art, dance, music and theatre, we are a haven for creativity and artistic expression. In the classroom or lab, on the playing field, or in the performance hall, we strive to have a positive impact not only on our students, but also the world around us. Further information is found at www.usm.edu.
