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The Social Living Complex: A New, All Day, Yearlong Intervention Model for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Parents

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Abstract

We propose an unprecedented intervention for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their parents: the social living complex. Unlike existing social skills interventions, peer-mediated interventions here are not limited to the school/experiment duration and setting. Whereas other supported living services house adults with ASD only, here children with ASD and their families live and interact with typically developing (TD) individuals. Another novelty is support groups for parents of children with ASD, who report feeling higher levels of stress than parents of TD children and children with other disabilities, feeling isolated, and not receiving social support. This complex will enable the practice and generalization of schooled skills in the lives of children with ASD and foster an accepting, autism-friendly community.

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Acknowledgments

I would like to express my gratitude to my adviser Bilge Selcuk, PhD for her guidance and support when I was fleshing out the details of this Social Living Complex. I would like to thank Prof. Binyamin Birkan, the Director of Education Programs of Tohum Autism Foundation Special Needs School, for his recommendations on finding the best ways to ground my theoretical framework in practical applications for children with ASD. I would also like to thank Tarcan Kumkale, PhD for his help with persuasion and attitude-changing techniques that I included in this complex.

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  1. Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Ceymi Doenyas

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Doenyas, C. The Social Living Complex: A New, All Day, Yearlong Intervention Model for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Parents. J Autism Dev Disord 46, 3037–3053 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2846-x

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