Current Programs & Services

Groups of 8 to 12 adolescent girls (ages 14 to 19) with and without autism and related disabilities complete the GNO curriculum through 12 weekly 2-hour sessions. These sessions take place within community settings (e.g., restaurant, coffee shop, hair salon, fitness center), selected to promote authentic practice opportunities to build independence and target social and self-care skills. 

GNO skills groups include girls without disabilities as trained peer volunteers to help create social opportunities and model skills and supports; but more importantly to be a part of a positive support network for girls and young women of all abilities! We facilitate both peers and participants to work with each other to demonstrate healthy and genuine social interactions, relate to each other, engage in meaningful connections, and utilize GNO supports together to achieve individualized goals because we ALL have things to work on. Peer volunteers receive training prior to identified sessions with the intent of creating specific roles related to modeling skills and help create purposeful opportunities for successful practice of skills.

Peers and participants are a critical component to the GNO program. We practice and build off social skills and self-care skills each week. Each session follows a similar format with a detailed outline describing peer training, community partner training (if applicable), session goals, strategies and supports to enhance skills and promote generalization, facilitator roles and responsibilities, and checks to ensure interventions are followed accurately. Facilitators tailor individualized coaching and provide specific, in-the-moment feedback based on participant goals.  Personalized supports are provided strategically within each participant’s GNO materials (e.g., booklet, self-monitoring checklists, conversation cards). We strive to make GNO a positive experience and beneficial for ALL participants.