School Programs & Services
Jill D’Braunstein
Speech Language Pathologist
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PEERS Program
Port View Preparatory® is different from other special needs schools because it affords its K-22 students unparalleled opportunities to excel in a nurturing and safe environment with respect and dignity. Our professional, trained, and credentialed staff partners with parents and caregivers to determine what is best for your student with individualized learning techniques. Port View Preparatory® Principal and Co-Founder Dr. Melaura Erickson-Tomaino received her Ph.D. in applied developmental psychology and also earned a psychology degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). During Dr. Tomaino’s academic and professional journey starting at UCLA, she became a believer in the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS), originally created at UCLA by Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson, Founder and Director of the UCLA PEERS® Clinic.

Establishing and Nurturing Relationships

“PEERS is a manualized, social skills training intervention for youth with social challenges. It has a strong evidence base for use with adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder, but is also appropriate for preschoolers, adolescents, and young adults with ADHD, anxiety, depression, and other socioemotional problems.”

As an advocate, practitioner, and certified trainer in PEERS, Dr. Tomaino leads an evidence-based social skills curriculum for Port View Preparatory® students. Because socialization is an integral part of human relations, PEERS helps K-22 years of age students navigate the often complex and intricate ways of relating to others. The average child and adolescent has enough challenges establishing relationships and the unique PEERS program supports and encourages students to develop, refine, and nurture meaningful relationships and friendships.

This practical social skills program is especially important for students with autism spectrum disorder and other disabilities that affect and/or hinder relating to others socially. PEERS is unique from similar programs because it:

  • Is evidence-based
  • Includes parents
  • Teaches ecologically valid social skills
  • Tailors teaching methods to shared social skills deficits*

Throughout life’s many stages, establishing meaningful social bonds cannot be overstated. Having just one or two close relationships and/or friendships outside of the immediate family is predictive of later adjustment and affects individuals in the following ways:

  • Can buffer the impact of stressful life events
  • Correlates positively with self-esteem
  • Increases independence
  • Correlates negatively with depression and anxiety*

 

Dr. Tomaino and Port View Preparatory®’s dedicated staff are strong believers in helping to nurture each student wholly. This includes specialized academic instruction, applied behavioral analysis, critical therapies, vocational and career assistance, and helping each student develop the needed social skills and relationships to succeed and thrive in school and life.

*Source: http://www.semel.ucla.edu/peers