By Andy Furman
Point/Arc
It was perfect. Just like a 300 game in bowling. And the setting – Strike and Spare, 510 Commonwealth Avenue in Erlanger – was perfect, too.
It was the completion of the 16-week PEERS program at The Point/Arc’s Zembrodt Education Center – and for those receiving their certificates of completion, it was time to party.
“At the end of the course,” said Brandon Releford, Executive Director of the ZEC, “There is a social event to utilize the communication skills and thrive in the students’ social settings.”
PEERS is a social skills intervention for motivated young adults between the ages of 18-38. Skills learned in PEERS reach far beyond friendship and may help students be more successful in their academic, community, or employment environments.
The Adolescent PEERS group – an in-person instructional group – totaled four on this night (Tuesday, July 1st). “We had seven in the program,” Releford said, “The others were with family on summer vacation.”
The 16-18-year-old group had class once a week this semester at The Point/Arc, according to instructor Ron Haley. “We meet the parents once-a-week during the semester as well,” Haley said. “They serve as Social Activist Trainers.
“Communication is the key,” Haley continued. “Things like how to make phone calls, learning verbal cues and common interests.”
Haley said ZEC offers an on-line PEERS class for 14 weeks, as well. “The advantage,” he said, “Is we have students from the entire Commonwealth.”
In fact, The Point/Arc’s ZEC is the only active PEERS program in Kentucky.
That was good news for Austin Hammons, a recent graduate of Union (Ky.) Point Academy and headed to Carl D. Perkins Vocational Center, in Thelma, Ky., this fall.
“This was Austin’s first year at PEERS, and we are very, very pleased,” said Austin’s mom Brandi. “We could never find another program like this.
“The biggest result,” she added, “Austin has become more sociable with other kids with the same issues. The highlight is getting him to be around other kids.”
Bradi said she was impressed with ZEC follow-up calls on Thursdays. “It was good to know what other parents are going through as well,” she said.
As for Austin he said attending PEERS, “Made me more confident with friends. I was not even nervous at first,” he said.
Katie Fraley said she learned of the PEERS program at ZEC at Simon Kenton High School, where her 17-year-old son Mitchell will be a senior come fall.
“Honestly,” Katie was quick to say, “I have seen Mitchell come out of his shell with this program through the weekly assignments. He has taken the program very seriously, and now he even texts on his own.”
Mitchell has done well both academically as well as socially, Katie says. “He has learned the difference between a friend and an acquaintance, and conversations between both. He has been taught boundaries thanks to PEERS.”
The ZEC PEERS program covers these skills:
• Conversation cues
• Electronic communication
• Handling disagreements
• Organizing get-togethers
• Dating skills
• Choosing appropriate friends
• Using humor and assessing humor feedback
The Zembrodt Education Center (ZEC) was created to give people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) opportunities to reach their highest potential educationally, residentially, socially, and vocationally.
An extension of The Point/Arc, ZEC strives to increase growth and support for individuals and families in the Greater Cincinnati region.
The ZEC is located at 104 W. Pike Street, Covington. ZEC officially opened in 2020 and was totally vacant – thanks to the pandemic – in 2021.
On this PEERS FINALE Night – it was bowling, pizza and games – and many smiles – from parents as well as students.