Co-development of an active listening training for Autism Support volunteers

Conceived and carried out by, for, and with people with autism, this innovative project is based on a partnership between research and a community partner, Autisme Soutien (NPO). It is rooted in Autisme Soutien’s need to adapt the training offered to its volunteers using an inclusive pedagogical approach. The project has two specific objectives: 1) to co-construct a training program aimed at equipping chat volunteers to offer peer-to-peer social support rooted in active listening and 2) to document the benefits of this training for the community partner and its volunteers. This project will contribute, through the implementation of adapted training, to the retention of volunteers as well as to the deployment and sustainability of a new social support service designed, developed, and offered “by and for” autistic people. It will also make it possible to act on two important determinants of mental health: social support and social inclusion.

Global progress

Origin of the research

Benchmark and Methodology

Documentary research

Operationalization (Step 1)

Design of active listening training adapted to social support "by and for" adults with autism

Operationalization (Step 2)

Development of training materials

Operationalization (Step 3)

Testing of training materials

Operationalization (Step 4)

Validation of training

Phase 5 - Results

(dissemination of research results) Implementation of the training materials into the integration processes of new volunteers chatting Presentations in practice settings (mainly community organizations) Scientific communications and publications

Partners

Team members

• Marjorie Désormeaux-Moreau, École de réadaptation, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke; co-fondatrice d’Autisme Soutien (Secteur Santé)
• Isabelle Courcy, Département de sociologie, Faculté des arts et des sciences, Université de Montréal (Secteur Société et culture
• Marie-Eve Laurendeau, Coordonnatrice de l’accompagnement des bénévoles, Autisme Soutien
• Andréann Lamarre, étudiante, Université de Sherbrooke et administratrice d’Autisme Soutien
• Catherine Aubry, co-fondatrice d’Autisme Soutien, administratrice et bénévole clavardant chez Autisme Soutien
• Mathilde Chagnon, étudiante, Université de Sherbrooke, coordonnatrice administrative, secrétaire et vice-présidente d’Autisme Soutien
• Mélanie Couture, professeure, École de réadaptation, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke (Secteur Santé)
• Richard Marcotte, représentant des personnes susceptibles de recevoir ou d’offrir les services d’Autisme Soutien