Dates/Time/Location
Monday, September 21, 2026
4:00PM – 5:30PM
Online
Description
Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational skills PEERS® for School-Based Professionals is an evidence-based treatment developed by UCLA to teach neurodivergent adolescents how to make and keep friends. Topics that are addressed over the course of treatment include: conversational skills, finding common interests, reciprocal conversation, nonverbal communication, electronic communication, safety, choosing friends, extracurricular activities, appropriate use of humor, get-togethers, good sportsmanship, peer rejection, teasing & bullying, changing a bad reputation, and peer conflict. This presentation will provide an overview of the PEERS® for School-Based Professionals model, the research supporting its efficacy, and the recommended formats for utilizing this program in educational settings.
Training Objectives
- Participants will be able to summarize key findings that support PEERS® as an evidencebased intervention for adolescents with autism.
- Participants will be able to describe essential relational skills taught in PEERS®
- Participants will gain an understanding of suggested formats for integrating PEERS® into educational programming.
Target Audience
school professionals
About the Presenter
Cheryl Checkers, M.S., LMHC-QS, NCC is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, National Board-Certified Counselor, and Qualified Supervisor in the State of Florida. She maintains a private practice specializing in the treatment of autistic adolescents and adults with co-occurring mental health conditions. In addition to her clinical work, Cheryl serves as a consultant for the Florida Atlantic University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. She earned her Master of Science in Psychology and Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University and holds advanced certifications in autism, anxiety, obsessivecompulsive disorder (OCD), trauma, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). With over two decades of experience supporting autistic individuals and their families, Cheryl is a respected presenter at both local and regional levels on the intersection of autism and mental health. She is also a certified UCLA PEERS® therapist, having completed her training in 2011 under the direction of Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson, the program’s founder.
Accommodations
We strive to host accessible events that enable all individuals living in our catchment area* to engage fully. To request accommodations or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact Dr. Danielle Liso at 352-265-2241 or card-training@ufl.edu.
Counties Served by UF CARD: Alachua, Bradford, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Lafayette, Levy, Marion, Putnam, Suwannee, Union
If you live in a different county in Florida, find your CARD here.
Contact
Danielle Liso
card-training@ufl.edu
352-265-2241