Surviving and Thriving in the Real World

This interactive manual provides clinicians (e.g., psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers, educators) with a structured curriculum to target the acquisition and mastery of age-appropriate daily living skills using evidence-based strategies for neurodivergent adolescents (e.g., autism, ADHD). The Surviving and Thriving in the Real World (STRW) curriculum has been iteratively developed over the last 12 years and is the first evidence-based daily living skills intervention for autistic adolescents with average or above cognitive abilities. The 15-week STRW intervention builds essential daily living skills including personal hygiene, cleaning, laundry, cooking, grocery shopping, and spending, saving, and budgeting money using strategies such as a direct instruction and feedback, naturalistic teaching, a specific contract with goals and rewards, task analysis, visual supports, video modelling, and technology. The manual consists of a general overview and specific chapters on each of the 15 intervention sessions that target specific daily living skills during separate caregiver group sessions and individual caregiver/teen dyad sessions. The manual also includes the handouts for each session and provides clinicians with access to the PowerPoint slides that are utilized in all of the telehealth sessions. This manual will equip practitioners with the skills to help their neurodivergent adolescent clients learn and practice daily living skills to prepare them for successful adult outcomes in work, college, independent living, and social connectedness.