FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
The Orange County Asperger's Support Group
ocasupport@gmail.com
http://www.ocaspergers.org/
Asperger’s 2016 Saturday Morning Series to address needs
of Parents and ASD Adults with Dr. Alexander Gantman
IRVINE, CA – November 20, 2015 – The Orange County Asperger’s Support Group (OCASG)
is offering three unique series of sessions with Asperger’s expert, Dr. Alexander Gantman. Each
series is dedicated to a specific group within the larger community of individuals and families
dealing with Asperger’s Syndrome, High Functioning Autism or PDD-NOS:
Series 1: Parents of Teens and Young Adults “Ask the Expert”
Series 2: “Adults Only” Support group (ages 21 and older)
Series 3: Communication Skills for Adults based on PEERS (ages 25 and older)
In 2015 OCASG and Dr. Gantman teamed up to provide a similar program. It was a large
success with over 120 families participating. The new 2016 series are based on input from
attendees at the 2015 sessions.
Series 1: Parents of Teens and Young Adults “Ask the Expert”
 January 23
 April 23
 July 23
 October 22
The Parent Sessions will focus on the increasingly difficult issues that arise as children with
Asperger’s, HFA or PDD-NOS reach adulthood. College and employment are the tip of the
iceberg. Lack of social relationships and a tendency to shut themselves up in their rooms playing
computer games are common battlegrounds. These challenges and more will be addressed in
small group settings.
Series 2: “Adults Only” Support group (ages 21 and older)
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February 27
May 28
August 27
November 19
The “Adults Only” support group is intended for the growing community of ASD (Autism
Spectrum Disorder) adults age 21 and older who have their own unique challenges including
career issues, romantic relationships, and new “later in life” diagnoses. As ASD has gained
visibility on television, in press and in movies, a new group of adults are emerging who typically
are self-diagnosed and struggling with understanding the diagnosis and the associated life
challenges. In addition, there is a large group of adults who were diagnosed as teens but have
“aged out” of the traditional support systems.
Series 3: Communication Skills for Adults based on PEERS (ages 25 and older):
 March 26
 June 25
 September 24
 December 17
The “Adult Communication Skills” workshops are directed at adults ages 25 and older who are
eager to improve their communication and social skills. These workshops were inspired by the
PEERS program for young adults but will be adapted to the needs of older adults. Demand for
these workshops was a direct result of the 2015 OCASG Adult support group whose members do
not qualify for other PEERS programs. (*See below for information about PEERS for Teens and
Young Adults.)
All Sessions
The two-hour meetings will be held Saturday mornings in classrooms on the campus of St.
Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach. The fee is $20 per session. (For Series 3,
Communication Skills for Adults based on PEERS, all four sessions will be paid in advance in
one $80 fee.) OCASG is able to offer these series at this nominal fee thanks to additional
support from a grant awarded by The Walt Disney Company.
Participants must be members of OCASG to participate. Participants who pay online in advance
for four 2016 sessions will receive free OCASG annual 2016 membership (value $20).
Pre-registration is required at links accessible from the OCASG website home page:
www.ocaspergers.org. Members who pre-register will be provided with specific meeting room
number and time.
Dr. Alexander Gantman, Psy.D.
Dr. Alexander Gantman has unique clinical training in evidence-based treatments and expertise
in the domain of psychosocial functioning of adolescents and adults with Autism Spectrum
Disorder, ADHD, Anxiety and Mood Disorders. Dr. Gantman received his doctorate in Clinical
Psychology from PGSP-Stanford University Consortium. He received a highly prestigious Ruth
L. Kirchstein Institutional (T32) National Research Service Award from the National Institute
for Mental Health. At UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience, he was a Principal Investigator
on the adaptation and development of the PEERS Program, an evidence-based, parent-assisted,
social skills group intervention for adolescents, to address the unique needs of college age young
adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders. His research has been published in the Journal of
Autism and Developmental Disorders, and his work has been presented at professional
conferences including the International Meeting for Autism Research.
Before moving full-time into private practice, Dr. Gantman, a licensed Clinical Psychologist,
was at the UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and a faculty member
and Autism Instructor at the UCLA Tarjan Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.
PEERS for Teens and Young Adults
Dr. Gantman is currently also enrolling for: Winter 2016 PEERS for Teens; and PEERS for
Young Adults ages 18-25. For information, contact Dr. Gantman at 310-361-0771.
The Orange County Asperger’s Support Group (OCASG)
OCASG was founded in 2003 by parents seeking to provide support for local families and adults
dealing with Asperger’s. The organization has grown to over 1000 member families throughout
Orange County, and now also includes families affected by High-Functioning Autism (HFA) and
Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD-NOS). Monthly support group meetings for individuals
and family members are held in Newport Beach and Placentia, often with guest speakers.
Monthly social activities encourage social integration. An online discussion board allows
members to ask questions and share information. The Orange County Asperger's Support Group
is a nonprofit, tax exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Visit OCASG online at
www.ocaspergers.org
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