What is SIGNA?
SIGNA members dress up for mock interview night with Peer Coaches
- SIGNA is skills training program developed for UMD college students that offers specialized training in social communication, executive functioning, and self-advocacy skills in individual and group settings. There is a particular emphasis on educating neurotypical and neurodivergent members and their allies about the Double Empathy phenomenon, establishing Common Ground, Theory of Mind and Problem Solving to increase awareness and better communication with others to support social interaction and executive functioning, as well as conflict resolution and self-advocacy.
- SIGNA offers two programs where both offer individual or dyad coaching (at times that match schedules) as well as different Friday afternoon group meetings that emphasize targeted skills:
- SIGNA Odyssey for Incoming 1st-Year students where campus transition-resources-connection-navigation, self-advocacy, and aspects of the *PEERS® for Young Adults curriculum is used. *NOTE: SIGNA has modified this curriculum by eliminating lessons that encourage masking and replaced lessons with self-advocacy, and conflict resolution skills training.
- Members learn about:
- Conversation skills
- Making and keeping friends
- Listening skills
- Interview skills
- Interpreting tone of voice, facial expressions, and body language
- Navigating campus life and the professional world
- Understanding and expressing humor, figurative language, and idioms
- Understanding emotions and perspective of others
- Dating and romantic relationships
- See more information on the program here: https://www.semel.ucla.edu/peers/young-adults
- SIGNA Launch for second year or SIGNA members further in their academic career. This group uses the RealCareer™ Employability Skills Program. This curriculum uses hands-on activities as well as real-world applications to teach internship and employment soft skills, from communication and interpersonal skills to time management and responsibility. See more information on the program here: https://www.realityworks.com/product/realcareer-employability-skills-program/
Enrollment in the SIGNA program includes a year-long membership with the following components:
A full executive function and communication evaluation |
When a member first joins SIGNA, they will complete a full executive function and social communication evaluation from a SIGNA Communication Coach (HESP SLP graduate student). The SIGNA student will receive the initial assessment report as well as a progress report at the end of each semester. The progress report summarizes their goals and achievements of that semester.
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Weekly group meetings |
The weekly group meetings are run by undergraduate Peer Coaches for first year SIGNA members and by HESP graduate students for the SIGNA Launch members. Group meetings are taught in a seminar style and involve active participation of the members as well as role plays and weekly assignments related to the topic discussed each week.
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Weekly individual sessions |
Each member will meet with their Communication Coach weekly, either in 2, 45-minute sessions or 1, 90-minute session, to work on individualized executive functioning and communication goals determined by the student's input, observation, and the initial SIGNA assessment.
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Peer Mentor check-ins |
First year SIGNA members will be assigned an undergraduate Peer Mentor who they will meet with weekly to go over homework assigned in the group meetings and to discuss real-life social situations.
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Extracurricular Activities |
 SIGNA members and Peer Coaches during the Game Night social outing
In addition to the scheduled weekly meetings, each semester, Peer Coaches will plan 4 social and professional events. Peer Mentors and other UMD college students may join these social events as well. Participation in these events (as schedules permit) is strongly encouraged as this allows the member to develop friendships, practice newly-learned skills, and to stay connected with other college students. Other opportunities may include:
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