Dungeons and Dragons -Innovative social skill development for young adults on the autism spectrum

Over the last 2 years we have been developing innovative training and coaching ideas for our young adult clients, who are on the autism spectrum, that have completed year 12 and are entering the world of work. We have had extraordinary success with helping over 150 people gain meaningful employment with a very high retention rate. One of the keys to success has been our DnD program. For many people DnD is a game played for fun with friends. But for our clients it has been a great way to practice developing skills related to work in a safe and supported environment.

Our model is based on a strengths approach, of building confidence in young adults, letting them develop their skills related to work and practicing them with coach support.

As part of DnD they have to apply to join the campaign, create a character and understand the traits of the character. Respond to messages from the Dungeon Master and attend each week for the 3-hour session. We support our participants to develop the confidence to get themselves to the program on public transport if they don't drive. Another important life and work-related skill. If they cannot attend, they need to let the Dungeon Master know. Over the course of a 10-week campaign, we see massive personal growth in each participant. People who tend to be anxious and nonverbal, will develop ways to communicate, engage with the group (even if they need to take on the persona of the character they have created).

As I write this, I am listening to a group play, in the third week of their campaign. In just 3 weeks, the group has become comfortable with each other, the banter and laughter has increased, and the self-reflection is insightful. One participant told me in their break, that this is their only friendship group, and joining has changed their life. She has developed the ability to self-advocate, asking for clarification when she does not understand something, knowing she won't be judged and can be her authentic autistic self. Another member has become a leader in the group, respectfully helping newer members who have not played before. He has discovered one of his strengths is helping people and would like to pursue employment as a support worker.

DnD offers the following learning opportunities for young people with an autism diagnosis.

1. The opportunity to communicate, negotiate and understand the consequences of different decisions. If you don't want to follow the group consensus and your character goes off into the wilderness alone, it may not survive. Learning about unintended consequences is a powerful skill. The reverse might be that you don't agree with the group but go along and see if it works out or not. Learning to put your point of view across, negotiate and reach a group consensus is a powerful skill that is needed in team-based work environments.
2. Developing social skills. For many people with an autism diagnosis, they enjoy the company of people, but struggle with interpreting the nuances of social discourse. Being able to practice in a safe environment with other peers is a way for them to practice different techniques without judgment or unintended consequences. Learning to be themselves rather than masking and learning to act neurotypically builds confidence. Having trained autism coaches who are Dungeon Masters or support staff helps guide the conversations, highlight learning opportunities, keep the game flowing and ensure the right work lessons are captured.
3. Opportunity to develop creativity, explore different perspectives and channel their love of role play/fantasy games in a practical face to face group. Group members can explore themes related to work such as diversity, inclusion, ethnicity, gender, teamwork, work ethic, skill development and effort.
4. Developing executive function/ time management skills and how turning up over a 10-week period, develops these skills to a point they can utilise them to gain paid employment. During breaks they can talk to their coach about issues related to work, what type of work they would like to explore or build confidence about how much they have developed over the period.

While DnD is just a game played for fun, it has helped many of our clients build confidence, form real friendships that have evolved outside the DnD campaign, explore themes they wanted support with, practice work related skills that they then use to go into work experience as well as paid work. It has developed social skills so that a neurodivergent person feels confident to be themselves at work, rather than resorting to masking to fit in.