Social Groups for Autistic Young Adults (SDARIYA)

The proposed study will evaluate the Socio-dramatic Affective Relational Intervention (SDARI) in autistic young adults aged 18-30 years. SDARI is a group-based, performance-oriented intervention designed to support interpersonal engagement through structured, drama-based activities. The intervention emphasizes experiential learning and minimizes didactic instruction, focusing instead on affectively motivating games, collaborative interactions, and age-appropriate recreational activities. Participants will be recruited through community organizations, university outreach channels, and autism service agencies. Eligibility will be determined through a multi-step screening process, including the RAADS, ADOS-2 Module 4, and KBIT-2R assessments. Eligible participants will be randomized into either the SDARI intervention group or a time-matched attention control group. Each group will meet weekly for 90-minute sessions over a 10-week period at the AJ Drexel Autism Institute. The SDARI curriculum integrates three core components: Use of improvisational and drama-based games tailored to the developmental stage and interests of autistic young adults. Facilitation of peer-to-peer and participant-staff relationships to foster positive reinforcement and group cohesion. Incorporation of motivating activities such as noncompetitive physical games and shared-interest tasks to enhance engagement. The attention control condition will follow the same schedule and structure but will involve recreational activities that do not explicitly promote interpersonal interaction. Participants will complete assessments at three timepoints: baseline (pre-intervention), post-intervention, and three-month follow-up. Measures will include self-report and informant-report questionnaires assessing interpersonal experiences, social networks, group cohesion, and mental health. Social Network Analysis (SNA) will be used to evaluate changes in participants' social connections and network structures over time. All sessions will be video-recorded for fidelity monitoring. Staff will receive condition-specific training and weekly supervision to ensure consistency and adherence to the intervention protocol. The study aims to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of SDARI in autistic adult populations. Outcomes will inform future adaptations and dissemination of SDARI for broader use in clinical and community settings.