The Emory Autism Center's myLIFE program provides opportunities for adults with autism to practice social skills alongside volunteer peer mentors (typically college students, both at Emory and from surrounding colleges). During their weekly sessions, myLIFE members engage in a variety of fun and meaningful activities with their peer mentors on and nearby the Emory campus. Volunteers typically commit 1-2 hours a week during the semester.
myLIFE strives to create opportunities where volunteers can practice what they are learning in the classroom, even if it is simply getting to know a person past their diagnosis; seeing the gifts and strengths of all (regardless of a label), understanding one’s challenges, listening to one’s personal concerns. By the end of the semester volunteers often share that they learned someone with autism is “just like me”; “they just need a little more time doing …. Or a little help when it comes to …”. That is the best thing to hear from those who spend their time helping out in the myLIFE program!
Volunteering with myLIFE is great opportunity for pre-health students to further develop and demonstrate empathy, compassion, and social skills. If you are interested in volunteering, please visit their website to learn more: http://psychiatry.emory.edu/programs/autism/about.us/volunteering/index.html.