MAXout 2025
The comprehensive outpatient social development program (MAXout) for 7-12-year-old autistic children without intellectual disability (ID) will be conducted twice a week (Tuesday and Friday afternoons) from October to December 2025 at Canisius University. The focus of the program is to teach social skills and provide multiple opportunities to practice the skills. Specifically the program addresses 4 main areas that are problems for autistic children without ID: social skills, interest expansion, interpretation of non-literal language (idioms), and face and affect recognition. Each 90-minute session is divided up into two 45-minute blocks. The first 15 minutes of each block consist of instruction that includes role play and modeling. After the instruction period, the children participate in a 30-minute recreational activity in which they practice the skills they were just taught in a cooperative group activity.
MAXout is an adapted version of our validated summerMAX program conducted as an outpatient socialization program. Eight studies including three randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have been conducted that have demonstrated the summerMAX program's effectiveness. The most recent study was a follow-up study which demonstrated that children who participated in the summerMAX program maintained their gains 2.5 to 5 years post participation. Two studies of the MAXout program including one RCT have demonstrated its effectiveness. Children and their families consistently reported high satisfaction with the MAXout program. All the staff who work in MAXout receive extensive training in how to implement the manualized program. All staff must demonstrate competence in implementing the protocols before they can work in the program.
The 2025 MAXout program will consist of eighteen 90-minute sessions that will be conducted twice a week on Tuesday and Friday afternoons (4:15 PM to 5:45 PM) from October 14th through December 19th at Canisius University.
Three parent education sessions (75 minutes each) will be offered during the program so that skills taught and practiced in the program can be generalized into home and community settings.
Tuition for the Fall 2025 MAXout program is $1,200. Families seeking financial assistance will be asked to submit documentation of income level.
To apply or for further information, please contact the IAR at @email or 716-888-2800.
To apply, please submit the following information as soon as possible to the IAR as space is limited:
- Documentation of Diagnosis/Prior Evaluation reports (psychological, psychiatric, and/or speech and language reports)
- Family Information Form (required) – please print, complete, and submit
- Most recent IEP or 504 Plan (if child receives special education services)
Submit via mail, email, or fax to:
MAXout 2025
Institute for Autism Research
Canisius University
2001 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14208
Fax Number: (716) 888-8540
Email: @email