What is Puzzle Project?
Puzzle Project is a series of workshops for Mt. SAC credit students who have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). During these workshops, you will learn a variety of skills that can be applied to daily life.
The Mission of Puzzle Project is to improve your social language, social interaction and its appropriate use; executive function (initiation, planning, organization, execution, and self-regulation), and control of appropriate and inappropriate behaviors in order to facilitate positive educational outcomes to help you accomplish your academic and career goals.
Peer Mentors will meet with you twice weekly to focus on applying social skills, time management and organizational strategies, utilize campus resources, and stay on track to meet your academic goals.
Research based model
Puzzle Project was created based on the UCLA Program Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS) model by Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson. Puzzle Project’s professional staff are PEERS certified and teach from the book PEERS for Young Adults.
History
Puzzle Project was established in 2014 by Dr. Christopher Walker, Speech Pathologist at Disabled Student Programs & Services (DSP&S) at Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. Sac). After his retirement, the program continued to grow and flourish, and has served 55 students since then.
Campus opening Fall 2021: We will be back on campus for Puzzle Project workshops (including Transitional and Puzzle Pieces), scheduling new student Puzzle Project intake appointments, and peer mentoring. We do plan to do two workshops on Zoom during the semester and some peer mentoring sessions may be virtual or phone calls. Please contact us via email at PuzzleProject@mtsac.edu for an intake appointment or call the ACCESS Department at 909-274-4290 for an appointment, or any questions about our program.
Information Sessions:
Puzzle Project is a series of 14 weekly workshops Friday from 11-12:30 PM in the major semesters. Puzzle Project is ungraded, but ability to continue within the program is contingent on: enrolled in one or more academic credit classes, performance, growth, participation with mentors, and class participation.
Puzzle Project students meet twice weekly on a consistent, agreed schedule with their peer mentors outside of the class schedule. Sessions will consist of academic and social skills practice on specific goals set with the instructors. Peer mentors are not tutors.
Once a week each peer mentor will meet in training sessions to discuss the weekly peer mentor sessions. The instructors will provide guidance to reach goals and suggestions for rehearsal of learned skills. Any referrals will occur during this time.
Our Professors
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Heather Ponce MS, CCC-SLP
Instructor of Puzzle Project, ACCESS Professor, Speech-Language Pathologist -
Elizabeth Hernandez M ED
Instructor of Puzzle Project ACCESS Professor and Academic Counselor -
Diana Chou Psy. D.
Behavioral Consultant for Puzzle Project, Clinical Psychologist
Puzzle Project Team
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Ana Sanchez, OTD, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist, Student Health Services
Puzzle Project Guest Lecturer & Consultant -
Jacquelyn Dunlap
Puzzle Project Assistant
By appointment only
Building 9B, 9E
(909) 274-4290
puzzleproject@mtsac.edu
www.mtsac.edu/ACCESS/
