A Distance-Delivered Social Skills Program for Young Adults with Williams Syndrome: Evaluating Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy

Adults with Williams syndrome (WS) display hypersocial behaviors and experience social skills deficits. To improve social outcomes, we evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an 8-week distance-delivered social skills program for adults with WS. Sessions were offered twice a week for 90 min. Twenty-four adults with WS were assigned to an intervention or waitlist control group. Outcomes were assessed through interviews and surveys with adults with WS, parents, and facilitators. The intervention was rated as acceptable and feasible by all. Parents rated adults with WS as displaying significant improvements in social skills; yet ratings by adults with WS did not change. Adults also displayed increased social skills knowledge following participation. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.