A few years ago I wrote about an Irvine-based Toastmasters group for people with autism spectrum disorders.

Founded by retired marketing executive Judi Uttal, whose son has autism, the Spectrum Speakers Gavel Club has had a profound impact on the lives of its members by helping them build their communication skills and self-confidence in a collaborative and supportive.

Now, this ingenious idea could be on the verge of becoming big, thanks to the interest of a few academics who are conducting a two-year study of the program. Their ultimate goal is to create a model that can be used to start similar clubs in other communities.

Sasha Zeedyk, assistant professor of adolescent child studies at Cal State Fullerton, and Yasamin Bolourian, postdoctoral researcher at UC Riverside, initiated the study with a grant from the Organization for Autism Research.

The couple are currently in the observation phase of the study, attending meetings – held via Zoom for the past two years, although Uttal hopes to return to in-person gatherings at some point – and taking notes detailed.

The next phase will include interviews with participants and family members to learn more about what is working well and how the program could be improved. Then they will develop a model, with protocols and recruitment methods, and run a pilot program to test it.

Although they still have a long way to go in their research, Zeedyk and Bolourian are practically bubbling with excitement. Both spoke of their passion for studying and improving the lives of people with autism, a spark that began for Zeedyk in an earlier career as a teacher when she befriended a autistic student and for Bolourian when she was a graduate student and attended a renowned program. autism program at UCLA.

They believe Uttal’s brainchild has great potential to make a positive impact on a larger scale, a belief which has been reinforced by the impressive skills they have seen.

“Some of the speeches are so well thought out and organized,” Zeedyk said. “As an autism researcher, I was blown away by the quality of the talks.”

The club is part of the vast global network of speaking groups affiliated with Toastmasters International, the grassroots non-profit organization founded nearly a century ago to promote public speaking.

Uttal said 38 people have participated so far and there are currently 20 active members. Although a formal diagnosis is not required to participate, all members identify as being on the autism spectrum.

Monthly meetings follow the standard Toastmasters format, with prepared talks, an impromptu speaking segment, and peer reviews. Members fill various roles, such as timekeeper and grammarian, and have learned to give each other feedback in a constructive and supportive manner.

The benefits of the program go beyond learning public speaking. Members I have spoken to have told me that they have often felt isolated or misunderstood, and that the club offers the kinship that members of the autistic community often find elusive in the world at large.

“It takes me out of my usual comfort zone,” said Zachary Pocher, research assistant at the Santa Ana Zoo.

Club participation also helps build member resilience and flexibility.

For example, in a recent meeting where one member had difficulty with the video feed, others stepped in to help resolve the issue. Instead of withdrawing — autistic people sometimes react to stress by shutting down — the member stayed calm and delivered a really good speech, Uttal recalled.

Liam Whitney, a special education teacher who joined about a year ago, said the special club presented a “wonderful opportunity”.

“I feel like it gives people a kind of script, if not a script itself, but some guidance on what is expected in social situations. It’s really helpful for people in our community. It’s not that we don’t want to participate. It’s that we don’t know what to do or say, so we freeze. In this way, this club has been very beneficial to me.

Member Kenneth Woodward said his experiences at Toastmasters helped him improve his interview skills for the jobs he sought in the accounting field. He now considers it “an honor” to participate in a study that could help others.

At this month’s meeting, speeches covered a wide range of topics and styles. A speech on the economic impact of sanctions against Russia was well researched, fact-laden and clearly explained.

Another speaker delivered a witty and entertaining take on his quest to score autographs. Yet another, who talked about a family trip to Taiwan, made me want to book a vacation to the Asian island.

The theme for the reunion’s impromptu speaking segment was Mother’s Day, and the members spoke fondly of the gifts they gave their mothers. A young woman remembers writing a letter to her mother that made her cry with joy.

Like Zeedyk and Bolourian, I was blown away by the presentations.

Uttal and the intrepid members of this unique and wonderful group plan to commemorate the club’s 10th anniversary later this year. They will certainly have a lot to celebrate, not only because of what they have achieved so far, but also because they are helping to pave the way for others in the autistic community to find their voice. .

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