MAXout Program

Instructor talks to child in front of chalkboard.

Through small-group, clinician-led sessions, our students build social competence, emotion recognition, conversational skills, flexible thinking, and understanding of non-literal language in real-world interactions with peers. 

MAXout extends the proven success of the Institute for Autism Research's evidence-based summerMAX program by providing structured, school-year support that helps autistic children strengthen the social and communication skills essential for success at home, in school, and in the community. 

MAXout Program Summary

MAXout is an evidence-based outpatient after-school social development program conducted during the school year. The program is modeled after the empirically validated summer program, summerMAX, for 7–12-year-old autistic children without Intellectual Disability. The program focuses on improving social skills, interest expansion, interpretation of non-literal language (idioms), and face and emotion recognition skills. Each 90-minute after-school session is divided up into two 45-minute blocks. The first 15 minutes of each 45-minute block consist of instruction that includes role play modeling and feedback. After the instruction period, the children participate in a cooperative activity in which they practice the skill(s) they were just taught in a group activity. There are four to five children in a group with two staff clinicians. All the staff who work in summerMAX 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. Children and their families consistently report high satisfaction with the MAXout program.

MAXout will be conducted two afternoons per week for 9 or 18 weeks during the school year on the University at Buffalo South Campus. Sessions run from 4:30-6 p.m. 

To apply, please submit the following information:

  • Documentation of Diagnosis/Prior Evaluation reports (psychological, psychiatric, and/or speech and language reports)
  • IAR Family Information Form – please print, complete, and submit
  • Most recent IEP or 504 Plan (if child receives special education services)

This information can be emailed to IAR at IARUBprograms@buffalo.edu or can be mailed to:

Dr. Marcus Thomeer

Department of Pediatrics

330 Hayes Rd

224 Farber Hall

Buffalo, NY 14214

Note that while MAXout will be offered in the Fall of 2026, the specific dates and tuition rate are yet to be determined. Financial assistance may be available for those in need.

For further information, please contact the IAR at IARUBprograms@buffalo.edu or 716-829-5144.