A Series of Trainings for Teens or Adults Seeking to Form and Maintain Healthy Relationships While Dating Developed and facilitated by Kyle Johnson
The mission for Dating on the Spectrum is to create a socially and emotionally intelligent support group that models appropriate dating interactions through in-depth discussion, self-reflection, self-awareness, and engaged social interactions. These core activities provide a space where participants can learn how to express themselves openly, act safely in relationships, and consider healthy ways to navigate the dating scene. This training will include group discussions, group activities, and self-reflection activities for participants to engage in on their own time. Topics are chosen and based on participants’ needs, and may include, but are not limited to: ● Evaluating Current and Past Relationships ○ Knowing our Relationship Support Network ○ Understanding Different Types of Relationships ○ Understanding How Relationships Affect our Lives ○ Balancing Our Time and Energy Between You, Me, and Us ● Social Influences ○ Perception and Consideration of Gender Roles ○ Our Relationship Role Models ○ Knowing Our Personal Relationship Values ● Building Healthy Relationships ○ What Are We Looking For in a Partner? ○ Do’s and Don’t to Consider When Starting a Relationship ○ Knowing Our Personal Boundaries ○ Relationship Communication Skills ○ Personal Self-Image, and Views of Others ○ Developing Empathy for Others ○ Levels of Commitment
Group Expectations Be engaged. ● Be present. ● Share our thoughts and ideas with each other. Listen to Understand ● Give each other time to think and speak their thoughts. ● Show support to one another. ● Meet people where they are at, even if we do not agree with them. ● Seek understanding. ● Show empathy whenever possible. ● Try not to immediately interject. Wait for others’ ideas to sink in and be understood before responding. What is shared in the group, stays in the group. Keep it confidential. ● Let all other group participants know if there are folks in the room who cannot be seen in the Zoom screen. If you are not in a private space, please wear earphones. ● If we do share something that must be reported, (abuse for example) it will be. Show respect to one another: ● Everyone has a right to their opinion, even if it is different than our own. ● Use kind words. ● Please do not interrupt. Maintain Group Order ● Allow the instructor to lead the group. ● Wait your turn to speak. ● Raise your hands to signal a desire to speak. ● Be aware of each other’s need to have a voice. ● Try not to dominate conversations. ● Stay on topic. Try not to sidetrack onto unrelated topics. ● Be inclusive. Notice when others may not be too involved, and invite them in.
About Kyle Johnson
Kyle was born in Missouri and raised in Minnesota. He started serving people with intellectual disabilities and other exceptionalities during his 1st year of college in 1990, and continued for 12 years while earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts at the University of Minnesota and while serving as an Educational Assistant with elementary and middle school aged students. He has worked in large group homes, small residential settings, and individual homes with a diverse number of people owning a wide range of exceptionalities. Clients as young as 11 years old to as advanced as 95 have taught him about living with grace and determination, the power of perseverance, and how each person maintains their own set of skills, abilities, and knowledge from living their lives. Working with these exceptional people has brought about a belief in Kyle that everyone, no matter their condition and position in life, is capable of growth and taking personal control of themselves.
Later, Kyle continued on to graduate school at the University of St. Thomas, and Hamline University Graduate Schools of Education in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. He went into elementary and secondary education, working as an ESL and English teacher for 14 years. Being an educator instilled in Kyle a love of teaching and learning of the countless facets of human nature: the cognitive, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual parts of those he serves. He feels that by having grown up and working in the educational system, his awareness of the human condition has broadened in ways that he hopes will allow him to serve and benefit people in exciting and valuable new ways.
After relocating to Oregon from Minnesota in 2016, Kyle began working with Allies, LLC in Eugene. He continues today to work with them as their Arts Coordinator, and as an instructor for their Arts classes and their Dating class called LoveAble, both part of the Allies Self-Expressions Program. Kyle currently develops interactive activities for learning and facilitates discussions for people with intellectual exceptionalities related to building healthy relationships, both for programs like the STiLE Program at Kind Tree, and as a private teacher for individuals who are seeking that one-to-one support.
Kyle’s personal interests and hobbies include bookbinding, printmaking, painting, and drawing. He and his wife are involved in the tiny house movement. He loves to be in nature, and seeks to learn as much from it as possible. He enjoys cooking, sharing meals, and growing food using Earth sustaining, and healthy approaches.
Kyle Johnson
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