Reading Week Training Course to prevent exploitation
Reading Week ‘Fake friend’ Training Course
These are instructions about what areas the 1 day training course on Reading Week should cover that intends students with aspergers to teach how to distinguise fake friends from real friends. The following scenarios should be taken into account to help prevent students from being taken advantage of.
Scenario
Money borrowing
Some students will try to take advantage of students who seem vulnerable and isolated and will ask them if they can borrow money from them and they will not give it back. Students should be taught that in certain cases giving money is OK eg. if a good friend lost their wallet, or if someone asks for a small amount of money. However, if they do not give back the money by the time they said they will at least twice (to allow for the possibility of they genuinely not being able to give back money) then they should NOT be given any more money no matter how much they want, especially if they said they will give back the money ‘definitely’. Role play scenarios should be held to allow students to practice their conflict handling skills and to gain confidence to help them stand up for themselves.
Being asked to do someone’s work
Some students may try to take advantage of students with Asperger to ask them to do the work for them or send them their work so that they can copy it. This area is particularly important to cover as if students do not handle a situation like this well then they literally risk their degree and whole future being jeopardised. They should be taught the differences between the fine line of genuinely helping someone and doing the work for them.
Eg. to say no if someone during their final year projects asks for a few days of help
If someone asks them to send their assignment, how to stand up and say no, role play
Being asked not to go to the meeting with the support worker but instead hang out/help the fake friend
Role play scenario
Being tricked into a criminal act
Role play scenario
Password
Being asked to change their passwords as Blackboard initially gives the password as their birth date at some universities, this is absolutely essential. In fact, they will be required to change their passwords during the training course, so it should be held in a room where computers are available.
Anything else the uni can think of
Befrienders are also invited to this course. Refreshments provided during and after the course. The course should be held by an autism specialist or a qualified communication expert professional who the uni invites for that day. Should start a 11am to ensure all students wake up for it. An informal and relaxed environment.
Possible process
11 am - 12 pm – Introduction, brief explanation of what the course will cover, ice breaking games
12- 1 pm Presentation about Money exploitation scenario speech and stories of what could happen if students were taken advantage of, guide how to deal with incidents like this
1-1.30 pm role plays based on the guide
130 pm to 2 15 pm – lunch
215- 315 pm – Presentation about assignment exploitation, plagiarism etc and guide.
315 to 4pm role plays
4pm to 415 pm small break
415 pm to 515 – Presentation about Being tricked into criminal acts eg. identity theft, asked for card details, offered a suspicious job etc. and guide to how to deal with it
5 15 to 6 pm role play
6 pm to 6 15 pm conclusion speech, feedback to everyone individually
6 15 pm to 7 pm –Pizza and beer, hot food. Opportunity to socialise.