January 14, 2026, Durham, NC – iRT is pleased to release the Aware Program for Teens with 22q11DS, a web-based, mindfulness training program designed to enhance the daily functioning of adolescents with 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome (22q11DS).

Why is this program important?

Adolescents with 22q11DS tend to experience high levels of anxiety as well as challenges in social situations; however, few behavioral interventions have been developed to help this group of youth handle these challenges. Researchers and developers from iRT created the

Aware Program for Teens with 22q11DS to fill the gap in resources for young people with 22q11DS. The program is designed to teach adolescents new ways of managing stress and anxiety to help enhance their daily functioning.

Why mindfulness?

The Aware Program for Teens with 22q11DS is unique in that it is the first mindfulness-based intervention for adolescents with 22q11DS. Mindfulness is the practice of having awareness of yourself and your environment in the present moment. Evidence has shown that practicing mindfulness regularly produces positive outcomes for youth, such as improvements in emotion regulation, self-control, attention, cognitive functioning, and coping with stress.

What is included in the program?

The Aware Program for Teens with 22q11DS includes four self-paced units, each containing four to five lessons and teaching adolescents a new mindfulness skill to develop awareness of their bodies, feelings, thoughts, and relationships. Adolescents are given opportunities to watch videos of other young people demonstrating how to use the mindfulness skills, practice the mindfulness skills on their own, and apply the skills to different types of situations. The program was strategically designed with feedback from adolescents with 22q11DS and parents to be developmentally-appropriate, engaging, accessible, and relatable for adolescents with 22q11DS.

In addition, the program includes resources for parents so they can support their adolescent’s use of the program. Parents receive a Guide for the program and access to a web-based dashboard to monitor their teen’s progress through the course. Parents (and their teens) can also sign up to receive text messages that include reminders and encouragement to help adolescents complete the program.

Next steps.

If you are interested in this online mindfulness program for an adolescent with 22q11DS, click here to get started.

The Aware Program is also available in a web-based version for adolescents with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and a school-based version for high school students. Learn more about each of the Aware Programs at https://awareprogramsonline.com/.