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Social Skill-Building Groups: Questions and Answers |
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The groups teach, model developmentally appropriate behaviours and social communication skills including how to build relationships and cope with stress. Support is provided to the children and adolescents so that they are able to use these skills at home, school and community. Each group builds on previously acquired skills, and there are numerous opportunities to rehearse important skills like sharing, taking turns, attending, and other important play skills.
Social Skill-Building Group facilitator are Geneva Centre for Autism staff, certified teachers, college and university students with a keen interest in the field of ASD are educational assistants, music therapists, and art therapists. The Social Skills Coordinator provides ongoing training and regular supervision through direct observation of each group program. In addition, a Speech Language Pathologist and Occupational Therapist provide consultation to the groups and offer specific recommendations for individual participants and the group as a whole.
Parent information meetings are one way for parents to get information about the groups. These are held before the start of the groups. As part of the program parent information sheets are provided on a weekly basis. Children are also provided with homework sheets detailing activities they are expected to practice or complete between sessions to assist with skill acquisition and generalization.
For each group parent meetings are held close to the beginning and towards the end of each session. The meetings provide parents with the opportunity to review video footage of the children in the group, as well as updates on the progress being made.
Groups are offered weekly for 14 weeks for children 13 and under, and bi-weekly for those 14 years of age and older.
To ensure that each Group can be organized according to common strengths and needs, screening appointments are scheduled for all children prior to the beginning of the groups. The screening appointments are 30-45 minutes in length, and 3-4 participants are screened at one time. 2-3 staff leaders are present during each screening appointment as well as volunteers as needed.
The groups teach, model developmentally appropriate behaviours and social communication skills including how to build relationships and cope with stress. Support is provided to the children and adolescents so that they are able to use these skills at home, school and community. Each group builds on previously acquired skills, and there are numerous opportunities to rehearse important skills like sharing, taking turns, attending, and other important play skills.
Social Skill-Building Group facilitator are Geneva Centre for Autism staff, certified teachers, college and university students with a keen interest in the field of ASD are educational assistants, music therapists, and art therapists. The Social Skills Coordinator provides ongoing training and regular supervision through direct observation of each group program. In addition, a Speech Language Pathologist and Occupational Therapist provide consultation to the groups and offer specific recommendations for individual participants and the group as a whole.
Parent information meetings are one way for parents to get information about the groups. These are held before the start of the groups. As part of the program parent information sheets are provided on a weekly basis. Children are also provided with homework sheets detailing activities they are expected to practice or complete between sessions to assist with skill acquisition and generalization.
For each group parent meetings are held close to the beginning and towards the end of each session. The meetings provide parents with the opportunity to review video footage of the children in the group, as well as updates on the progress being made.
Groups are offered weekly for 14 weeks for children 13 and under, and bi-weekly for those 14 years of age and older.
To ensure that each Group can be organized according to common strengths and needs, screening appointments are scheduled for all children prior to the beginning of the groups. The screening appointments are 30-45 minutes in length, and 3-4 participants are screened at one time. 2-3 staff leaders are present during each screening appointment as well as volunteers as needed.
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Skill Building Groups